ACKLINS - Community leaders in Acklins are seeking a trained social worker from the Ministry of Social Services to be stationed on the island.

Residents have complained for years to the government regarding this issue. They have argued that the social worker for the area should be in Acklins rather than Crooked Island - which is where the person is stationed The vehicle stationed in Acklins for the social worker was recently moved to Crooked Island. Consequently, whenever the social worker visits Acklins she has to either rent a vehicle or catch rides with residents.

"Acklins needs its own highly trained social worker, because we have a rather large case portfolio with special cases when compared to Crooked Island," said Acklins Administrator Francita Neilly. "If Acklins can't get its own trained case worker then the officer stationed at Crooked Island needs to visit Acklins at least once a week, because the person we have here now is only a social worker aide and she can only do so much .''

Pastor Rufus Forbes, a resident of Salina Point, told The Nassau Guardian he does not see the logic behind the Department of Social Services having the trained social worker in Crooked Island when Acklins' population is three times that of Crooked Island.

"The fact of the matter is that we have a lot of stuff going on in Salina Point and Social Services is aware of it, but is not addressing the problem," he said.

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