NASSAU, The Bahamas – Bahamas Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie Griffin told delegates attending the second annual National Congress of Trade Union (NCTU) women’s conference that domestic violence is a problem that “cannot be ignored” given the tremendous social, physical, psychological and economic impact it can have on individuals and families.
The delegates represented the various unions that fall under the umbrella of the NCTU.
Thursday’s conference, held at the Bahamas Union of Teachers Building, was staged as part of ceremonies observing International Women’s Day and was hosted by the Women’s Association of the NCTU.
Minister Griffin said domestic violence, also referred to as family violence or intimate partner violence, for the most part, occurs behind closed doors and transcends all race, color, religion and creed.
“It knows no political, social or economic bounds,” Minister Griffin said. “It is not a one time, isolated event, but rather a pattern of behavior or a cycle that has to be broken.”
Mrs Griffin said that despite their many achievements locally, regionally and internationally, violence against women and girls continues “unabated” in every continent, country and culture.
She said while Bahamian women “have come a long way” they cannot “rest on our laurels” as there are “still many of our sisters who are deeply rooted in situations of domestic violence and they need our help.”
“We are all touched in one way or the other by domestic violence and it requires the collective efforts of all to address the problem,” Mrs. Griffin added.
Minister Griffin said the passage of the Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Bill (Short Title) in the House of Assembly on Wednesday (March 7, 2007) will not be able to eliminate domestic violence, but will serve as a major plank in the fight against it “and we hope bring it to a reduced level.”
“What we do know,” she said, “is that the legislation will certainly bring relief to our many citizens who are in relationships and/or living in homes where violence is a common occurrence.”
Minister Griffin said the overwhelming support for the legislation by parliamentarians from all sides of the political divide sent “a clear message” to perpetrators of domestic violence that “this country is united against domestic violence.”
The Bill, introduced in Parliament for a Second Reading by Minister Griffin Wednesday morning, went through to the Senate unopposed by House Members.
“The vote was unanimous. Everyone, government members, the Opposition, the clergy, everyone is well aware of the consequences of domestic violence and this vote sends a clear message to those persons who are out there committing these acts that their behavior will not be tolerated,” Mrs. Griffin said.
“I am satisfied that the provisions of the Bill will go a long way in raising the level of consciousness of domestic violence while providing greater protection for victims and promoting and fostering the implementation of programs for both victims and perpetrators,” Mrs. Griffin added.
Minister Griffin said it is “unfathomable to think” that men and women who wield great power in boardrooms in The Bahamas, demand the respect of hundreds of devoted staff and make decisions in companies with assets “in the millions of dollars” could find themselves in homes where they are beaten to a pulp almost on a daily basis or are victims of some other subtle form of domestic violence.
“No one is exempt and it is a historic fact that children who witness violence in their homes, or are abused in their homes eventually become victims or perpetrators of domestic violence,” Mrs. Griffin said.
“And then these same children move out of these families and go into the community, they go to school, go to church and go on jobs and are dysfunctional. And then we wonder why we have so much anger and why we cannot resolve our differences without the use of violence?” Minister Griffin asked.
“It all starts in the home. Where all of this violence is going on in the home and the violence is not only physical, it’s verbal, it’s emotional, it’s psychological and we now see more and more cases of financial abuse where monies that should be going towards the care of the home and families and being withheld. That too, is a form of domestic violence and we have to put an end to it,” Minister Griffin added.
