Health breaches at 12 of 20 St Catherine police stations

More than half of the police stations in St Catherine recently assessed by inspectors have been cited for a raft of breaches under the Public Health Act.

Among the health breaches are rodent infestation, improper garbage storage, derelict vehicles, and overgrown vegetation.

Chief Public Health Inspector for St Catherine, Grayson Hutchinson, made the disclosure at a meeting of the parish’s municipal corporation more than a week ago.

“We inspected 16 of the 20 stations in the parish and found 12 to be in an unsatisfactory state,” Hutchinson said.

He called for the shortcomings be addressed urgently for the public to feel safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was also revealed that work is yet to be completed at the Spanish Town police lock-up, which was ordered closed by the St Catherine Health Department in January because of unsanitary conditions, including rodent infestation.

Councillor Fenley Douglas of the Waterford division endorsed the call for immediate action.

“As a justice of the peace, I find it appalling to visit the stations within the parish. They need urgent attention to properly house those in custody,” Douglas said.

Rasbert Turner