The Royal Bahamas Police Force Domestic Violence Unit has relocated from Police Headquarters to its own facility on Infant View Road.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to mark the occasion of the official opening on Monday. While addressing attendees Commissioner of Police, Shanta Knowles said, “for far too long domestic violence has operated behind closed doors in the silence of the night and in spaces of hesitation by victims to afraid to speak. With the official opening of this dedicated Domestic Violence Unit building we are declaring that enough is enough. We are saying that the cries of the victims will no longer go unheard. Those who hurt the most vulnerable among us will be met with swift informed and coordinated justice. Domestic violence isn’t a private matter, it is a national emergency. It is a public health crisis, a human rights violation and a threat to the very fabric of our society.”

Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Davis was also in attendance at the ceremony. He said the opening of the facility is a step forward by not a fix. “The new Domestic Violence Unit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force is part of a commitment to respond differently, to do better and to care more. This unit wasn’t created for statistics or for press releases. It was created for that woman who has packed and unpacked her bag a dozen times trying to find the right moment to leave. It was created for the child who flinches at raised voices because they have learnt what comes next. We’re not pretended this unit is the solution to everything but we are saying that this is a country where safety matters.”

The ribbon was cut by Wife of the Prime Minister, Ann Marie Davis officially opening the new facility.