Plans have been unveiled for a new headquarters for the Royal Bahamas Police Force on the island of Abaco. The new facility will replace the station destroyed by the passage of Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
A ceremony was held at the government complex in Marsh Harbour attended by both Members of Parliament for the island of Abaco, the Hon. John Pinder and the Hon. Kirk Cornish.
Pinder told those gathered, “what we want to do is put something here that we are proud of and something that the future generations of the Royal Bahamas Police Force will be able to utilize to serve and protect. This is a building that will allow them the tools they need. Its not something to take very lightly.”
For his part, Cornish said, “in achieving this, I ask every sensible thinking Abaconian, I’m not suggesting that you ignore our needs, but rather on focusing on what we don’t have celebrate what you’re getting.”
Since the destruction of the police station, officers on the island have been occupying space at the government complex. According to Chief Superintendent Will Hart they have outgrown that space. He told ZNS News, “I stand here on the shoulders of many Officers In Charge who have been in the trenches working under conditions that they were under and I applaud them for that. I stand here now and I cannot forget them and I also want to thank my officers in Abaco Division for the stellar work and performance they’re doing under the conditions that they’re working under.
A model of the new police station was on display at the ceremony. The new building will be located south of the Leonard Thompson International Airport on eight acres of land and include six holding cells, a record office and screening room, accommodations for officers and a garage.
