There are two centres or homes for boys and girls in Anguilla; and now a shelter for battered women and their children is being sought by the Minister of Social Development and Education, Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers.
She is just back from a series of meetings in Washington DC where she attended a Gender-based Violence Conference and met with some very influential women. Chief among them was Ms. Ludie Green, Agency Lead on Counter-Trafficking and violence against women, who has worked under the last four Presidents of the United States.
The Minister said the discussions were centred on how a shelter for battered women and their children can be obtained in Anguilla. The talks also included how the partnerships she developed in Washington DC could provide a programme that would help women to succeed, as it was not only about having the shelter, but accessing financial literacy so that women could stand on their own in an abusive relationship.
According to Minister Kentish-Rogers, the shelter costs about 350,000 US dollars for which funding is being explored through technical networking with various women’s organisations.
Commenting on the meeting Minister Kentish-Rogers noted the following.
“My first thanks must go to Christianne Richhi (Woman extraordinaire and member of the International Women’s Forum) for allowing us to enjoy “I Ricchi” for this event. This initiating discussion was attended by well known women and business leaders across the state who include:
“-Ludy Green who is Agency Lead on Counter-Trafficking, violence against women and who has worked under the last 4 Presidents of America;
“-Nan Fife, the Director of the State Department’s Caribbean Affairs;
“-Jean Marie Fernandez, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Washington Ballet, President of the Fernandez Foundation and former Education Executive for Estee Lauder;
“-Kim Keenan, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Research Odyssey Media, Senior Adjunct Professor at George Washington University Law School;
“-Rosie Allen-Herring, President and CEO, United Way of the National Capital Area, an expert on PPP, business strategy and philanthropy;
“-Cary Hatch, CEO of MDB Communications, a large advertising company in the USA, lecturer at John Hopkins, one of Washington Business Journal’s most influential business leaders.
“I also had the pleasure of being hosted by Olivia Richhi and Yann Auzoux who have been instrumental in organising this discussion. By the end of the discussion it was clear that in order to secure the ”triple s” for women (safety, sustenance and success) we must continue to work together for mutual progress”.
