 Minister for the Public Service, Home Affairs, Labor and Gender Affairs, Hon. Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte conducted a tour of the institutions in the south of the island that fall under her portfolio. The VEFA police station and fire station were among those visited. Chief Fire Officer of the St. Lucia Fire Service, Joseph Joseph, and Commissioner of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force, Milton Daisy, accompanied Hon. Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte. VEFA officer Joseph Joseph said the visit would aid in boosting the morale of the fire service officers. We always like to know that the job that we do is appreciated and very often staff say that they don't think that they get the level of appreciation that they deserve. Sometimes they believe that ministers especially are too busy to visit them and it is not a very good thing for them but they express disappointment about it. But the fact that the ministers have taken time to visit them and in many cases a direct interaction with them, they are happy about it. Commissioner of Release, Milton Daisy, is optimistic that the minister's visit will result in better working conditions for the officers in the south. As we say, yes, the officers are paid to do a job, however, the living conditions, the conditions under which they work has to be at an acceptable level and I am very pleased that Madam Minister has in fact dedicated her words that yes, we will improve the services and especially at VEFA police station where it has been the main VEFA police station is close for about three years or more and we are hoping to see a light through the tunnel that the station would be repaired so that the officers could go back to enjoy the station, their house, where they are working from, actually the present condition that they work in as much as it is not the best but I know the officers are making the effort to be there and to do the work that they are supposed to do. So all in all, I find it was a very good gesture and I appreciate it very much and on behalf of the Royal St. Lucia Police was I say thanks to the Ministry of Home Affairs for the gesture. Home Affairs Minister, Honourable Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte said the government is prioritising the renovation of the VEFA police station. They have been relocated temporarily but it's like three years they have been there and it's long overdue and the government is presently looking at all possibilities to get this building renovated so that they can move back in the location which is the adequate place that they need to function effectively. So as Minister of Home Affairs, I was accompanied with my Permanent Secretary and the Deputy Permanent Secretary and my communications team and they had a very good delegation and I am very pleased with the outcome. I was able to identify some of the challenges and the government of St. Lucia is committed to giving the necessary support to our security and law enforcement and women so that at the end we can make St. Lucia a safer environment for all. The toll was conducted on Thursday, March 3, 2022. From the Government Information Service, Hulmati Mark reporting.