This is dreadful news for Treasure Beach.

To have a Police training center in the midst of a quiet residential community is a disaster waiting to happen.
The influx of so many young (and undisciplined) men from all over jamaica, all of a sudden living here, will surely threaten the peaceful way of life we all know.
Will we be able to walk on the beach without being molested or called after? Doubt it.
Will crime increase now that so many outsiders all at once will infiltrate our community. Think so.

is this what residents of Treasure Beach want?
Speak up if not .. before its too late.

I heard rumors yesterday it was announced a police training academy was coming to the former Tranquility Bay facility.

I am trying to find confirmation of this, but have not found any yet. Has anyone else heard or read in the papers if this is indeed so?

Is this the white building near Tiano Cove?

Wait...so Tranquility Bay = good and Policy Academy = bad?

Prison = good, police = bad.

Got it.


Please help me understand that.

Plus, I thought HEART was moving into that building?

Yes it is, LittleMamaLisa. A shame the original little hotel that grew into that unattractive white elephant is not still there.

stop the fear mongering, please be reasonable and sensible..............

Does anything good ever happen down there anymore?
It's getting to the point if I want to get depressed, just click on tb.net.
Even when nothing is going on this website is turning into a complaint site full of doom amd gloom.
So much for positive vibes.

We need to stop this from happening ..

it would be a disaster for us all here.
The "cons" far outweigh the "pros".
In fact, I cannot think of any "pro" to them being here.

Can this be brought up at the Citizens Alert meeting this Thursday?

Tony James is the person to get confirmation of this.

I will ask again, is this confirmed or just a rumor?

Please let us not get all hysterical about the possibility of a Police Academy being set up at Tranquility Bay, before anyone even knows the facts. The police force is our security, and I don't quite understand why 'scared' thinks were will be a lot of undisciplined young men roaming around around.

If it happens, they will be men and women in training and we will all need them in the future.

Janet Todd

If the subject of "Tranquility Bay" was allowed on this thread, maybe everyone would have been more aware of what is going on there before now. That is why all topics should be open for discussion on this forum if it relates to Treasure Beach. Just because you are tired of hearing it, is not a good reason to stick your head in the sand.

I agree with you Bempe, suddenly everyone is just gone negative and over reactive about Treasure Beach. Mind you dont find yourselves back to the days when all there was in Treasure Beach was the hotel. If you ask me, too much nit picking. Get real guys!

Using the name to mark the place so folks understand where it is located is not out of the guidelines.

thank you Janet for pointing out the obvious. these young men and women will be in training to become police, they are hardly likely to be carousing around the neighborhood, in their off hrs, causing trouble, far more likely they will , by their very presence, add another layer of security to the area

Janet Todd: I do not think anyone is getting "hysterical" about the possibility of a Police Academy being in the community. But there is a real concern about unruly youths all of a sudden being brought in by the busload to Treasure Beach.

It would have been thoughtful (not too late either) if the owners of the proposed Police Training site would talk to the residents here and listen to the concerns. Or have the Police authority answer the questions and give some explanation as to what will be happening by their presence.(In other words, will there be gun practice, a shooting range, training manouvers on the beach?)

It is interesting to observe that several who write on this site, who do not think there is any threat by the Police coming in here, and who are not troubled by the loud music assaults, or the increasing crimes ... live abroad! Those that actually live here do have some valid concerns as to how it will all play out. We don't have nowhere to go. This is our home.

I believe this would be a good thing to have a police training centre in TB. They could also do patrols at nights as part of training (shift work) and patrol the tourist areas and the community as a whole. This would hopefully restore some of the illegal and disturbing activities in the community.
This sounds like a positive thing to me.
Maybe some of our young idle men and women could also enrol and be put to better use than just sitting or idling daily.
Plus it would provide some employment to some more unemployed people.

I don't want to be "watched" like criminals while on vacation. We come for the freedoms we don't have in the U.S..

I do not believe it is a matter of "everyone going negative about Treasure Beach" as stated by "positive". We have wonderful people, places and things in this community. I would not live anywhere else.
Which is why I would hope for some consideration to the community when big decisions are made, such as the allowance of a Police Training Facility in the middle of a quiet community.
There is both good and bad that comes with hosting such a huge outfit as this. To think of hundreds of young men roaming around this area all of a sudden is (to me) overwhelming. Young men training to be Police can be a challenge, as we read about in the news all the time.
It would have shown a sign of respect if Tony James or his father had come and talked with us, and also spoke of what to expect.
Fear mongering it is not .. however it is fear of undisciplined youth in a small position of power, with big ego.
Time will tell.

