BVI News

Turnbull develops food voucher initiative to benefit needy constituents

District Representative, Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull

Representative for the Second District Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull is spearheading a food voucher initiative which is geared towards assisting his constituents who cannot afford basic food items.

Turnbull, in an interview with BVI News on Tuesday, said a number of local supermarkets within his district will have the vouchers which are worth up to $200 and is available to residents on a case-by-case basis.

“It is something that I am doing because in this uncertain time with COVID, people’s needs still do exist and I am going to try to do my part to help as much people as possible,” he said.

Turnbull also detailed how the initiative is designed to work.

“The people that don’t have a way to provide for themselves, I have organised with the supermarkets on Tortola as well as the two supermarkets on Jost Van Dyke.”

“Now I am going to work with Mr Jerel Chinnery and his mart over on the eastern end for people to go to the district officer, apply for the food vouchers and once she lets me know who it is, we’ll sign off on it. It goes to the proprietor of the food markets and then people get their food and we have them paid,” he explained.

Aware and assisting with the Hendricks situation

Meanwhile, BVI News also queried whether Turnbull was aware of the hardships being suffered by the Hendricks family in the Second District island of Jost Van Dyke.

He said he is well aware of the concerns and said his voucher initiative was made available for the family to utilise. They have since done so following as interview with BVI News.

As it relates to the horrid living conditions being experienced by Wendy and Sidney Hendricks, Turnbull said he was doing all in his power to get the situation resolved.

He said he has been in discussions with Health & Social Development Minister Carvin Malone to keep on top of things.

“The situation is one that is unacceptable. Mrs Hendricks continues to do her part and I continue to lobby on her behalf, but it is something that the government needs to act upon quickly,” he stated.

“It is not suitable for any human being to be living in and I am to the point where I hear their pain and whatever I can do I have been doing but the ministry has to play their role,” Turnbull added.

Shares

Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

11 Comments

Disclaimer: BVI News and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the comments below or other interaction among the users.

  1. Strupes says:

    Go sit down we need a new representative in the 2nd

    Like 10
    Dislike 3
  2. Insider says:

    Just a s— for mark and him to get m—–

  3. Please says:

    This minister is a total waste,comes into the house with things his former Government should have taken care of years before when they had power. This guy is a total waste of an x.

    Like 1
    Dislike 2
  4. 2nd District says:

    How do i apply for this voucher?

    • People says:

      This guy is a f—. He is an o—————t

    • Tell them... says:

      You name Wendy

      • Watchful Eyes says:

        We need to know what happened or is happening to the $300,000 given to every rep even at large members. How can he say he “He spare heading food voucher initiative?” Is the money his personal money coming out of his pocket?”

        Another thing he said “it is something that the government needs to act upon quickly” What??? ACt upon quickly??? How quickly is quickly??? The family has been in this cave since 2017. Government cannot now be acting quickly but immediately at record speed. Like a hurricane cat 7 speed. Quickly is an under statement for God sake.

  5. Native says:

    Who going to be taxed to fix this failure?

  6. Native 2 D Bone says:

    Who going to be taxed to fix this failure?

  7. Anonymous says:

    Waste of time.

  8. So says:

    Can we apply for better living condition just l8ke that family in JVD. He lost our roof and ran to our neighbour for safety ho. Then we had to hunt down to find an apartment with our small children. Why were we not given a place too to live in by the government.

Leave a Reply

Shares