Speaking at the event, the Parliamentary Representative for the area, Dr. Timothy Harris, who is also a Senior Minister in the Government of St. Kitts & Nevis, said “Let this groundbreaking ceremony represent more than symbolism. Let it come to represent the substance of the quality of service we will give to our people. Let that service be always exemplary, in efficiency, in effectiveness and efficacious in its outcome.”
Harris also used his address to provide the audience with a brief background on the project, indicating that one of the objectives he pursued whilst he served as the Federation’s Minister of Foreign Affairs was to see how we could leverage our International Alliances and Policies in service of our development.
The MP said he truly believed that there could be no effective foreign policy without a concept of domestic development and governance. Recognizing the need to prioritize the security infrastructure, he approached the then Minster of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Dr Luis Ernesto Derbez, who willing agreed to finance two police stations in St Kitts.
On September 19, 2006 Dr Derbez and Dr. Harris signed an MOU for financing the two police stations. He therefore thanked the government of Mexico for fulfilling the commitment to build two (2) Police Stations – one each at Dieppe Bay and at Tabernacle.
Five years plus, we are just completing Dieppe Bay and just about to start Tabernacle, said Harris. “Tabernacle should have started way back in 2008. We are where we are now. I hope that soon after this groundbreaking the real work can begin,” outlined the Minister.
Recognizing that some residents have expressed concerns about the long time the project has taken, Harris tried to reassure his electorate, saying, “I regret that long season of denial and sacrifice, which you endured and I thank you for your patience, sacrifice and endurance. Please know that I never once wavered in my enquiries, my advocacy, or my agitation for the commencement of this facility.”
“The police service has been delivered in and from Tabernacle for all of my life and for all of the life span of many persons in the audience. This means that it has been here for seventy five years. I am advised that this Police Station has a cash register that has been in vogue since the 1960s. It is a book in which all cash transactions are recorded. It has been well kept and today it is the only Police Station with such an artifact. “
“The former Police Building at Station Street is a part of the historical armour of our community and country. I hope that as we build this new facility, we will ensure that something beautiful will emerge from the dilapidated ruins of the former police station building. That something must command our attention for its beauty, grandeur and community utility. Some villagers are already requesting that the former site of the police stations should now house the fire and rescue services and provide adequate residential space for all security forces located here. We will wait to see what will emerge, “commented Harris.
It is our hope that from better and more suited quarters the Police will be more efficient in protecting and serving us.
The station serves the district from Lodge Village to Harris Village.