THE Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection will ensure the Natabua Safe Shelter for Women in Lautoka is up and running next year.
Gifted by Soroptimist International, the shelter for abused women and children was commissioned in 2021 but is yet to open.
Minister for Women Lynda Tabuya said the facility was critical in providing a safe and supportive environment for women at risk or those who had experienced violence.
“To date, the ministry has conducted two tender advertisement processes for the shelter’s management and operation,” she said.
“The first tender, issued in 2021, resulted in Medical Services Pacific being selected as the successful bidder. However, due to a conflict of interest, the contract could not be awarded.
“A second tender process was initiated in 2023, with Empower Pacific as the sole bidder. Unfortunately, this process experienced delays within the department, and the timelines were not met.”
Ms Tabuya said those gaps were being addressed to ensure a re-advertisement process was finalised by the end of January, 2025.
“While no specific budget has been allocated for the shelter’s operation in the 2024-2025 financial year, the ministry plans to utilise funds from its Women Plan of Action allocation for the re-advertisement.”
Ms Tabuya acknowledged Soroptimist International for its contribution to the project and assured that the shelter’s administration remained a priority of Government.
