Women United: “Does the Government Budget Fails to Fund Protection Against Violence Commission?”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – “The Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2026/27, presented by the Ministry of Finance, does not appear to contain an express allocation for the Protection Against Violence Commission. This apparent omission is deeply concerning.”

“The Protection Against Violence Act was passed in July 2023 (just before the WAMM meeting in Nassau) and received Senate approval on August 2, 2023 — nearly three years ago.”

“Despite this, the Protection Against Violence Commission, which is the central mechanism designed to implement the Act, was not established until February 1, 2026 — a delay of over two and a half years.”

“Its establishment was publicly announced on March 2, 2026, just months before the May 12, 2026, general election. Now, only a few months later, it would appear that the government has presented a budget that provides no funding for the Commission to carry out its work.”

“This sequence of events — a law passed in 2023, the Commission established only on the eve of an election, and then left unfunded in the very first budget following that election — suggests a troubling lack of genuine commitment to using the tools in the Act to assist in the fight against violence.”

“A highly reputable Chair, Mrs. Marisa Mason-Smith, has been appointed to lead the Commission. Her ability to fulfil the Commission’s mandate — to develop a national strategic plan, coordinate support for victims, ensure adequate shelter provision, and certify funding for community projects — will be severely hampered by the absence of any budgetary appropriation.”

“The Act itself provides that the funds of the Commission shall consist of monies appropriated by Parliament (section 14(1)(a)). Without such appropriation, the Commission cannot function.”

“The need for this Commission has never been more demonstrable. Violence against women and children remains a persistent crisis in our society. The Act was passed to establish a multidisciplinary, coordinated response — one that brings together the Ministries of Health, Education, National Security, and Legal Affairs alongside support service providers and community organisations.”

“A Commission without funding is a Commission without capacity. It cannot appoint advocates for victims. It cannot liaise with shelters. It cannot support service providers. It cannot certify funding for community projects. It is, in effect, a shell.

“We call upon the government to immediately identify the allocation for the Protection Against Violence Commission in the Budget; and, if the Commission was omitted then we call on them to deduct funds from elsewhere in its budget to properly resource the Commission.”

“The Blueprint for Progress 2026, on which the government was re-elected, expressly promised to “fully resource and operationalise the Protection Against Violence Act.” That promise must be kept. The women and children of The Bahamas deserve nothing less.”