The Ministry of Social Development isdeeply saddened at the recent horrendous acts of violence that led to the deathof three women. Our sympathy goes out to their families, friends and all ofGrenada as we collectively mourn the loss of these women. To date a total of fourwomen are known to have been killed due to domestic homicides for the year thusfar. The lives of Akeera Lalgie, Marsha Chermanand Marsha Jones ended prematurely when they were brutally struck down,allegedly by their current or former intimate partners. These young women werein the prime of their lives, and now they are gone, leaving a terrible loss to theirfamilies, friends and colleagues. As a result, the Ministry of Social Development has designed a series of strategies as a direct response to these incidents. We are mindful of the devastating impactthat these events, and the circumstances surrounding them can have on thefamilies of the victims and perpetrators, as well as on those who have beeninvolved. Therefore, our first response is to offer psycho-social support tothe families and others who were directly affected. This has begun, and willcontinue as needed, with the support of other partners. We have organised a Procession andCandlelight Vigil, together with stakeholders, to be held on Friday, August 3,from 4:30 pm, in St. George's as a national public response and sensitisationactivity. Itwill be a time for us to reflect together on the incidents and call for an endto violent behaviour in our nation. Wetherefore invite all persons and organisations to participate in this activity. The longer term actions of the Ministrywould include further public sensitisation, strengthening the psycho-socialresponses of the Ministry and assisting other sectors in further developinginstitutional responses, including that of the Police. We call on all of us to be sensitive to theneeds of the families and others who may become traumatised by graphic imagesand messages. Therefore, we appeal to those in the formal media, and those whouse social media networks, to refrain from distributing sensitive materials,thus causing further damage to this volatile situation. All citizens and institutions are asked totreat all reports or suspicions of domestic violence and threats seriously. Weurge family and community members to support and protect the victims andpotential victims. Let us be aware that abusers can sometimes stop at nothingto get their way, even while we try to meet their needs and frustrations. Further, we ask you to avoid sullying thereputation of the dead women, or even blaming them, as though they were somehowresponsible for the actions of their killers. Remember that we all have a choice, and the killers chose violentresponses instead of walking away, seeking counselling, or other legal ways toresolve their problems. The Ministry is imploring all of ournation's citizens to use good judgement in your interactions with others andutilise non-violent means to address difficulties in your relationships,especially intimate relationships. If there are issues that are frustrating toyou, please seek help, and remember that it is not our place to control others,or to try to take possession over them. We must respect each other, and treateach other as equals. At this time of year, as we are in theAugust festivities, (Rainbow City, Regatta and Carnival), we call on allGrenadians and visitors to be tolerant of each other, especially of ourintimate partners and peers. Remember to be selfless and caring, and letus do all that we can to ensure that Grenada is a safe place for all women andmen, boys and girls, from here on. Have a happy and peaceful carnival.