Work To Restart On Police Training School And Printery

The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has taken the decision to restart two stalled construction projects, after years of abandonment. The two projects are the new Police Training Complex at Lime Kiln Commercial Development and the new Government Printery at Church Street.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Police Training Complex, which was dubbed as a modern Multi-purpose Security Training Centre was held in January 2014. The European Union provided more than $10 million dollars to the project. A steel frame for the 38,741-square-foot facility was erected, with blocks running up to a certain level. However, work ceased sometime after.

Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew made disclosed his Government’s decision during a roundtable meeting with various media houses, on April 19.

“I would say that the project, from our perspective here in St. Kitts and Nevis, was badly managed. After the change in government in 2015, it was badly managed, and presently there is no funding coming through the European Union anymore to complete it,” Prime Minister Drew revealed.

The process to move forward with construction in 2023 begins with a much-needed assessment by the Public Works Department (PWD).

“We are committed to finishing it. We are in the process of doing an analysis from a construction/engineering standpoint and also to source new funding to finish it,” Prime Minister Drew added.

Meanwhile, construction of the Government Printery started in January 2019 with the laying of the foundation. EC$1.5 million was budgeted for the modern three-story building with a nine-month timetable – that is completion by September 2019. Work also subsequently stalled.

Dr. Drew divulged that an analysis was done on the project and a cost was determined for the completion of the project.

“We are going to move on that very shortly. I am not going to leave the printery building abandoned because it came from another administration,” Prime Minister Drew noted.

He added that while administrations may change, the role of government remains the same, and the continuity of key projects in the best interest of the people must continue.