THE DEPARTMENT of Social Services yesterday. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
RISING prices brought on by inflation have created a difficult situation for some people who were already struggling financially before this latest hurdle.
The Tribune recently spoke with several people seeking help at the Department of Social Services’ Baillou Hill Road office, who spoke about how they are feeling the economic pinch.
“I hate to go in the food store,” a woman from northern Abaco, who asked not to be identified, said. “Everything is extremely high. It’s terrible. It’s stressful. I just was telling someone I don’t know how they expect for you to get healed and do better. A person like me has chronic kidney disease – so how am I supposed to recover when it’s always some kind of pressure or stress?”
She has been in Nassau since September 2019 after Hurricane Dorian devastated her island. The mother was put in a hotel just five weeks ago and also gets a food coupon at the end of every month through government assistance.
She wants to go back to Abaco, but the family’s home is not finished.
“They (social services officials) put me at a hotel temporarily, assisted housing. Every Monday, I have to come in to get an extension,” she explained.
“Every Monday until I get sorted out. I don’t know how long that’s going to last because you know they’re always putting the pressure on you saying ‘You don’t have no family members’. . .I came here out of Dorian, so the majority of my family back in Abaco.”
On top of her living situation, she has experienced a number of health issues such as being diabetic.
“I just was working last year at Fish Fry, but I just got sick. I just started to feel bad. I hurt my foot and I got cut and it wouldn’t heal. So I had to stop working. Then after that I buck my foot…”
She said she recently had surgery and lost her toe.
She said she has worked periodically since leaving Abaco, however she has had a few setbacks.
“When I came from Dorian, I was working at Fusion - I was a cook there. I stopped working because of the pandemic. During the pandemic, I was one of the head cooks at Super Value. “Ended up catching COVID after a couple months and then COVID did me so bad. It took me like three months to recover, so I didn’t go back. After that I started doing my own thing and then I got job out Fish Fry up to December last year.”
The Tribune spoke with another mother who was seeking government assistance. The woman, who did not want to be named, said the rising prices on food and other goods has been “extremely difficult”. The 56-year-old’s husband is also disabled so she is the main breadwinner.
She does part-time work cooking and also has to sell water and drinks during off season. She said the family’s internet was recently cut off, hampering her son’s ability to continue his studies.
Lisa Thompson, who was at the department yesterday getting assistance with groceries, said she is doing her best.
“I’m just taking it (inflation) in stride because there’s nothing you can do to change it. You just have to take it slow and be careful what you spend,” she said
Comments
IslandWarrior 2 years, 7 months ago
The Bahamas jumped in "Whole Hog", supporting the US in its illegal financial war with The Russian Federation and China. The credulous world leaders who supported this foolish adventure (without assurances) are suffering economic collapse. While the Americans casually dump billions into the pockets of the murderous monsters in Ukraine.
*The administration of US President Joe Biden is expected to authorise the transfer of $750 million in additional military aid to Ukraine, which is under Russian military strikes.
The new military aid package would likely include military equipment such as unmanned surface vehicles, Mi-17 helicopters, howitzers and protective equipment against possible chemical attacks, two US officials familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.
The US has already delivered $2.4 billion in military assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Biden’s term in office, though much of that aid has come since Russia’s military offensive against Ukraine began in late February.
Sickened 2 years, 7 months ago
"Murderous monsters in Ukraine?" Lord what is this. Why is Russia posting their lies in the Tribune? Spread your message elsewhere fool.
IslandWarrior 2 years, 7 months ago
95% of the Biden, Ukrainian side-liners could not find Russia or Ukraine on a map if their children's lives depended on it. Ukraine has been the dark basket-case of Europe where blue-eyed, blond-hair prostitutes and drug addicts seep out to infest the streets of Berlin to London. Now the credulous Russofobics, in their narrow-minded and ignorant view of the history and facts of the events, feel that they are somehow proudly honoured to contribute to the debate by lobbing insolence.
Again, The Bahamas jumped in "Whole Hog", supporting the US in its illegal financial war with The Russian Federation and China. The credulous world leaders who supported this foolish adventure (without assurances) are suffering economic collapse. While the Americans casually dump billions into the pockets of the murderous Neo-Nazi monsters in Ukraine.
People are not interested in the truth, it doesn't play anymore to pseudo comforts of today's culture of mindless retards.
Sickened 2 years, 7 months ago
Sorry Mr. Trump... I got you confused with Mr. Putin.
IslandWarrior 2 years, 7 months ago
US announces additional $800mn in weapons aid to Ukraine
John 2 years, 7 months ago
Did government end the food assistance and unemployment assistance programs too soon? It is apparent that this government is more ‘hot up’ on collecting unpaid taxes from unemployed and struggling Bahamians than it is in relieving the distress and human suffering in this country. Yes, taxes are necessary, but they must be gradual and eventual in times like these. Never the ‘pay now or else…’ approach. OTHERWISE BAHAMIANS will be begging for MINNIS to come back SOON! . . Government needs to do an immediate assessment of t what the Unemployment and assistance needs are in the country. (2). Give immediate assistance to persons/families in dire need (3). Buy up ( purchase) ALL the excess local poultry , meat and produce in the country and use them as part of the food assistance programs. (4) Give farmers seed money and other incentives to produce even more crops, poultry and farm animals and continue to use the in the Social service food assistance programs. Even excess catches from fishermen can be used, but the fish must be cleaned else a lot of it will go to waste. But the government can create jobs by hiring fish cleaner or purchase from fish houses. (6) After inventory of um employees are don along with their skill sets, create drives and incentives for businesses to hire those workers. Many of the young, unemployed are teachable and trainable. (7) Find other ways to bring the economy back and increase government revenue rather than trying to tax yourself out of the financial hole. Excess taxation leads to more tax evasoon and many are, like government , trying to get back on their feet. So unless government is prepared to start jailing business owners for unpaid taxes and taking peoples homes for unpaid property taxes, it must give them time to recover.
birdiestrachan 2 years, 7 months ago
The tribune will do well. not to go around Social Services for news stories. Unless they have something to give to the poor leave them alone.
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