We come to Treasure Beach to get away from cops and the freedoms we have lost in the U.S.. If a police facility comes to the area, we will have to find someplace else that is peaceful, quiet, and laid back.

Treasure Beach will not be "laid back" anymore with police and cadets roaming the area. Sounds more like what Negril has become. Hope it never happens.

Here's the relevant excerpt from the Minister's address to the nation:

"The centre piece of the modernisation programme for the police force is a network of training facilities which offer the training courses required for their professional development and adherence to internationally accepted best practices. The curriculum, delivered by a competent teaching staff, will emphasize the philosophy, mission and leadership style of a modern community oriented police service. In addition, the JCF is considering the acquisition of Tranquillity Bay property in St. Elizabeth with a view to using it for the training of an additional 200 recruits annually."

You can also read the entire speech via the link below:

http://www.jis.gov.jm/MinSpeeches/html/20090510T200000-0500_19558_JIS_BROADCAST_ BY_SENATOR_THE_HON__DWIGHT_NELSON__MINISTER_OF_NATIONAL_SECURITY.asp

Thank you so much for this informaton Helping.

"In addition, the JCF is considering the acquisition of Tranquillity Bay property in St. Elizabeth with a view to using it for the training of an additional 200 recruits annually."

This tells me the decision has not been made yet. Therefore, I think it would be very useful for the persons responsible for both leasing out the property and running the training academy to hold a public meeting to answer our questions. I know a public meeting was held when HEART was thinking of coming in there.

A few questions I would have are:

1. How many recruits would be there at one time?
2. How long is each training program?
3. How much free time will the recruits have and will they have the freedom to "roam" the area as they like or as they are in training, will their free time be restricted?
4. If/when they have free time, would they be under a strict code of ethics regarding their behavior subjected to strict disipline if they break this code?
5. Would there be a shooting range on property?
6. How often will new recruits be brought in each year and how many at a time?

I'm sure many of you can add plenty more questions to this list. Again, I believe a public meeting would be the considerate and appropriate thing to do.

Positive or negative for the community? Personally, I'm not sure yet and would like more information before I form an opinion.

The meeting would be an excellent idea Miss Rebecca. Your questions are excellent too.

The truth is Tony James' building does not have many uses except for some large government type facility. We can't expect him to tear it down or board it up. I can't see it being used as a hotel. There was talk of it being a nursing home; if so, that would have the definite possibility of employing lots of people from Treasure Beach, including many with professional and semi-professional positions. I don't see where having it as a police training facility would employ many people and they would probably be there only to clean inside and maintain the yard.

Big Up to all with positive vibes and/or open minds regarding this possibility. Bempe-I second your sentiment regarding the negativity that has overrun this forum. I fail to understand how others perceive a Police Academy as negative. A little story from here in Canada-years ago a notorious outlaw motorcycle club moved in to a somewhat rundown and crime infested neighbourhood. Sometime later residents AND police reported a significant drop in crime in that neighbourhood to the near point of ZERO crime.

Keep an open mind and usually positive things occur.

Mr Webmaster - while you can can set any rules you want for this site, why do you not allow people to discuss what you don't want them to discuss? Why dig in your heels over this matter that people want to discuss? Where is the maturity in the community if they are limited to only what you will permit them to discuss? WHY is that subject so touchy for you? Have you asked yourself that? What can of worms do you fear opening up?

So, using the name,"Tranquillity Bay" is ok if using it is to identify it, but using it in the context of what that place was, and whether or not it is good that what it was has been finally exposed, and Treasure Beach is well rid of it, and why that is so, is NOT ok? WHY? WHY? WHY?

I guess the webmaster did not feel my opinion was valid enough to allow my initial post to be public.

HAHAHA!!!! I love it.

Anyway are women not in the Jamaica constabulary force????? All I read here is young men this , young men that.

Bottomline is, if the government wants tranquility bay and the owners have no problem leasing it to them, no community group, and no protest can stop it from happening. This is JamAica we are talking about here, last i check Treasure Beach is in Jamaica, dont matter how you all try to isolate it, its not gonna chnage, thats a FACT.

