The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE


Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Protection Against Violence Commission will be officially housed in a new building on Pitt Road this month, bringing it one step closer to becoming fully operational, although it will still not be able to provide direct support to victims.

Commission Chair Marisa Mason-Smith told The Tribune yesterday that while significant groundwork has been undertaken since the commission was appointed in March, it is still not ready to provide support services to victims.

"We're definitely not ready but social services is the machinery that is dealing with that at this time," she told The Tribune yesterday. "There are still other NGO's and aspects of the Ministry of Social Services that is addressing such as those needs. We also have the Police Violence Unit that has carriage of those functions."

Her comments came after Social Services Minister Barbara Cartwright announced plans to commission a building on Friday, August 14th to house the body.

Ms Cartwright said the body would be able to begin its work in earnest once it is housed in the new facility, adding: "We are anxiously waiting."

The commission, mandated by the Protection Against Violence Act passed in August 2023, would serve as the central body coordinating national efforts to combat gender-based violence, monitoring data, managing shelters, and ensuring victims receive support and protection under the law.

The commission was officially appointed in February, nearly three years after the legislation was gazetted.

The Davis administration has allocated $42,900 to the commission - an amount some women’s advocates say falls short of what is needed to carry out its mandate.

Yesterday, Mrs Mason-Smith acknowledged that the allocation is not sufficient to complete the commission’s work.

However, she said she doesn't believe the limited funding will disadvantage the body as officials have been assured that additional funding will be provided through the ministry’s budget.

"In the short term it will assist, but the Ministry of Social Services have allotted other sources of funding from other areas of their budget that will complement the work that is being done," she said.

Mrs Mason-Smith also expressed confidence that the commission will have a more robust budget next year.

"Recognizing that we came in towards the end of the budget cycle, I am grateful that they have included us and we know that's not enough funding but we are assured that we won't be disadvantaged based on the needs and priorities of the commission that need to be done."

In the meantime, Mrs Mason-Smith said work continues to make the commission fully operational, with the body making steady progress towards that goal.

She said the commission has held several meetings and is developing a strategic plan as it works towards becoming fully operational.

"We have been in working mode since we were appointed and so it's a matter of doing more public awareness, the educational forum, the town hall meetings so that the public is aware of the functions and responsibilities of the commission"

Other steps include appointing the secretariat and the support team in place to help the commission do its work. The secretariat, among other things, will serve as the commission’s technical division, responsible for coordinating, formulating and publishing protocols for applications for funding and other assistance related to community projects and programmes.

“So we are proud and excited, and we're grateful for the opportunity to have a have a resting place,” Mrs Mason Smith added.