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'Men you cannot put your wives out' - Dr Sylvia M. Simmonds

- urged women to know their rights
Director of the Family Support Network (FSN), Dr Sylvia M. Simmonds has urged women to know their rights, including that they cannot be put out of their matrimonial home. Photo: VINO
The Youth Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of the Virgin Islands marching against Alzheimer’s disease, Diabetes, Breast Cancer, HIV/AIDS and Domestic Violence on November 26, 2016. Photo: VINO
The Youth Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of the Virgin Islands marching against Alzheimer’s disease, Diabetes, Breast Cancer, HIV/AIDS and Domestic Violence on November 26, 2016. Photo: VINO
The march especially sought to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s disease, Diabetes, Breast Cancer, HIV/AIDS and Domestic Violence. Photo: VINO
The march especially sought to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s disease, Diabetes, Breast Cancer, HIV/AIDS and Domestic Violence. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- “We had three persons living in their car. One lady was living in her bathroom…and this is because they said they had nowhere else to go. Sometimes clients are locked out of their homes and can’t retrieve their belongings.”

This shocking revelation was made by Director of the Family Support Network (FSN), Dr Sylvia M. Simmonds following a health awareness march through Road Town by the Youth Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of the Virgin Islands on November 26, 2016.

The march especially sought to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s disease, Diabetes, Breast Cancer, HIV/AIDS and Domestic Violence.

Dr Simmonds was at the time sending the message to women to know their rights since their husband cannot just put them out of their matrimonial home.

“Then we have some husbands that decide they have to put their wives out. Understand something, the law when it comes to wife and spousal property, men you cannot put your wives out. It is against the law…women you have to know your rights. He cannot put you out. Dial 311, tell police…” Dr Simmonds urged.

186 new clients for 2016

According to Dr Simmonds, FSN saw 186 new clients seen this year, with 126 being females 33 males and 27 children and had over 1200 counselling sessions, from January to now. 136 she said were walk-ins.

She said too that much of the counselling sessions have to do with anger management as clients are often referred to them by the courts. Some 56 persons were sent to FSN by the court for this year.

“Keep in mind we don’t get paid for this. These are clients the court sends to us, we see them and send them back to the courts.”

Many fed but food limited

The FSN Director also stated that this year alone more than 1900 persons were fed by FSN, an announcement that drew a “wow” from the crowd.

“We have serious problems with that since sometimes the food is limited…We do not turn anyone away when they come for food,” Dr Simmonds said, adding that families are given food supply once a month, usually a bag of rice, sugar, corn beef, sausages, snacks and drinks.

You can divorce wife but not child

At this point, Dr Simmonds said a lot of the women who come to FSN complain that they are not getting child maintenance and are sometimes unable to provide for their children, pay rent and take care of their basic needs.

She stated that something needs to be done to address this frequent situation.

“Most of the time a father believes that when he has a child that’s it, he moves on to another family or another relationship and fails to realise that the child is still his. Even after you divorce that woman that child is never divorced from you.”

58 Responses to “'Men you cannot put your wives out' - Dr Sylvia M. Simmonds”

  • What I reading here (30/11/2016, 15:15) Like (17) Dislike (6) Reply
    This is becoming just downright disgraceful in our country. Where are the churches as mediators in all this?
    • you mean (30/11/2016, 15:19) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
      @what I reading here. What sort of sick culture are we developing here?
      • Beanstalk (30/11/2016, 19:01) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
        Yes, there are some real sick men out there. Even the jolly green "g_ _ _t" that works for the "wrong" way store is suffering from the kickyourwife out disease. Tired of these mama boys and their foolishness.
        • sooooo (30/11/2016, 22:35) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
          @Beanstalk, you got me rolling with laugh. More like kick wifey out syndrome. Remember the commercial? Ho, Ho, Ho green G---t. MAMA boy to the bones. MAMA, she did not cook my pork chop righttttt, what do I do MAMAAA. LMAO.

          • Gerber (01/12/2016, 17:15) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
            LOL ya'll got me cracking up. But on a serious note the jolly green g....t needs to treat his wife better. I can't understand how some men can bring women in from their birth place to the BVI to treat them like trash and to make it worse is when children are involved. I know love can be blind, but i hope his wife can open her eyes and find BETTER out there.
    • Really (30/11/2016, 18:40) Like (16) Dislike (6) Reply
      The churches you say them busy minding people business and sleeping with the pastor
    • $ (30/11/2016, 20:30) Like (16) Dislike (3) Reply
      The churches are busy dressing up and collecting money off poor people backs in exchange for afterlife in paradise at death on earth.
  • Correct (30/11/2016, 16:10) Like (37) Dislike (1) Reply
    Women, please know your rights if you are married legally. My legal husband whom we have two kids together, try to put me out of the house we built together to move in the woman he was messing around with and her children. LOL, it was not happening. I was going to burn the house to the ground before I allowed that to happen. I am still in the house and he is renting from a slum Lord. LMAO. He is not removing me and our kids from our home that I helped build. NEVER.