I do not believe anyone is getting "hysterical" about the possibility of a Police Academy being in the community. But there is a real concern about unruly youths all of a sudden being brought in by the busload to Treasure Beach. (and before they become Policemen and Police women a lot of them are unruly youth).

It would have been thoughtful, and not too late either, if the owners of the proposed Police Training site could talk to the residents here and listen to the concerns. Or have the Police authority answer the questions and give some explanation as to what will be happening by their presence.(In other words, will there be gun practice, a shooting range, training manouvers on the beach, free range around Treasure Beach?)

Can anyone suggest how to get this to the James family and the Police so that maybe they can hold a meeting here prior to them moving in?

I have taken this from another thread on tb.net as I think it is pertinent to include here. Please read.

By Nicole, THLLC on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 - 08:20 am: Edit Post
This thread is important to keep alive.

I just left TB last week, started out in Fort Charles, stopped in Billy's Bay and ended it in Great Bay -- there are changes happening everywhere in many ways, some people are not feeling heard and feeling suppressed and others just continue to try to keep the positive loving community thriving. My husband and I love TB, it too is one of our favorite places to be.

The police academy does seem like a short-term idea and I think would alter the whole energetics of TB and it's laid back, relaxed do as you please as long as you are respectful ways.

Interestingly enough, the TB police stopped at one of the places I stayed at and there was a 5-6 month old puppy there that pounce up to him in a nonaggressive/playful way and he pulled out a gun on it and kept it on it while it was wagging it's tail and trying to play -- we were all pretty surprised and quietly said "excuse me, relax he is just a puppy we will get him". The owner, staff, my husband and myself spoke about this afterwards for days in amazement and honestly, it did not make any of us feel safe with how freely he waived his gun around. I'm not sure what the academy will bring...safety, aggression, fear?

I am very sorry to hear about what happened to Judy and hope she is doing OK and she is receiving support.

I also hope that is not what is going to become of TB -- I am constantly asked is JA safe and my reply is yes and I direct them to TB if that is their initial concern. I know there are MANY safe places in JA, but TB is one of the most open, inviting, safe places I've experienced and anyone with an apprehension about JA can go there have a wonderful, amazing experience and usually wants to return to JA to experience it again.

Actions do speak louder than words and I wish I was there to help with actions...I am always sending positive vibes of faith, hope and love towards TB.

Do people really come to TB to "get away from cops"?

To "Tyusednaey" :
I do believe people come here, not to "get away from cops" per se, but to get away from all of their daily hassles, from the hustle and bustle of where they live, seeking a quiet peaceful community .. after all, they do not come in search of good beaches and swimming.
And till now Treasure Beach has been a wonderful place to offer that.
I hope it always will be.

Hey how come my post with the jokes didn't get on? Jeez. Nobody got any sense of homor around here???

to Comedian:
Maybe this is not a joking matter?
If we do not become part of the solution, we are then part of the problem.
You decide.
And, instead of all of this chat....let's get out there and really DO something.
This is a wake-up call. Please answer.

What is it you are suggesting that we do, Judy? I'm sure many are willing to listen and even take action if a good course of action is offered. I agree with you that this isn't something anyone should be posting jokes about, not in light of the theft and assault of Miss Judy or the troubling story about the police officer pulling his service revolver on a playful puppy.

So. No joking matter. Then what is to be done?

Oh dear. There really IS no place for humour on this board anymore. Groan.

Comedian: i do not see humor in a policeman drawing a gun at a puppy nor do i see humor in a recent physical assault and robbery.
do you?

Torontojeff...
Your police and our police are two different animals.

Tyusedney: In Jamaica as a visiting American, you don't lose your property, all your money, current job and ability to get a job because of an arrest record, plus respect from the community - just to partake in a little herb. Consequences are much less in Jamaica - may cost you a fine/ticket, but money will hopefully get you home. That is part of the reason I come to Jamaica because of the laid back vibes where people are not judged so harshly. Hard drugs like crack, cocaine, meth, etc. are a different story though.

I did, but where did it get me, 3 hours in the police station, later wasting a day waiting for them to come down to Frenchman to question the person but to no avail! Finding out that a week later the same person had broken into Golden Sands and practically scared to death a woman (she also went to the police as he was recognised); weeks later with some others had robbed a man with a gun but he/they were still walking the street!

