Bed bugs.
Police officials attached to the Criminal Investigations Department have been temporarily relocated to the Chester Field Conference Room at the Police Commissioner’s office.
Acting Assistant Commissioner in Charge of Crime and Intelligence, Milton Desir, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the officers will be made conformable at the temporary location.
Desir could not say how long the officers will be at that location, but noted that the building is being treated continuously and they are now awaiting the arrival of new furniture.
“The building has always been treated. But we want to ensure that it is treated again, before the furniture arrives, so we don’t have these problems again,” he told SNO.
The officers have expressed concern over the poor working conditions at the CID office. Infestations of bed bugs, dilapidated office furnishings and malfunctioning computers have been affecting them.
They also complained about a majority of the department’s computers being damaged during an island-wide power outage in May this year. Only two computers in the front of the office are operational.
President of the Police Welfare Association Camron Laure has said he is surprised by the poor working conditions of officers, but he believes buying new furnishings will not solve the problems.
He had recommended that the officers’ homes be treated as well to eliminate the bug infestation. He said he was informed that the office was treated twice for bug infestation, but it keeps reoccurring.
A notice has been placed outside the CID office which reads: “The CID office is temporarily closed. Reports are to be made at the Central Police Station. Sorry for the inconvenience it may cause.”