By CLEOPATRA MURPHY

Freeport News Intern

The Rotary Club of Grand Bahama Sunrise will be hosting a "Protect The Protectors Ribfest" on Saturday, July 5 to raise funds to purchase protective vests for The Royal Bahamas Police Force.

The ribfest which will culminate the events of the first Annual Police Appreciation Week will take place from 12 - 6 p.m. at Seahorse Plaza and is a part of the rotary's "Protect The Protectors" initiative.

Offering entertainment from The Royal Bahamas Police Band, Purple Thunder and a variety of others, "Protect The Protectors" committee member James Sarles has high expectations for the event.

"Minister of National Defence Tommy Turnquest is going to come, all the executive administration from the Royal Bahamas Police Force will be there. There will be demonstrations from the Fire Division and the Traffic Division, Drug Enforcement, the dogs and the Royal Bahamas Police Band is going to provide entertainment. It's going to be a terrific event," he said.

Stating that the event would be a learning experience for children, Sarles said children would be educated about drugs and achieve a better understanding of the services the police department offers.

Noting that the purpose of "Protect The Protectors and by extension, Saturday's ribfest is to raise money to purchase much needed bullet-proof vests for the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Sarles remarked on the importance of officers having the necessary tools to perform their duties.

"The theme of this Police Appreciation Week is "Protect the Protectors" because the people who protect us need the protection and that's what these bullet- proof vests do," he said.

Reflecting on the untimely passing of one officer earlier in the year he said, "Unfortunately at the beginning of this year there was a police officer in Nassau who was killed in the line of duty because he was shot and didn't have a protective vest. This is mandatory equipment and the Rotary Club since we're a worldwide service organization we stepped up to the plate to give them the proper policing tools that they need, especially with crime on the rise."

Garnering the support from the business community for this laudable venture has been relatively easy Sarles noted as donations poured in after the rotary's request for assistance in its endeavour.

"The corporate community has really stepped up to the plate and we didn't really have to beg for these funds. We sent out some solicitation letters and the real corporate citizens they just jumped to it and sent the cheques for these vests," he said.

Tickets for Saturday's Ribfest can be purchased from members of the Rotary Club of G.B. Sunrise and The Royal Bahamas Police Force for $12.

Dinners include Southern style ribs, yams, coleslaw and buttered rolls.

Urging the public to come out and support the cause Sarles said, "We appreciate the police and this is the way of showing the gratitude for everything they do. We're all in this together for safety, it's not only their job. It's our job to work with them and create a safer society."

Members of the rotary's committee who made "Pro-tect The Protectors" a success include Rotary Club of G.B. President Tom Leeder, Ben Bell, Ivan Chestnut, John Markoulis, Eddie Whan, Maitland Cates, Ricardo Murray and Don Churchill.