Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre says the reconstruction of the custody suites is expected to be completed within nine months.
He says the custody suites were destroyed by the previous government and haven’t been accounted for.
“We speak about crime.. crime.. crime.. we’re very concerned about crime, but one of the basic problems is when you arrest people you must get somewhere to put them. The last government destroyed the custody suites and no one has accounted for it why would you destroy a holding cell, a holding place for people who are arrested?” he said in a press briefing held on Monday.
The minister says they have commenced work on the suites and it is expected to be completed within nine months which will be of great help to the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force as far as being able to detain persons who are arrested.
“We started work on it and hopefully we should get the custody suites in the next nine months. Which would help the police as far as being able to detain people when they arrest them.” he added.
Pierre says the decision to destroy the suites by the previous administration was shortsighted.
“These are the shortsighted things that happened and we paying for it. You destroy a building with absolutely no care in the world not knowing where to house people” he said.
