AFTER raising the issue of no security presence at the Albouystown Health Centre more than a month ago, Councillor Heston Bostwick again called for action to be taken in this regard.

On Tuesday, when city councillors met for their fortnightly statutory meeting at City Hall, Bostwick offered that he is still concerned about security at the facility.
He informed that around 10:30hrs last Monday night, he observed that a security guard turned up, but that there was no one he was taking over from. As such, he said there is no ‘take over’ system in place.

He has since called for those officers to be held accountable; those who are responsible for guarding the facility. He reported that on some nights, he is out on the streets as late as 03:00hrs, but sees no security guard turning up for duty.

The councillor has argued that the Council must have a system in place to account for the time officers spend on duty. They are being paid and must be held accountable, he said.
Deputy Chief Constable, Laurel Gittens, had responded that the security guards usually turn up for duty at the City Constabulary before heading off to the various locations. However, there is a belief that these officers show up at the constabulary but do not actually proceed to the required locations.

Gittens said the officers’ supervisors are also expected to visit the locations to check on the attendance of the guards. As for when they do not show up for duty, she said they are often sent warning letters.

The Albouystown Health Centre was re-opened to the public two years ago at the corner of Bel Air and James Streets. For approximately one year, the centre had been out of operation with the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) often citing a lack of finances to have it fixed.

The facility has been rendering services to this community since 1970 when former mayor, Hamilton Green, was Minister of Health.

The clinic also extends services to the residents of the Dharm Shala, located one street away, at King Edward Street.