Finally some are now in prison, but why has it taken years? While I do understand the police are overstretched (although they do seem to be able to find 30-40 of them to go ganja plantation hunting), why does it take so long to detain these criminals?

When I went to give my statement, the police woman said to me "Oh not BJ again!"

I really hope that these people who did this to Judy are found and given a fitting sentence, but I too would like them to be named and shamed, or even told when in Court so we can check out the newspaper.

Re the proposed rental of Tranquility Bay to the police - one of the things I would like to see in Jamaica is a law requiring a notice to be erected of such intentions, so that communities are advised well in advance, together with a proper system of public hearings. This happens in other countries for a range of types of development, on both public and private land. What is bad in Jamaica is the secrecy, which of course lends itself to much speculation and apprehension. To the person who said nothing can be done about what private land owners want to do with their land, this is Jamaica - well, if that's the case then let's just throw up our hands in despair and stop talking about Treasure Beach's future. The deafeatist mindset is an obstacle - a well organized community CAN affect what happens in their community - whether the land is public or private. I would suggest that as a first step one of the community groups in Treasure Beach write to the Minister of National Security and ask what the plans for Tranquility Bay are. Then the community should soberly evaluate those plans and decide how to respond. A democracy is only as good as the engagement of its citizens. Diana from JET

Amazing how different a guy looks after he goes from dreds to shaved, eh Why does it take so long?

Thank you Diana for the clear sensible words and advice.
It IS up to us as a community to decide whats best for here.
But how to go about it, as there is no leader, and no one will "step out" first.
Can you bring this up again at the JET meeting in June ?

Diana there are several requests to see "Jamaica for sale" at Calabash .. its possibly too late for this year but why not propose a viewing for next? its a goo idea and will reach many from all over the island.

Nursing home. A place for our elderly. A place for those who need nursing care after hospital. A place where many could get good jobs.

Miss McCaulay, I beg you to inspect the waste disposal systems at the old Tranquility Bay facility when you next come to Treasure Beach. There is talk they may not be up to necessary standards. If this is so, there is a good chance waste is dumping into the sea. This is highly undesirable and dangerous no matter who would be making use of that facility. Thank you for caring about us.

I second the request by Check It Out. I used to see things that looked like toilet tissue floating near that facility while it was in use. It may have been my imagination, or the refuse may have come from another place. I don't know. Miss McCaulay will.

Every nursing home I've seen, are one story only. Don't think it would work for the elderly?

One story for a nursing home would be better, but it could still work. Install elevators, assuming there are none. Put in back up generators, assuming there are none. I think there is a way to make this work for the betterment of Treasure Beach. We can't expect Mr. James to keep his building empty. If no one presents alternatives to a police training facility, no one has a right to complain about the outcome. It's best we think in constructive ways rather than always say why something isn't possible or will not work. I am not saying the nursing home idea is the best, but I think it's an idea worth exploring.

We need more alternatives. Think of one and post it.

Yes, we can discuss the Tranquility Bay situation in June and yes, we can broadly investigate waste disposal methods being used in Treasure Beach. I prefer not to single out any particular property. We will be showing Jamaica for Sale in at the meeting in June as well, but yes, will ask about a showing at Calabash next year too. I think it could be time for the folks who are helping to organize the June meeting to post some information about it on this forum? People seem to have heard about the meeting and it's best to have the info accessible. Diana from JET

Why all this controversy?
Listen people, "not all that glitters is gold!"
But on the other hand we have good cops and bad cops!!I think the heart school would benefit Treasure Beach a lot more than a police academy or even the Nursing home..Treasure Beach is no longer the Treasure Beach it was..
I have nothing more to say..am just going to kick back and see how this works out..

The Tranquility Bay Sustainability Center.

Location, location, location.

Sun and wind. Seawater.

Secure facilities.

Benefits the community and beyond.

Re-engineered as appropriate.

A focal point for sustainable development, organic farming, alternative energy etc. A teaching facility and foreigners/tutors rooms.

?

Good ideas, Turey. How about a college of some kind, perhaps affiliated with U.W.I., allowing St. Elizabeth youth to study without leaving home?

It seems as if the Police Academy will be operating from T/B soon.They was alot of Policemen and Inspector going back and forth yesterday from Tranquility Bay.Let see what will happen.

Let's have more ideas for Mr. James to consider. Do remember this is his building, and he needs to be able to rent it at a profit.

