Breaking ground for equality: Police training college dorms to boost female recruitment

A new day has dawned for aspiring female police officers, who for years were denied the opportunity to serve—not because they lacked the qualifications or interest, but because there simply wasn’t enough space to house them during training.

After nearly 70 years, that reality is now changing.

Ground was broken at a ceremony for two new dormitories at the Regional Police Training Centre (RPTC) in Christ Church on Tuesday, a $10 million investment aimed at expanding recruitment and eliminating barriers within the force.

At the ceremony Attorney General Dale Marshall acknowledged the long-standing issue, noting: “In 2023, the prime minister and I were talking to the commissioner about recruiting and the number of women that had to be turned away was really inexcusable.

“When I asked why we had to turn them away, it was because we had no dormitory facilities to accommodate them.”

He revealed that the current dormitory setup only allows for about 23 female recruits, a situation, he noted, the government was determined to fix.

“Of course, in our modern society, we had to make sure that there was equal accommodation for males and females and here, perhaps 18 or so months later, we are at this location, breaking ground for these new dormitories,” he added.

While initially intended to expand accommodation for female recruits, the dormitories will be unisex.

Each building will house 30 officers, increasing the training capacity at the RPTC from 99 to 155 recruits—a major step toward strengthening The Barbados Police Service.

The attorney general pointed out that while the United States had pledged nearly $1 million for dormitory renovations, that funding is currently uncertain.

He said: “The US government had pledged just under a million dollars to help us to renovate some of our dorms. But in recent times, all of the US aid has been paused, so we don’t know where that’s going to go. But I am so proud that we don’t have to wait on foreign aid. We can be self-sufficient and do our own thing.”

The dormitories at the RPTC were built in 1956, making this expansion the first of its kind in nearly seven decades.

The new dorms, set for completion in 40 weeks, will be built to modern standards, featuring hurricane-resistant structures, eco-friendly designs, and water storage tanks to ensure continuous operations even during emergencies.

Marshall shared that the upgrades will not only improve conditions for recruits but also enhance the RPTC’s role in regional law enforcement training.

“This training centre was the location for specialised training for officers in preparation for the Cricket World Cup. We brought in tutors from England, who spent about four weeks there. They did several kinds of training including crowd control,” he said.

He further described his long-term vision for the RPTC, including expanding its conference facilities and upgrading accommodations for visiting officials: “I also have plans for the commandant’s residence. We’ve been discussing the demolition of that derelict building to build a sort of executive suite so that the commissioner can host his colleagues in the kind of accommodation that would befit their status.”

Marshall added that once the dorms are completed, the next phase should be a full-scale conference room, but jokingly admitted that this would likely be a task for a future AG.

Deputy Commandant Lawrence Collymore stressed that the dormitory expansion represents more than just a construction project—it is a commitment to equality and inclusion within the force.

“As we take this important step, we are not only improving the housing accommodation of our police officers, we are also reinforcing our commitment to furtherance, equality, and inclusion within our constabulary,” he told the ceremony.

He added that the timing of the project aligns well with The Barbados Police Service’s 190th anniversary celebrations next year, which will be held under the theme: Pride in Our Legacy, Vision for Tomorrow: 190 Years of Tradition and Transformation.

“Once completed, this project will certainly assist us to continue to build enduring legacies with the vision for a better tomorrow as we celebrate 190 years of cherished traditions,” Collymore said. shannamoore@barbadosstoday.bb