United Workers Party (UWP) candidate for Vieux Fort South, Leanna Lady Lee Johannes-Paul, called for more support for domestic violence victims during the party’s weekly press briefing on Tuesday, speaking openly about her own experience as a survivor.
Johannes-Paul criticised the government’s handling of crime, particularly domestic violence, stating that authorities could be doing more. She used her personal story to highlight the need for safe spaces for women fleeing abuse.
“I am a survivor of domestic abuse. So, I know firsthand how men, women and families of victims feel and what they go through,” she said.
“I’m only able to stand here today because of a women’s shelter that cared for me and nurtured me. You see, when I was stabbed and left for dead, I had a place to run to, a safe haven, a place of safety. People to help me. Who do the women in Saint Lucia have? Absolutely no one.”
The government said in March that it was reviewing the operations of a support centre for abused women.
No one should be forced to move from place to place to escape an abuser, Johannes-Paul said, and she raised concerns over how authorities handle abuse reports.
“While the law exists on paper, too many victims are still suffering in silence. They go to the police only to be interrogated in ways that re-traumatises them. Women are forced to relive their pain, their terror, their humiliation,” she said.
Johannes-Paul outlined some proposals aimed at improving protection and support for victims:
- Increased funding for shelters and safe houses, starting with police and court systems.
- Free, accessible counselling for both women and men.
- Advocacy for fathers unjustly denied access to their children.
- Mandatory training for teachers, nurses, social workers, and police to identify abuse and respond with compassion.
“This is not about politics,” she said. “This is about our people. This is about healing a broken nation, one home at a time. This is about justice. This is about peace. This is about Saint Lucia.”
sounds like someone who has identified the problem and has provided some solutions. The laws on paper means nothing – just a place holder. We need to practice what we preach. The abuser should never get away because to his connection to society. This applies to both men and women.