The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

DAYS after the country celebrated Remembrance week in honour of World War I and II veterans, the daughter of a 90-year-old veteran called attention to her father’s poor living conditions.

Sherice Rolle, 45, told The Tribune that the Urban Renewal Commission began repairs in April on her father’s rundown home located at Toote Shop Corner, off Centreville, but has not returned to finish much needed renovations on the old structure.

She outlined the level of assistance given by Urban Renewal as an unfortunate symbol of how some veterans are treated in The Bahamas.

Her father, Ivan Simeon Rolle, served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

Today he lives with Ms Rolle and two of his grandchildren in a dilapidated structure that was first constructed in 1948.

When The Tribune visited the home yesterday, the house was in a shambolic state, with open spaces in the roof and limited places to walk and manoeuvre.

Outside, a cesspit could be opened by children who play in the area, as it was not tightly sealed.

According to Ms Rolle, months after Urban Renewal promised to return to complete renovations, there has been no action despite her direct appeals to the organisation and to area MP, Prime Minister Perry Christie.

Urban Renewal officials yesterday did not respond to the matter when contacted by The Tribune.

“We went to Urban Renewal and talked to them about it,” Ms Rolle said. “They told us to take pictures and bring it to them. I took almost 200 pictures to ensure I covered everything. We had to run them down to fix the house. We needed the inside and the outside of the house fixed. We put in for the engineering of the house, the electrical work, the plumbing of the house to be fixed, so basically everything we called for to be fixed, including the floor.

“After we spoke with them they said they would send somebody to fix the house. Urban Renewal fixed the kitchen, some of the floor, which was in terrible shape, the bathroom and they improved some of the plumbing issues. They came but the contractor said they didn’t give him enough money to do much of the stuff. I’m on disability benefit. My father is on veteran’s pension. We have no funds. According to the doctor I can’t work because I have a bad back and screws in my foot.”

Ms Rolle said the conditions in the home are so bad, that rats have crawled on her father at night. She said the family had to get a cat to deal with the rat infestation problem.

She said she understands that Urban Renewal is under no obligation to repair the home, but added that she would have expected a veteran to be treated better.

“It’s bad, how the country treats veterans, with my father being a world war veteran,” she said. “He fought for the country. He should at least be first priority. And they’re saying Urban Renewal is for the elderly and the disabled and the unemployed. Now you got to show me that’s the case – I ain’t seeing it.”