FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16th, 2025
Bridgetown, Barbados – Life In Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-Based Violence strongly condemns the brutal and senseless stabbing of a Ghanaian nurse near the St Philip District Hospital on Friday night. We stand in solidarity with the victim and her fellow colleagues, many of whom are now left traumatised and fearful for their own safety.
The nurse, who was reportedly attacked on the dimly lit road leading to the hospital, suffered a stab wound to her neck in a completely unprovoked assault. This incident highlights an urgent and long-ignored safety issue affecting healthcare workers, particularly women, along a perilous stretch between Hilda Skeene Primary School and the District Hospital in Jezreel.
This is not an isolated incident. Nurses have repeatedly raised concerns about the dangers of this route, citing past occurrences of robbery and alleged sexual assault. These cries for help had long gone unanswered—until one of their own nearly lost her life.
We urge the Barbados Police Service to treat this incident with the utmost urgency and ensure that the perpetrator is swiftly apprehended and held accountable under the law. A strong, visible response is critical not only to delivering justice to the survivor but also to restoring a sense of safety among healthcare workers and the wider community.
We acknowledge the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ public statement outlining plans to support the injured nurse and her colleagues, including counselling and security improvements. While we appreciate that assistance was extended to staff present on Saturday, the nurses who were on duty during the attack—those most directly affected—have not yet received that support, as they have not yet returned to work. We urge the Ministry to ensure timely, compassionate follow-through when they do. Proactive communication and tangible care are essential to rebuilding trust and protecting staff wellbeing.
Moreover, we commend the Ministry for committing to address the nurses’ list of demands—an important and necessary first step. At the same time, we urge the Ministry to act with urgency to ensure these measures are implemented without delay. This incident has shown us that delayed action puts lives at risk. Let us delay no more.
Their list of demands includes, but is not limited to, the following longstanding safety measures:
- Adequate lighting along the road leading to the hospital
- The installation of external security cameras on hospital grounds
- A dedicated staff shuttle service, particularly for night shift workers
- The presence of trained security personnel
- Routine debushing of the surrounding area
- Regular patrols and surveillance by the Barbados Police Service
This attack also raises urgent questions about the safety of migrant workers, especially women, who often face increased vulnerability due to isolation, unfamiliarity with local systems, and lack of adequate support.
Furthermore, this incident underscores the critical link between public safety and Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities—particularly Target 11.2, which calls for improving road safety and access to transport systems. This target emphasises meeting the needs of vulnerable groups, including women. The lack of secure transport options for healthcare workers—especially at night—represents a broader failure to uphold this commitment and protect those most at risk. Healthcare workers should not be forced to risk their lives simply to report for duty. Their ability to move safely through public space is not a privilege—it is a right.
As an organisation dedicated to gender justice, community safety, and survivor-centered advocacy, we remain committed to supporting the nurses and amplifying their demands until concrete action is taken. Their safety is not negotiable.
We stand with the nurses. We stand with the survivor. We stand for justice.
Media Contact:
Executive Committee
Life In Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-based Violence
Email: info@lifeinleggings.org
Website: www.lifeinleggings.org
Phone: +1 (246) 830-9574
Life In Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-based Violence 