StJMC seeks answers on long-delayed Granville Police Station
Published:Friday | September 12, 2025 | 12:09 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Superintendent Eron Samuels, head of the St James Police Division, has promised to provide an official update to the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) on the long-delayed construction of a new police station in Granville.
The facility was initially projected to be completed this year, replacing the old Granville police station, which was destroyed by fire in 2021. However, despite land being donated by prominent landowner Mark Kerr-Jarrett, the project has yet to break ground due to unresolved logistical issues related to the property.
Addressing the matter at the StJMC’s monthly meeting, Samuels said the police force is now ensuring the station will meet modern standards.
“How we are doing things now as a [police] force is that we have a committee that comes together, and we look at the different stations that are being built, and we ensure that the station is designed to last another 50 years,” explained Samuels. “We will look at the growth of the Granville space and ensure that a sizeable station is built that will be able to accommodate the needs of the area.”
He pointed to other recent projects as benchmarks.
“The Anchovy Police Station was opened earlier this year, about a month and a half ago, and if you want to go by there, you can go and see the facility there and see the type of work that is being done. We also have the Amity Hall station that is coming on stream as well,” he noted.
Samuels was responding to Granville Division Councillor Michael Troupe, who has been lobbying for the station since the 2021 fire. Troupe stressed the urgent need for a police presence in the sometimes-volatile community.
“The project is now at the parish council (municipal corporation) for it to be approved,” said Troupe. “We in the Granville area are looking forward to a quick implementation of the station. For whoever has the plan, make sure you put your hand in their back to finish it, because in the Granville division, the community is growing bigger, and so the police station’s completion is critical.”
Back in February 2024, then divisional commander Senior Superintendent Vernon Ellis had committed to completing the station within the year. Two months later, National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang announced that construction would begin before the end of the 2024-2025 fiscal year, which concluded on March 31 – five months ago.
Since the fire at the original station, which caused an estimated $20 million in damage to the building, residents and stakeholders have repeatedly called for a new facility to address security concerns for the 7,000 residents in Granville and surrounding communities.
The new facility is expected to house 50 officers and be equipped with modern technology to support more efficient policing and provide improved working conditions for staff.