By FELICITY DARVILLE
NASSAU, Bahamas — It was a spur of the moment decision that changed the trajectory of his entire life. He was 23 years old when he saw an ad in the Trinidad Guardian recruiting young men for the Police Force in The Bahamas. He read it and immediately knew it’s what he wanted to do. Now, at age 95, retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Rupert Thompson still says it was the best decision he made in his entire life.
He was born and raised in the village of Cunupia, Trinidad. After graduating from school, he became an apprentice machinist, working on the Trinidad Government Railways. He spent five years as an apprentice before becoming a professional machinist. He had been working in this position for two years when he first saw the ad in the newspaper.
The young Paul went to his supervisor to ask for time off, filled with hopes of a new life and career that could take him to higher heights in life.
“One day in Cunupia Village, we played a soccer match against a visiting team,” he reminisced.
“We were sitting outside under a mango tree enjoying our time. There was a convenience store next to us, and the Guardian truck pulled up with the Sunday Guardian. I saw the ad, and I decided… Just like that!”
Paul made the journey to Port of Spain to the police barracks to make his application. When he got there, he met a line of “about a thousand men” waiting for their opportunity to do the same.
“I got on the line,” he said.
“An officer came out with a loudspeaker: ‘All persons with convictions of any sort, come off the line! You’re just wasting time!’ About half of the line moved. ‘All persons married or have children in Trinidad, leave the line! We aren’t letting you out of here!’ So the line got shorter.
“I was an inch too short. They were looking for 5’9. I was 5‘8. I was disappointed. As I was leaving, a police sergeant told me to go home and stretch and ‘ting and come back tomorrow. So I went home, went to the railway’s gym. A fella there gave me some stretches and ‘ting and I did them. You had to take off your shoes – they measure your height in your socks. So, I put on about four pairs of football socks the next morning! So when I went back, and I had the inch. The fella say to me, ‘Weren’t you here yesterday?’ I said no, sir! and I went through that and some other rough times I had. Eventually they took twelve. They didn’t carry us.
“So, I went back to work at the railway. A few days later, one of the men at the railway told me that a police officer was out there to see me. They said you better go out and see what he is saying before he comes in here and embarrass you! So I went out. He asked me if I have a passport. I said, no, sir. He said well, you are chosen to go to The Bahamas. You are with the second squad! So, you better come in and get your passport and everything sorted out!” See complete article in The Tribune at http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/16/face-face-best-decision-paul-thompsons-life/
