A long-running dispute over resourcing for the Bahamas’ key anti-domestic violence oversight body has moved into the national Senate, with Social Services Minister Barbara Cartwright moving to quell growing anxiety from women’s rights advocates by confirming dedicated initial funding for the Protection Against Violence Commission. During Wednesday evening’s senate sitting, Cartwright confirmed the government has earmarked $42,900 in initial allocations for the commission, pushing back against claims from leading advocacy groups that the body would be crippled before it could launch its core mandated work without dedicated public resourcing.
The push for clarification on funding came from Women United, one of the Bahamas’ most prominent women’s advocacy organizations. Group president Lisa Bostwick-Dean recently raised public alarms about the commission’s operating budget, warning that the body’s chair, Marisa Mason-Smith, would face severe operational barriers without guaranteed, dedicated financial backing. In a public statement outlining the group’s concerns, Bostwick-Dean noted the commission carries a broad, critical policy mandate: it is tasked with developing a national anti-violence strategic framework, coordinating cross-sector support for survivors of abuse, overseeing the expansion of emergency shelter capacity, and administering grant certification for community-led anti-violence projects. The advocacy leader called on the national government to publicly disclose exact funding figures to eliminate uncertainty around the commission’s ability to deliver on these responsibilities.
Cartwright acknowledged the legitimacy of these concerns in her senate address, moving to reassure both the public and advocacy community that sufficient resources have been locked in for the commission. Beyond confirming the initial $42,900 allocation, the minister added that any additional operational funds required by the body will be drawn from the Ministry of Social Services’ 2026/2027 fiscal budget, providing a long-term funding pathway for the commission’s work. She also shared new details on the body’s operational infrastructure, announcing that the commission will be based out of the recently renovated VB Munnings building located on Pit Road in Nassau.
Cartwright emphasized that the formation of the commission follows the recent passage of the landmark Protection Against Violence Act, meaning the body’s immediate priority will be the full, robust implementation of the new legislation. She told the Senate that the commission’s leadership – including chair Mason-Smith and Vice Chair Pastor Dave Burrows – have already held consistent working sessions with commission members to lay the groundwork for upcoming programming.
In addition to updates on the commission, the minister outlined progress on a parallel initiative to expand support for survivors of domestic violence: the conversion of two existing ministry-owned properties into new emergency safe houses. Cartwright credited her predecessor, current National Security Minister Myles LaRoda, with launching the renovation project, noting that work is on track to be completed within two to three months. Once open, the new facilities will be able to accommodate up to 24 people fleeing violent or abusive situations.
Looking ahead, Cartwright confirmed the Ministry of Social Services also plans to expand operational capacity at the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, which works alongside the commission to deliver support to vulnerable populations. The expansion will include hiring additional full-time staff to ensure the department has the personnel needed to meet its public service mandate.