Part Time St. George's Police Station

 I saw an ariticle in the Royal Gazette today and felt the need to comment. As a life long resident of St. George's I must ask how long will it take to get a 24 hour police presence in the town? The police station was closed down for an extended period a few years ago. It's renovation and subsequent opening where interestingly timed to coincide with the last General Election. The station is said by police to be staffed between the hours of 8am to 10pm, but as I drove past today at 2pm it was already closed and locked up tight.

 Much effort is being expended to revive and revitalize the beleaguered old town but these efforts will prove fruitless if an issue as basic as security cannot be adequately addressed. I know this sounds absurd but does the town have to hire it's own security? I thought that was one of the reasons we pay taxes! I personally have been in meetings where the public have begged and pleaded with senior members of the Police Service to open the station on an around the clock basis. Their response? Statistics were quoted that the overall rate of crime in St. George's is down, precious police resources are needed elsewhere and the St. David's Station is close enough. This is not good enough! Properties have been ransacked and vandalized less than 100 feet from the station. Statistics do not help you to sleep at night, nor have they any meaning if you are the one unlucky enough to be the victim.

The local police have said that they are interested in garnering the support and friendship of the St, George's people but how can this be accomplished if their pleas are ignored? I can remember the days when there were regular foot patrols at night, officers would check doors of businesses  to ensure that the properties were secure. Does this still occur on the regular ie. a few times a night? I have not seen it. Is this just another sign of the times? It seems our tax burden increases while overall levels of service decline.

I join with the Mayor Kenneth Bascome in calling for a 24 hour police presence and a fully functioning police station for the Town of St. George.