Food task force chairman blasts false reports on distribution of vouchers

Chairman of the National Food Distribution Task Force Susan Larson has called on political “mischief-makers” to “take their games elsewhere”.

Responding to posts appearing on social media, Larson said, “It is patently false that the task force is distributing expired food vouchers.”

Noting the task force is in its 33rd week of operations, she said, “From the outset, members of the task force and countless volunteers have worked tirelessly to provide humanitarian aid in the form of food assistance to tens of thousands of Bahamians. Teams work 50 and 60 hour weeks carrying out our mandate in an open and transparent manner. To suggest such an under-handed practice is in play is not just false, it is a gross disservice to them.”

The chairman added, “In first months of our work, our vouchers had no expiration date. Unfortunately, we found that people were stockpiling the vouchers and, in some instance, even trying to sell them. It is difficult to understand how someone presenting themselves as truly vulnerable and needing help, could do either.

“If you need food assistance, you need it now, not in a month or two. And if you need food assistance, why would you sell your voucher, a voucher you received at no charge, to someone else?”

The misuse of vouchers forced the task force to tighten up voucher preparation, distribution, and follow up, adding unnecessary expense and time to the program, according to Larson.

She further explained that paper and electronic vouchers are issued to a named beneficiary. Expiration dates give recipients two weeks to cash in their voucher for food. With the tightened protocols, the voucher program has been running smoothly, she said.

“It is, I guess, a sad fact of life, that these days you cannot count on goodwill being ever present,” Larson said.

“We have carried out this unprecedented national emergency program in an apolitical manner. Our only agenda is to fulfill our mandate and help people in need. We have never distributed expired vouchers. To suggest that is unconscionable.”

Phase three of the food assistance program is fully underway. Across the length and breadth of the country 18,000 households are being assisted, according to the chairman, who added that $38 million has been spent on food assistance between the government’s allocated funds and the contributions by NGOs.

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