Twenty-year-old Jolie William of New Village, Castries, was brutally murdered on Friday – ten days after another woman was killed.
William (who was stabbed to death in Reduit) was well-known on TikTok.
According to police, on Friday 21st February, at about 3:40 a.m., officers attached to the Gros Islet Police Station responded to a report in Gros-Islet.
“A second female victim was also identified; she too had sustained serious wounds but remained responsive,” the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force said in a statement.
Minister for Gender Affairs, Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte, said her department had to step up.
“I think the Gender Department and other agencies need to go out there and be a little more vocal to tell women what they have to do… so they can protect themselves,” the minister said at a press briefing on Monday.
“It is alleged that there [were] some threats and the victims were aware… but… they did not know where to turn,” she added.
The minister said a Women’s Support Centre is currently available to women who need it.
“We do not disclose where it is… because it is… a safe place for women who are involved in domestic violence issues,” she noted.
However, Dr Albert-Poyotte added, “I spoke to the director [and] they… get in touch with the victims. We just completed a review of the Women’s Support Centre to determine the status of that entity because many people thought it was a government agency. The government gives support to help the agency… but it is not a government entity… we are going to table this report in Cabinet and the government will take a position as to what is the status of this entity but right now they are actually engaging persons virtually.”
Furthermore, she stated, “We also have the Crisis Centre. They just established a new board and they have written to the Department of Gender [Affairs] indicating that they have to vacate the location where they are. We are… trying to secure additional funding from the government to give them the support but we are waiting for the new board to put their programmes in place so that we can give that entity a new outlook when they resume their operations.”
Overall, the minister said, “We need to take action. It’s not just making a statement… we need to ensure that we put mechanisms in place to protect all men and women in Saint Lucia.”
The Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), yesterday, condemned all forms of violence against women in Saint Lucia.
“This violence against our women must stop and it must stop now! Indeed, we must all combine our efforts in whatever way possible to bring the scourge of violence in our society to a halt,” the SLP stated.
Furthermore, these recent incidents once again highlight the need for collaboration “and cooperation from government agencies, law enforcement and civil society to increase support services and implement comprehensive education and awareness programmes to fight against gender-based violence,” the SLP said.
“Women and girls in Saint Lucia must be able to live free from fear, abuse, and harm. The SLP urges the necessary authorities to take swift and decisive action to ensure justice for survivors of domestic violence and hold perpetrators accountable!
The Minister for Gender Affairs, Hon. Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte has stated that several resource outlets are available including the Centre for Battered Women, the Crisis Centre, Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia and other agencies to help keep our women safe. Additionally, we must all encourage community members to stand in solidarity and foster a culture of respect and equality,” the party added.
“Violence against women is not just a women’s issue—it is a societal issue that demands collective action. We urge all stakeholders to commit to making Saint Lucia a safer place for all,” the SLP concluded.
Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet, said he is devastated by William’s tragic demise and “No family should have to endure this pain and no community should have to grieve like this. We must do more to protect our women, to stand up against violence and to build a society where every woman feels safe and valued. My thoughts are with Jolie’s loved ones and all those mourning this senseless loss. Saint Lucia, we cannot accept this as our reality. We must act.”