Could someone explain something about a HEART facility?

How about a High School, Elementary School, Vo-Tech School, College, Hotel/Villa, Gym/Exercise Facility, Hospital or Clinic, Child-care Center, Grocery Store/Department Store?

By KayDee on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 12:39 am: Edit Post
Good ideas, Turey. How about a college of some kind, perhaps affiliated with U.W.I., allowing St. Elizabeth youth to study without leaving home?

Great idea!

A HEART program would also be great.

There are about fifteen miles of no man's land between Great Bay and Port Kaisa west of Aligator Pond. Why not build a training center for their police instead of in the middle of our community.
I think that would be less expensive than to rent that place in the long run.
Ask Food For Poor for two hundred little houses.
Use five years rent money to put in the rest such as mess hall, conference rooms and whatever it takes to train police (of which I have no idea.)
But please not in the middle of us. Go outside.

Where were all these ideas as the building sat empty?

I spoke with Mr. Tony James the day before yesterday regarding this issue. While I think that a police training academy is not a good thing, I do understand that he is a businessman and can not afford to have his property sitting empty. Myself and a few others were the ones that came up with the idea of using it as a retirement/assisted living/medical facility a few months ago and thanks to Sally Henzell the ball has been set in motion for this to be a reality. However, these things take time to organize and finance and in the mean time Mr. James has leased the property to the police. He has told me that the contract with the police is only for two years which would give the medical teams and investors time to come up with a proposal and financing.

Mr. James if fully aware of the issues of having a police training facility in the area and as such is trying to arrange a meeting with the police high command and the citizens of Treasure Beach. While it is important that at this meeting we voice our concern it is also imperative that we offer some sort of a solution. For example I think most of us are concerned that young men (and women) in new found positions of power will abuse that power if allowed full and free access to the community of Treasure Beach. My answer to that would be that they are forced to wear some sort of identification and in the event that there is inappropriate behavior by any one of them, we would have a way of identifying the person and making a report.

If there are people that are unable to make it to the meeting please leave your concerns on this forum or email me directly at annabelletodd1@gmail.com and I will make sure to bring them up.

While on the subject of the police, we all know the problems with the Jamaica Constabulary Force. It is time that Jamaicans themselves make the police accountable for their actions. It's time to stop being afraid of them and if you feel you were mistreated or did not get the service you deserve, they should be reported to their superior officers. There is a new (and excellent) Superintendent in Black River who takes these things very seriously. Fear never cured anything!!

bempe the building has only been empty a few months and HEART was taking a serious look at it. I for one am very disappointed they will not be having a facility there.

Could someone please explain what a HEART facility is? Thank you.

We should be welcoming the arrival of our servants and protectors to the community.

If 'to serve and protect' is morphing into 'to intimidate and control', no one would want this presence in the community.

Ms Todd, as this seems to be one of the main fears here, could this point be presented at the meeting?

Accepting the power of '007' is an aweful responsibility, abusing this contradicts the primary intent of the force and is a criminal act.

Maybe like us in TB, the police force is at a crossroads. Like us, learning to utilize the powers we have for the wealth and health of our community and country has to happen for transformation to occur.

So easy to fell a tree, so simple to bus shat pon di bway dem.

Hoping for the best, turey di ole bway.

On June 2nd there will be a community meeting at the Treasure Beach Womens Group, located in Old Wharf hosted by BREDS, The Treasure Beach Foundation, The Treasure Beach Women's Group and the Treasure Beach Citizens Alert Group. In attendance will be Jevene E. Bent the Deputy Commissioner of Police who will address the community regarding the issue of the Police Training Academy at Tranquility Bay. This is a very, very important matter for everyone so it is imperative that everyone attend.

For everyone that has access to this forum please pass this information on to those who don't.

What time is the meeting, Angela?

H.E.A.R.T. Academies can be found around the island, and students learn everything from hotel management to electrical engineering and automotive repair. It's a vocational school. The one in Runaway Bay is actually a nice hotel where I've stayed a few times. All of the staff are in training on the job. Cooks, housekeepers, landscapers, front desk personnel, all are getting their certificates.

Sorry the meeting is at 3:00 p.m

HEART sounds wonderful. Sounds like a program I visited in Mexico several years ago and like the hotel management program at one of the community colleges in my city. This would be an excellent addition to TB, a way to help the community and turn the TranqBay space into something beautiful.

