10th July 2020

Police, Fire Officers receive new gym equipment

The Make it Happen Foundation continues its support of police and fire stations islandwide and with proceeds raised from its annual Officers’ Ball held this past December, has provided top-of-the-line gym equipment including treadmills, weights and other machines to four police and fire stations.

The handover took place on July 9, at the Saint Lucia Fire Service Headquarters in Castries which is among the recipients of the equipment. Soufriere, Vieux Fort and the Police Force Academy where the SSU train are among the beneficiaries.

Inspector Lucius Lake, a director of the Foundation stated at the handover that “Our mandate is not only to outfit the physical premises with equipment and to effect remedial works to kitchen, bathrooms, dormitories and bathrooms, but also to try to ensure overall that day to day working conditions are as comfortable as possible.  Physical fitness is a critical component of our jobs and we are so pleased that we are able to assist both police and fire officers by providing access to equipment that will promote, support and encourage healthy lifestyles within the police force and fire service”.

Founder and Chairperson Mrs. Raquel Du Boulay-Chastanet stated that “A major part of an officer’s life is spent away from their homes; the scheduling and call of duty require officers to be at the station sometimes for days at a time. Our Foundation recognizes that it is often the small things which can make the biggest difference and can boost morale and we are so pleased by the reaction to this equipment”.   

Four other stations received large flatscreen televisions including the Richfond and Choiseul Police Stations and three others each received five waiting room chairs and kitchen stools.  The Make it Happen Foundation has received several other requests to provide gym equipment to police and fire stations whose personnel are keen to exercise, stay fit and pursue a healthier lifestyle and Mrs. Chastanet added that this endeavour would be undertaken within the coming weeks with the hope that ten police and fire stations could be provided with this much needed fitness equipment.  The imminent completion of major remedial works effected at the Choiseul Police Station was also announced. 

The Foundation was very thankful to all its donors for the continued support and Mrs. Chastanet noted the contribution of Flow for providing cable TV to the police and fire stations mentioned and West Indies Shipping for donating their services to facilitate the shipping of the gym equipment.

Mrs. Chastanet ended her address by thanking all police and fire officers for their extraordinary service and sacrifices made particularly as our island continues to face COVID-19. 

“All of you officers, together with the nurses who our Foundation has been also able to assist earlier this year, and other frontliners have been the heroes in this crisis.  On behalf of the members of my Foundation and all of Saint Lucia we thank you all for working tirelessly to keep us safe.”

Acting Police Commissioner Milton Desir and Fire Chief Joseph Joseph both reiterated their gratitude to the Foundation for all the support received over the years for their hundreds of members and acknowledged how the support of the Foundation has much improved the day to day working conditions at their various stations. 

The President of the Police Welfare Association Travis Chicot was also present at the handover and thanked the Make It Happen Foundation for their continued support and expressed how this donation supported of one of the association’s top priorities which is to give their members access to a healthier and fitter lifestyle.

“The Police Welfare Association (PWA) is forever grateful to the Make it Happen Foundation for their generous donations to the members of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) over the past four years. This donation of gym equipment is a fulfillment of a need and a top priority of the PWA,” noted Officer Chicot.  “This contribution is timely and very important to us as we can encourage our men and women to practice healthy lifestyles which are integral to the effective execution of our duties.”

The Officers’ Ball since its inception in 2016 has raised almost six hundred thousand dollars and has donated everything from microwaves, stoves, ovens, kitchen items, paintings, refrigerators, air conditioning units, water heaters, televisions, washing machines, dryers, printers, chairs, desks and effected major infrastructural enhancements like lockers, showers, fences and even new kitchens, bathrooms, dormitories and living rooms to the service stations of our country.  It has also built libraries and reading centres in the Babonneau Primary School and the Odsan Primary School.  The Foundation has also donated substantial funds to the Womens’ Support Centre in 2019  ($15,000) and the St. Lucia Nurses Association ($22,500) in 2020, both from proceeds raised from its annual Tea and Testimony tea party in celebration of International Women’s Day.

To find out more about the foundation visit: facebook.com/makeithappenstlucia

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