New Anse Boileau police station opens |18 January 2008
Besides boasting additional space, more personnel have been deployed there to man the new station.
Situated at the same location as the old station, the new building has been in construction since 2006, and has cost SR1.2 million.
It is equipped with three cell blocks and has the capacity to take on board an extra eight police officers to assist in its day to day functions.
The new facility was officially opened by the Commissioner of Police, Gerard Waye-Hive, and the Anse Boileau District Administrator, Valcy Nibourette.
Among guests who attended the opening ceremony were the member of the National Assembly for Anse Boileau, Honorable Andre Pool; the Chief of Staff of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF), Colonel Clifford Roseline; Assistant Police Commissioner Ernest Quatre; and the police officer in charge of the Anse Boileau station, Assistant Superintendent Winsley Cedras.
In his address for the occasion, Commissioner Waye-Hive noted that the new police station at Anse Boileau “is testimony to the government’s commitment to bring stability and peace of mind for its people in different communities”.
In order to achieve this, he said, “the police will continue to be committed to offering security to all the nation, without prejudice or favour, and most importantly, not according to race or social status”.
He noted that in its quest to offer the nation a better service, the Police Force has oriented its development programme towards the construction of new infrastructure so as “to allow the force to better discharge its roles and responsibilities in an atmosphere conducive to making the community safer”.
As examples of such new infrastructure, Commissioner Waye-Hive mentioned the impending construction of a new police station at Mont Fleuri which will have up-to-date forensic lab facilities once completed, as well as a new police station planned for Ile Perseverance.
The Commissioner also noted that the new facility at Anse Boileau is also crucial in the new environment being promoted by the government, whereby communities are being urged to take a central role in matters affecting them directly.
In this regard, he welcomed the initiative to establish joint policing committees in the districts all over the country, urging residents of Anse Boileau to take advantage of this new set-up to lend a helping hand in making their community safer.
For her part, Mrs Nibourette said she was convinced that the new station with additional manpower will bring much needed peace of mind among those who are most affected by crimes and other ills of society.
Noting that such community facilities as the police station are to the benefit of everybody in the district, Mrs Nibourette urged Anse Boileau residents not to abuse it so that the government will continue to invest in other areas of need for the inhabitants.
The Commissioner then took the invitees on a tour of the new station, which began to operate shortly after.