COMMISSIONER of Police Paul Rolle and officers were in the Montel Heights community distributing food coupons, water and masks as a part of the police’s social contribution yesterday. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle and a team of officers distributed 200 meal vouchers to residents in the Nassau Village and Montell Heights communities yesterday.
The initiative, according to the police chief, is a part of the Royal Bahamas Police Force's ongoing efforts to help those in need amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We want to assure the members of the public that the police are in fact their friends and we want to be able to help in all of these communities in any which way we can," he told reporters during yesterday's distribution exercise.
"It's not all about arresting people and putting people in jail although that is a part of our job but what we also want the people to know that we are here for everybody and so today we gave out 200 food vouchers and each of those is valued at $40."
He added: "…We know that this time is a difficult time for a lot of families and we in the Royal Bahamas Police Force, we continue to make the sacrifice and we want to thank those business persons that have partnered with us to make this possible today."
Items that were also distributed yesterday included protective face masks and bottles of water.
Many residents expressed gratitude to the officers for their willingness to lend a helping hand during these challenging times.
"It goes a long way in this pandemic," said Nassau Village resident Lenora Prosper. "I haven't worked since March but I'm trying to survive and I have seven in my house and every little is a help."
Bianca Walkes, another resident in the community, also thanked the RBPF for the effort yesterday, saying the vouchers will be a "major help" in purchasing food for her four children.
Terrence Hutchinson, of Montell Heights, was also overcome with emotion yesterday after being gifted with the assistance package by Commissioner Rolle and his team.
Having been out of work for several months, Mr Hutchinson said trying to make ends meet has been extremely hard as his wife is the only employed worker in the family.
"I can't work. I have steel in my leg," he said. "I went to the National Insurance (Board) to get something eight months ago and I ain't get nothing yet and I used to work. They gave me a (disability) letter to carry to National Insurance from January and I ain't get nothing."
Caring for his wife's elderly cousin, he noted, has also compounded the situation.
"I have a 75-year-old (who lives) with me and she's blind. I does help her, wash her clothes and do all these things for her," he added.
"She's blind and she came from Long Island and she need some assistance too. My wife and me does help her out because that's my wife cousin. Otherwise, we ain't get nothing else. My wife does a little bit of work to the gas station and that's all. Otherwise, ain't nothing else because I can't work."
Mr Hutchinson said he has had to ask others for help.
"(I've been) begging, working and just to move a little garbage just to get something."
While many commended the police for the initiative yesterday, there were some residents who said more could be done to assist those in the community.
"I think the government needs to do a little more, like try to free up some things," said a Montell Heights resident, who only identified himself as Craig.
"Once they could create some work, people could get some money and move about. That's what (Dr) Minnis needs to do."
Last month, Commissioner Rolle and his team of officers gave out water and masks to Windsor Lane residents.
Yesterday, he told reporters police will participate in another similar exercise sometime next week.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 3 months ago
lol. they learn from the last time. The man did tell them we ain't camel. I wonder if the man they body slam in the night club over the weekend get a voucher
trueBahamian 4 years, 3 months ago
Sounds like the voucher that guy needs is for the hospital. The police are a reflection of society. There are good ones and bad bad ones. It's a good gesture what they're doing here. It would be good if they can clean up the force and get rid of the bad apples.
trueBahamian 4 years, 3 months ago
It's sad the stories covered here. People need to have a chance to help themselves. Hopefully, in the coming months things improve for these residents.
SP 4 years, 3 months ago
Thank you, POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle, and the team of officers for the meal vouchers.
Unfortunately, 200 meal vouchers are a minuscule drop in a very big bucket of hungry, traumatized, people that have no clue where their next meals are coming from, also knowing we are entering peak hurricane season!
Using the police is a good way to distribute vouchers but they would need to distribute 20,000+ meal vouchers on a sustained base if they realistically expect to make any impact.
Our country is in a tailspin with no light at the end of the tunnel, and no end in sight.
The only good thing Covid-19 has done is to expose 50 years of political stupidity.
TalRussell 4 years, 3 months ago
A disturbing reflection of the mentality behind the decision wear camouflage to hand out food vouchers by an armed military force must've been a cause behind the need to protect officers and equipment from observation by a community's ResidentsOrdinary aka the perceived enemy. Just couldn't make this stuff up. Just couldn't. A nod of Once for Yeah, Twice for No?
mandela 4 years, 3 months ago
Confusing
birdiestrachan 4 years, 3 months ago
Did they take their guns with them the one behind the commissioner seems to have guns by his side.? I am not sure what it is he has in his side pocket.
TalRussell 4 years, 3 months ago
There doesn't have to be visible evidence in the picture actual guns were worn during food vouchers hand out they do represent an armed force and residents would've had good reason believed they had guns nearby in their vehicles.
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 3 months ago
what they need to do for the community is to start their weight loss program. anyone over 180 needs to lose weight. 150 for women..just a guess at normal weight
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 3 months ago
I mean the police. All obese officers shouldbe enrolled immediately in a weight loss program. They couldnt send any better signal to the community than that. All these COVID victims appear to be elderly or obese. Obesity is the killer.
ohdrap4 4 years, 3 months ago
During the lockdown, I was stopped by policemen. From a distance they seemed very skinny. As I approached I then notice they were newbies.
They are only small when recruited, then they get very fat.
But the nurses need to lose wait as well. Most are mcdonalds size.
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 3 months ago
true. I'm not sure how you enforce for nurses but for the armed forces they should demand a certain level of fitness from their officers. Losing weight is very hard, our food tastes good. But they have to. And they should be careful not to use exercise as punishment.. oxymoronish... but you want them to adopt a lifestyle even after they leave, not hate it. transform the kitchen start making delicious healthy food. they can have conch but no more than ince a week. Potato salad and macaroni? make it sweet potato and vegan etc etc. Get an international grant to start the program. Pitch it as a natiinal health initiative. Please dont steal the money.
joeblow 4 years, 3 months ago
We are missing the opportunity to come out of this thing better as a country. Handouts are good, but hand ups are better!
We should be stressing the importance of education, saving and investing. Making opportunities available to strengthen communication, improve anger management etc in families. We should be showing the links between poverty and single parent homes so people could learn to make better choices and reduce the hardship in their lives. People should be made aware of free online university courses to improve their employment opportunities on the other side of this pandemic, but instead I expect a surge in new births to those who can least afford it which will coincide with the lockdowns and the cycle of learned helplessness continues. People are not learning independence but continued dependence and this is how politicians maintain control.
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