The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

REFERENCE/TO POLICE RESERVE OFFICERS IN THE BAHAMAS

Dear Ms/Mr Reader,

HERE in this country the government says that all employees should treat their workers with respect and workers should be paid minimum wages, so when will the government set example and start first.

Any honest person in this Bahamas knows that the people who work the hardest are treated poorly.

Mr Commissioner of Police, we don’t hear your voice speaking out for the hard-working men and women of the Royal Bahamas Police Reserve Officers. And why not? These men and women work very hard to serve and protect us, the people, in this country but yet they are not respected.

Sir, when will you and others remember they do the same duties as any regular police officer and in some cases more because on some islands where there’s lack of manpower, police reserves are the ones to hold shifts day and night working 4/12 an 12/8.

Do you realise their lives are in just as much danger as any other police because when a criminal sees them in the uniform they only see a policeman? If they shoot trying to escape from a crime scene do you think they will stop and ask are you regular police or reserve? No, that officer’s life is in danger too. Do you even care?

And they have work like slaves to get a couple of hundred dollars whenever the Public Treasury decides to pay them. I call it like I see it. Why is it that all these years police reserve constables are earning only $5.25 a hour and corporals $6.60? My God, what a disgrace.

What happened to the 200 hours the (PLP) said that Reserves are allowed to work? They work it but can’t get paid for it. No kind of benefits for these hard working people. No business place will do any sort of business with them. I won’t speak of the banks, they would tell them the police reserves is not a job.

When and who will give some help to the single man and woman who wants to be able to send their children through college like anyone else in this Bahamas, be able to afford a nice home or even a vehicle just to get simple necessities in this country? How can we be so cold to these people who risk their lives to keep us safe night and day? if they die what do their families get? Nothing. A big zero.

Mr Minister sir, you were a part of this force and you know these things needs to be addressed (ASAP). I was one who refused to believed something like this happens in this force until I sat and listened to the daughter of a friend of mine, a police reserve officer who passed away may his soul rest in peace. I heard their cry, how they can’t afford to even bury their father who served us in this country so many years. You tell me the government can’t do better?

Please, someone give these people what they deserve, help them to live a better life. They are the lowest paid, most disrespected and still the most hard working police officers. When called upon how many regular police officers go to work and work their full shift? I know some go to work and once reserves arrive at work they are left to man the station while the regular officer goes off to sleep with their sweethearts.

Please, please listen to the cries of these people. They need their 200 hours and higher pay and please don’t forget to give these officers some kind of benefits.

For God’s sake, remember God made ugly, but he don’t like it.

ANONYMOUS

Nassau,

November 14, 2017.