That concern was raised by residents and the Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull during a district meeting at the Ivan Dawson Primary School on Monday, February 10.

“My next pet peeve is the police station. West End open again, Cane Garden Bay close. That’s the problem I have. Something needs to change, I have spoken to the Commissioner of Police, I am already on the issue, and I will continue to do that because there is no way that West End Police can handle West End, Capoon’s Bay, Apple Bay, Carrot Bay, Cane Garden Bay, Brewers Bay and still work in Myers and around; it is impossible,” Hon Turnbull stated.

“It is absolutely impossible. Why they closed I don’t know,” he added.

Hotel?

The residents who described the two-storey structure as a ‘hotel’ for police officers, was another area that Hon. Turnbull highlighted.

He said, “We have officers living there and what I was made to understand, and I can be corrected some of the officers receive a housing allowance, but they are sleeping in the Police Station, waking up and going to work whether they work East End, in town or West End.”

A call to the Police Headquarters indicated that the station was not closed; however, the land line was not functional. Two mobile numbers 368-9740 for a Cane Garden Bay Police and another one 368-9706 was given as a backup for the West End Police.

However, a police source told BVI Platinum News that since the West End Police Station reopened, the Cane Garden Bay station, “is not occupational 24 hours a day.”

He said however once they are needed, a phone number is posted on the door to the station, and they will make themselves available as they are often between the West End Station and Cane Garden Bay station.

To the people, the physical police presence acts as a deterrent to crime and can be the difference between a life and death situation.