Construction of the highly anticipated Northern Divisional Police Headquarters in Massade, Gros Islet, is nearing completion, promising to deliver one of the most modern and climate-resilient policing facilities in the region.
The $35.9 million project, which began in December 2023, is now about 95 per cent complete for its administrative block and roughly 85 per cent finished for its accommodation wing. The facility has been designed as a bunker-style structure, built to withstand environmental challenges while providing safe and efficient spaces for officers and the public, officials say.
The headquarters will house the Special Services Unit (SSU), the Traffic Department, full administrative offices for superintendents and sergeants, evidence storage, and meeting rooms. A modern accommodation block for officers is also included. Construction officials say most interior works such as tiling and ceilings have already commenced, but installation of windows and doors remains delayed due to global supply chain challenges.
“I would say that we are about 95 per cent of the construction of the administrative section. We’re missing windows and doors. We’ve already commenced, tiling, ceiling, and stuff. When it comes to the accommodation building, we are nearly 85 per cent and we’re suffering the same fate with global logistics.”
The project is being delivered under a Build-Own-Lease-Transfer (BOLT) agreement between the Government of Saint Lucia and the National Insurance Property Development and Management Company Ltd (NIPRO). Occupying about 30 000 square feet on 2.6 acres of land, the facility is expected to set a new standard for police infrastructure in the Caribbean.
The urgency for a new facility stems from the longstanding struggles of the Gros Islet Police Station, which has battled mold infestation, poor ventilation, and structural decay for over a decade.
Originally located on Dauphin Street in Gros Islet, the police station was deemed unsafe in 2013 due to mold and deteriorating conditions. Officers were relocated to the Saint Lucia Boy Scouts Association building in Massade. By 2022, operations were again moved, this time merged with the Rodney Bay Police Station, after the Massade site was also declared unfit.
The recurring health and safety concerns not only affected police officers’ wellbeing but also hampered efficiency and public service delivery. Repeated complaints about the mold-infested, damp, and unsuitable office environments helped galvanise the government’s decision to invest in permanent, modern headquarters.
The construction phase of the new headquarters has provided employment for over 60 people and, upon completion, the facility is expected to stand as the most modern police complex in the region, not just in terms of resilience, but also overall design and functionality.
Authorities hope the new headquarters will not only improve working conditions for police officers but also strengthen public trust in law enforcement by providing a safe, professional environment for service delivery.
Now in its final construction stages, the Northern Divisional Police Headquarters is on track to replace years of substandard conditions with a purpose-built, climate-resilient complex. After years of battling mold and displacement, Gros Islet police officers may soon finally have a facility that meets their needs and those of the public they serve.
