The Tribune

THE lack of progress over the opening of a domestic violence shelter has reached such a level that it appears people are giving up on government over it.

Last week, the president of Families of All Murder Victims (FOAM), Khandi Gibson, issued a call for the public to join her in building a shelter for victims of domestic violence.

Let us be clear – the absence of meaningful updates from the government on this issue is nothing new.

In July 2023, then Minister of Social Services Obie Wilchcombe said that the first of four new shelters would be ready in a few weeks. Not one of those four happened.

Back in April, current minister Myles Laroda said the government was in the process of acquiring a facility.

He urged people to “stay tuned”, and said: “Words say anything; we will lead by example; we show better than we can tell.”

Well, if that is slow, the example is inaction and lack of communication.

Ms Gibson said last week she has not received any update on the construction of the shelter.

Prior to that, in mid-August, Prodesta Moore, the president of Women’s United, said that the last update she had received had been about two months previously.

She said at the time that dealing with the matter was “over to, I guess, an individual who was going to be responsible for spearheading that initiative, but as far as the progress, I was waiting to hear further, and I have not heard anything regards to that”.

FNM Senator Maxine Seymour also was in the dark. She said in mid-August: “This is the third budget cycle and still no shelter for women. I have been unable to access concrete updates or information of any kind. The minister promised that a building would be purchased by the end of June. It’s now August and there is still no word and there is still no word on whether that commitment has been fulfilled.”

In last year’s budget, $500,000 was allocated for the purchase of the shelter. The budget period expired with no sign of the purchase.

This is clearly not being treated as a matter of any significant priority, and it is not just a matter of the occupant of the role of minister. This is an issue that has not been dealt with by successive chiefs in that post.

We talk about protecting women from domestic violence, but without meaningful action, it is just that – talk.

There should be no reason for a clear update on the status of the shelter the government is planning. Has a property been purchased? If not, why not? Has a site been identified? What is the expected time before it is available for use in providing a respite for women and families fleeing from domestic violence? What is being done in the interim to protect those people who have nowhere to go?

All of these are important questions – but seemingly not important enough to give activists who are experts in this arena a straight answer. Well, how about the public? Does the public deserve an answer?

If there is no significant movement on this issue, there may well be some voters who conclude that – along with lack of progress on issues such as women’s citizenship, marital rape legislation and more – this administration simply does not prioritise women’s issues. When the time comes to vote, that may come back to haunt re-election hopes.