Does anyone know who manages/directs the HEART program? Is there a way to contact that person and put a meeting together with Mr. James? Does anyone know if the deal with the police academy is already signed? I am not in JA at this time, but if I can be of any help as far as drafting letters, I will be happy to help.

The police training facility is a done deal. HEART was approached and they were not interested.

Having HEART in a small community like TB would have negative impact, simply because of the number of students all at once descending on here. Would that be better than the police?
Neither would i want to see here. A nursing home, combined with a nutrition center, clinic etc would be far more suitable to the residents here (in my opinion)

I imagine that many, many people including returning residents, local elderly, and even some foreigners who love Treasure Beach and dream of retiring here(including myself)would LOVE having a place like Tranquility Bay to live out their final days. We need a health facility here and I think it's a brilliant idea.

Obviously, I'm not clear on how the HEART program works, but I'm not sure why the program would have to bring in large numbers of trainees. The hotel management program I'm familiar with here operates a mid-size hotel but also a six-room bed and breakfast. The number of students who work in the bed and breakfast is, of course, smaller. The facility fits into its neighborhood well and easily. I would think the same would be true with TranqBay becoming a hotel training facility.

However, if HEART wasn't interested in the opportunity, that option is off the table (unless there is another agency that might be willing to take on this type of training?).

I think most of the options people have presented here sound more suitable than a police academy. The nursing home is a lovely idea, and so is a health center. Both would surely be welcome.

If the arrangement with the police has already been made and finalized, then there may not be anything to do at this time, but if there is a chance that the arrangement can be cancelled, I would be willing to work with whoever is organizing a plan to present alternatives to Mr. James. I've spoken with him several times and have found him to be very personable and able to hear more than one side of an issue.

I work for a large health system that has developed health collaboratives in Honduras (a quarterly visiting doctor service) and Trinidad (network of health clinics). They may be interested in working with a small, underserved community like Treasure Beach, and having a site available for clinical services might make the idea that much more attractive.

I am just trying to offer some help (albeit via very long distance). I am cash poor but my heart is big and I would like to help in whatever way I can. If there is nothing to be done, so be it. But I would prefer to think that, until the police take occupancy, there is still hope for change. Please let me know how I might be able to join this effort.

It appears the police training facility is something that has been decided upon at least for a few years. I would encourage people to come to the June 2 meeting at 3 pm to learn more and to have their questions answered and concerns addressed. After that there will be plenty of time to think of possible uses for this building because the police have it for several years. Ultimately the use for the property will be determined by Mr. James. While we would hope he has the interest of the community at heart, we must also understand his first role in this is as a businessman. We cannot ask someone to change the purpose of their property only because we would find it more appealing. We need to be able to see the situation from his perspective.

If the police academy is a done deal, we'll be back in a couple of years. About time to go to Port Antonio or another destination.

I would not have wished for the police academy to be in TB. But, It will not keep me away.

YES YES to the idea of a college.TB would be a perfect fit for an arts community . WI university would be a great partner for potential funding and course accreditation . I live in a small tourist based community (5000 people ) that has a local economy partly built around the arts . It started 40 years ago with six one week painting courses and has grown to a full state of the art facility with over three thousand pt students in a summer ( 7 weeks) and full time graduate programs that run throughout the year. It was initially started by volunteer groups and local art guilds and when it grew the groups approached the local College( 80 miles from the community) to take on the programming and develop certifications . It has been an incredible foundation for this community and although most of the students are not local there has been a great spin off economy for local jobs and existing local businesses have benifited from resorts to retailers to real estate . Over the years the community has unified and supported the growth which has generated several other growth areas all related to the arts ... there are now more than 200 local artists with studios and each year there are several organized weekend studio tours that bring thousands of tourists . There are several artist co- ops where artits have pooled their resources to offer a retail venue for their work . There are two public and one private art galleries. Local theatre arts , started with volunteers and now has grown to the point that they partnered with the local High School and through a fund raising drive in the community were able to build a theatre and offer a very successful 8 week summer theatre that is sold out every night for those two months . The theatre continues to be used for various community functions throughout the year for music dance and other theatre venues . My husband and I have been coming to TB for 15 years for a least a month every year and I believe that building on the arts would be a real place to start to build a tourist base that would be a perfect fit for the Treasure Beach community . I already see from the venues that exist ..Calabash festival, The Triathalon, Jazz festival that the community embraces this type of offering . The timing feels so right for Treasure Beach to pull togther and decide how they are going to develop before it is too late to pick the path. I recently retired from the college where I was part of a team that worked on the art school for 37 years ,I am sure there are resources that could be shared if anyone is interested.

