In a striking critique, Attorney Grant Connell has labeled the living and working conditions at the Narcotics Base in Arnos Vale as nothing short of a “pigeon coop.” This call to action comes as Connell advocates for the fines from marijuana possession offenses to be redirected towards refurbishing the deteriorating facility.Connell’s comments were made on Tuesday while he was representing Vincent Edwards, a 42-year-old farmer who pleaded guilty to possessing 30 pounds of marijuana with intent to supply and trafficking.
The attorney painted a grim picture of the base, recounting scenes of pigeons flying in and out of the building and describing a yard littered with what appeared to be abandoned vehicles.”The officers who are based there are dedicated and hardworking, and they deserve better standards of living,” Connell said, lamenting the current state of the facility.
He noted seeing a female sergeant sweeping out rat feces near the kitchen, underscoring the potential health risks.Connell, known for his staunch support of marijuana decriminalization, argued that the Narcotics Unit is an elite organization whose officers deserve much better. “What ain’t leaking have on some small cheap lock,” he remarked about the exhibit room, highlighting the urgent need for improvements.
This call for action comes from an attorney who has represented numerous clients in marijuana-related cases, both local and regional, in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Connell’s outspoken plea aims to push for necessary reforms to ensure better conditions for the country’s narcotics officers.