EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN today’s paper, Tuesday 5th November 2024, there contained a disturbing story on the front page about a female hotel employee that was stabbed at the resort by a male known to her.

Violence against women, especially intimate partner violence, is a devastating violation of dignity and autonomy that affects countless women and families in The Bahamas. 

This persistent form of violence not only inflicts profound physical and emotional harm but also perpetuates cycles of trauma, fear, and inequality.

It is imperative that governments take deliberate, comprehensive steps to address and prevent intimate partner violence.

Rushing through the Protection Against Violence Act is not enough. This administration has failed to implement the support systems and resources provided for in the Act. In short, they have yet to give the Act the teeth it needs to take a bite out of domestic violence.

In order to challenge cultural norms and stereotypes that enable abuse, victims must have access to safe spaces, mental health resources, and economic support to regain their independence and well-being. Law enforcement, healthcare providers, educators, and community leaders must also be trained to recognise, intervene, and support victims effectively. 

To tackle this crisis, we must demand that this government, while they sit in the chair, work together with organisations towards a Bahamas where every woman is safe, respected, and empowered. Together, we must build a culture that refuses to tolerate violence in any form and commits to nurturing equality, empathy, and accountability. But this government’s continued indifference will not help us to create lasting change that honors the rights of all people, especially women, and fosters a safer, more equitable Bahamas.

We deserve better! We deserve a government willing to take all possible steps to protect its citizens.

SENATOR MICHELA BARNETT ELLIS

Nassau, 

November 5, 2024.