Thanks Susan, TB is ripe for this and would certainly benefit.

I suspect that the developmental direction taken by an arts based project would tend to environmental sustainability as beauty and nature are two of the focuses of these disciplines.

As with all projects, the limits of human load are to be considered.

Such an inspiring location for such studies and performances.

The meeting regarding the Police Academy was held yesterday. It was well attended with approximately 75 -100 persons from the area in attendance. There were several official representatives present. I cannot name all of them but many were high ranking superintendents of St. Elizabeth.

The main spokesperson for the meeting was Deputy Commissioner Bent. She started out by reassuring all of us that she was born and raised in St. Elizabeth and is very protective of her parish. She promised us she would not bring any facility into the parish which would be harmful to us.

Some of the main points brought out in the meeting are as follows:

There will be no shooting range located at this facility.

The trainees will not be carrying weapons.

The trainees will remain within the facility at all times unless they are given a furlough to go home for a few days. At that time if they are not going out of the area, they will have to remain within the facility.

No trainees will be allowed off the property unless given permission. If they are off-property and in the area for whatever reason, they will be in uniform and will have a supervisor present.

Deputy Commissioner Bent said in her 30 years experience she has never heard of any complaints from a community member regarding a trainee.

There will be a senior officer liaising with various community members. If there are complaints, we are to bring them to him/her.

The trainees will choose a community project to work on during their stay. They hope to organize sporting events with the local community members, and possibly start a Police Youth Club.

There will be approximately 180 – 200 both male and female trainees and 30 – 35 staff members on property.

Each training program runs for 6 months.

They currently have a 2 year lease and hope the upgrading to their existing facility will be complete by then so they can move back to it. It is located outside of Spanishtown. Deputy Commissioner Bent said for us not to give up on the other ideas for this property, (i.e. nursing home, H.E.A.R.T. Academy) as they hope to be gone in 2 years.

They hope to be fully operational by June 15.

They will be hiring locally and using local products and services as much as possible.

There was a rumor of a delinquent girl’s home coming here. That is not true. They will be going to a facility in Alligator Pond which is also referred to as Tranquility Bay.

Deputy Commissioner Health, also from St. Elizabeth, will be in charge of training and gave us his assurance this would be a positive thing.

There will be Open Houses held from time to time where the public is invited to tour the facility. They will be holding regular health clinics and health fairs and the public will be invited to attend.

The conversation came around to the issue of local police support and the current perception of the local police. Deputy Commissioner Bent stated that trainees will periodically be stationed at Pedro Plains and other local stations to observe and learn. She stated this will inevitably affect the “runnings” of these stations as a proverbial spotlight will be placed on them. She further told of new management which has recently come into St. Elizabeth and they are looking forward to seeing much of the stations and overall policing changing and improving across the parish. Two of the new superintendents were present. Superintendent Watson was not due to an illness.

In my opinion, the overall reaction of those in attendance was positive. I, for one, was encouraged by Deputy Commissioner Bent’s forthrightness and directness when asked questions. Her confidence in this program was infectious.

Deputy Commissioner Heath ended the meeting by stating, “I have no doubt you, the community, will be happy we are here.”

I too was impressed by their "openness" and willingness to communicate .. and to listen to the concerns that were raised by members of the community.
Lets hope the actions match the words.

DCP Bent is also from St. Elizabeth - Queensbury, I believe.

Thanks or the report, Rebecca. Do others who attended have comments to share?

Would it be possible to post the name(s) and contact information of the responsible parties particularly the "senior officer liaising with various community members"?

Is this dcp bent miss kitty's brother.

This all sounds quite positive to me. It seems to achieve several purposes. It gives the building's owner a revenue stream starting almost immediately. And it gives him time to consider other serious proposals from people who might have a viable business idea and who would be prepared to move into the facility in roughly two years.

Hi Jane. Deputy Commissioner Bent is a woman.

I agree it all sounds positive .. yet the proof of the promised words will be as time passes.
Let us hope this is truly so.
it would certainly give me a bit of faith in the police.