Jamaica opens first National Women's Shelter to halt domestic violence

Jamaica - “The site is nice and tidy and ready, besides for one and two points,” said the Minister of Culture, Gender Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, on Thursday following she observed the facility that will work as the first state-run shelter for sufferers of domestic violence.

The founding of national shelters for women who require aid to move violent relations has been one of the preference memoranda of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

The Ministry acquired the land— whose spot cannot be revealed for safety reasons— in 2018 and has offered vital work to convert it into a building to house women who are victims of gender-based disturbance and their kids.

Grange stated: “We’re fine-tuning some rules in courses of the service — just to join the T’s and dot the I’s. In the meanwhile, we’re able; we can take in — I would call them customers — and take care of a family. We have most of the places ready. There are only a couple of unfurnished bedrooms.”

The Ministry has also acquired two additional assets which it will convert into shelters for victims of exploitation.

Minister Grange told the establishing of the shelters could not have been accomplished the assistance of our international partners outwardly.

“The former EU Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska and the Canadian High Commissioner Laurie Peters have been extremely engaged in our attempts to make these shelters. The EU Ambassador has left, but the Canadian High Commissioner [who] will be going soon, desired a moment to see where we were in this struggle,” said the Minister. High Commissioner Peters accompanied Minister Grange on Thursday’s trip.

Peters said: “I am captivated to be here with Minister Grange now at this the beginning of several nationally financed women’s shelters. We all recognize Canada in special the value of having safe places for women and their families. We have observed that the covid-19 pandemic has put extra pressures on relationships as they are in quarantine and none too early this is a convenient task and I’m heartened to see that it has space and the size to be able to accommodate women and their familie.”

Minister Grange stated she was delighted with the construction, adding that the facility required a few things to guarantee the satisfaction of patrons.

“So we can do with television kits and bunk beds and desks, toys for the kids and so on. We have atelier facilities, and we have one-bedroom amenities. The apartments are very capacious so we can, in fact, support a family in an home,” said Minister Grange.

The Minister has advised women in scurrilous circumstances to call for assistance.