Belfield Police Station in St Mary set for upgrade

Construction of a new Belfield police station in St Mary is set to move forward, with design work expected to be completed by the end of February. It will pave the way for the long-awaited replacement of the old, deteriorating facility.

The existing structure, which also houses the Belfield Post Office, sustained roof damage from back-to-back hurricanes Beryl in July 2024 and Melissa in October 2025, and is infested with rats, roaches, and other pests.

Member of Parliament for St Mary South Eastern, Christopher Brown, told The Gleaner on Tuesday that the poor condition of the facility has seriously undermined law enforcement operations.

“I publicly highlighted that the state of the Belfield Police Station was not only deplorable, but that it posed a security risk to the officers who serve and protect the people of Belfield,” Brown said.

He added: “The adjoining post office, operated by the Postal Corporation of Jamaica, is in a somewhat similar poor condition. Upon assuming office, I immediately took formal action. I wrote to the Minister of National Security and Peace, Dr Horace Chang, outlining the condition of the Belfield facility. That correspondence was made public, as was the minister’s response.”

In a letter from the Ministry of National Security, Minister Chang confirmed that detailed technical assessments determined the building cannot be restored through routine repairs.

The letter said architectural and engineering designs for a fully reconfigured structure are currently in development and expected to be completed by the end of February 2026.

“Upon completion of these designs, formal approval will be sought from the Postmaster General to facilitate the demolition and reconfiguration of the existing building to appropriately accommodate both the post office and the police station,” the letter stated.

It added that once a formal no-objection is received, the Ministry will proceed with procurement to engage a suitable contractor.

The land is owned by the Postal Corporation of Jamaica, and the redevelopment will also include improvements to the Belfield Post Office.

- Gareth Davis Snr

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