NASSAU, The Bahamas – Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer Mr. Julien Believe, celebrity Disc Jockeys and entrepreneurs The Mighty Pencil and Dion “Da Butcher” Knowles, and entrepreneur Mr. Josh Miller surprised staff at the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development and the Department of Social Services with lunch Friday (May 29).

(Physical distancing protocols and other safety measures as dictated by the Ministry of Health, were adhered to during the visit.)

Employees from the Department of Gender and Family Affairs and the Department of Rehabilitative Welfare Services also benefitted from the treat which served as a “thank you” for the yeomen’s work employees have done in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian (2019) and the COVID-19 Pandemic, while still providing myriad assistance and services to their regular clients. A similar presentation took place at the Department of Social Services Head Office located on Baillou Hill Road.

The celebrities were aided in their venture by a number of local companies including Graycliff, Bahama Barrels, Mario Carey, Believe Wines and Limeade Bahamas. Also present was Miss Petra Haven, Managing and Creative Director of Chameleon Management Group. Staff members received a limeade soft drink to go along with their lunches. They were presented with complimentary bottles of Believe Wine to enjoy over the holiday weekend.

Mr. Believe, who spoke on behalf of the partnership, addressed the genesis of the gift and the importance of saying “thank you” to the country’s social service providers.

“This is bigger than just me. It is a team effort,” Mr. Believe said. “We have been distributing food to a number of persons affected by COVID-19 and a lot of times, the real heroes do not get the kind of credit they deserve and go unnoticed. I consulted with my team with a view to doing something special for the country’s social service providers and we decided that we wanted to treat you to lunch today just to show our appreciation for the work that you do.

“We could not say thank you enough. We are very appreciative for what you do, and of your contributions to our country and to those who are not in a position to help themselves. We trust that you will continue to stay motivated. We love you and are very, very grateful for the services that you provide,” Mr. Believe added.

Ms. Phedra Rahming, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, thanked the local celebrities and their partners, for the show of appreciation.

“In addition to the assistance and services they provide to our regular clients, employees across the Commonwealth of The Bahamas have been in the trenches working, providing additional assistance and services to qualifying Bahamians, since Hurricane Dorian (September 2019),” PS Rahming said.

“Post Hurricane Dorian, we still have two shelters open, and those persons have still answered the national call to provide social assistance to those persons impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. It is truly good to know that their efforts are appreciated because very often you hear such negative comments and persons do not appreciate that we are working with what we have as best as we are able.”

Permanent Secretary Rahming made this promise,  “I will say to you here present today, and to the general public at-large, that change is coming to Social Services. We are on the move. It’s happening incrementally, but we want you to keep your eyes on us in the future because we intend to deliver,” PS Rahming added. 

Award winning singer, songwriter and producer, Mr. Julien Believe (far right), addressing employees of the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, the Department of Gender and Family Affairs and the Department of Rehabilitative Welfare Services. Physical distancing protocols and other safety measures as dictated by the Ministry of Health were adhered to during the visit. Mr. Believe spoke on behalf of the partnership that included celebrity DJs The Mighty Pencil and Dion “Da Butcha” Knowles, and entrepreneur Mr. Josh Miller of Limeade Bahamas. (BIS Photo/Matt Maura)