    • Hmm (30/11/2016, 18:00) Like (11) Dislike (10) Reply
      bet was a spanish
    • wize up (30/11/2016, 20:24) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ correct: make sure teach your girl children how to be an independent female: you have crack, weed, rum, cigarette and pu**y these things turn some man totally stupid......
      • Correct (30/11/2016, 21:59) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Wize up, the oldest is in College in Virginia, the youngest is 15, I taught my girls from young not to depend on a man for anything, don't ask a man for anything or take anything from a man because there is a price to pay behind it.yeah I taught them to be independent like me, their mother. My girls know what time it is.
  • wow (30/11/2016, 16:24) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    So sorry for our mothers and sisters
  • wize up (30/11/2016, 18:40) Like (30) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am 54 years of age and 100% man: real men don't beat up on women: real men take care of their children: my last child is 19 years of age and from the oldest to the youngest I take care of them of them: none of them lacks food or shelter(BVI now have a set of punk for men and want to be bad-boys)some guy beat up on woman but run go to the police station when another trouble them: some guys will rather spend their last dollar on woman before giving that dollar to their children: some guys even beat up their own child over another woman...
    • Lawd wize up (30/11/2016, 19:52) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      Tings to talk. You na easi boi.
    • old dog (30/11/2016, 20:09) Like (15) Dislike (14) Reply
      My house is on my land I pay all the bills & if my wife disrespects the house then out she goes. I won't be held hostage by anyone. If she wants to stay in the house she knows what not to do.
      • To Disgusting Old Dog (30/11/2016, 21:47) Like (20) Dislike (3) Reply
        And therein lies a lot of the problems. You feel because you hold the purse strings, (pay all the bills, etc) you can do to the woman as you like if she doesn't toe the line.

        Women, some of us may not have had the best education, but let's teach our children the value of a good education (especially the girls) so that when they grow up they can stand on their own two feet independently and don't have to depend on any man for a hand out. Let's teach our boys how to respect women, and that they are not some door mat that they can wipe their feet all over.
        • old dog (01/12/2016, 00:06) Like (15) Dislike (8) Reply
          While I pay all the bills she saves all her money so if she gets put out she has more than me to live on. Feel how you want I know I rule my yard.
          • ??????? (01/12/2016, 08:08) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
            @old dog, you just talking mess out your mouth. You rule your yard. LMAO.



            • wize up (01/12/2016, 09:17) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
              @ ???????: some of these guys with all that talk when the DNA test come back some of them end up in the emergency unit(because of the 4 children in the house only the 1 is actually theres own)
              • True (01/12/2016, 11:36) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
                @Wize Up, so true. I like reading your comments because you keep S..t real. Old dog is just talking bull...t. He is looking for a house slave. That poor woman, if he have one, need to run,
                run, as fast as she can away from him.
          • ??????? (01/12/2016, 08:08) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
            @old dog, you just talking mess out your mouth. You rule your yard. LMAO.



          • 411 (02/12/2016, 05:15) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
            Old dog, you better go learn what the law says. We speaking about wife, not woman, side thing, or girlfriend. WIFE. I encourage you to learn the law and not just have a strong feeling about the situation. Men have a responsibility once they get married and even have children with her. Respect your wife. She is to respect you also. Know your role. You think it's fun and games and she's a 'show piece' or a 'label'? Your current mentality will get you in plenty of problems, and if you cant put up with it, you'll certainly find yourself in front of a judge who will be ordering you. Old dog will then be ruling out by your dog house, in the dog house, in the very same yard you thought you owned.Watch yourself.
      • wize up (01/12/2016, 09:11) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        @ old dog: you sound just like a broke nigger but I hope if some old dog abuse your girl children you fell the same way
        • old dog (01/12/2016, 10:44) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
          Thank you for wishing my children get abused, you are so much better than me and you think
          Something is wrong with me because I pay all the bills and moved my wife into my house, some of you never seen a real man in your life
          Obviously don't know what to bawl about & what to praise.
      • Wah u say? (01/12/2016, 09:44) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        So u have a slave for a mate then? Jumps when you say jump, talks only when allowed? You disgust me. I pray your 'lady' friend has the courage to get out from your archaic, slavish way of thinking. Not to mention you are very selfish. Everything is you, you, you, not our, no sense of togetherness , just her knowing her place by your standards, people with your mentality need to stay by yourself, and enjoy your home, your land, your possessions by your damn self. I pity your smallmindedness .
        • old dog (01/12/2016, 13:05) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
          U idiots think you're so smart all I said is I provide house & home if she don't like it she can leave. How many wives really provided the land and house here in BVI? When man live with woman they call them worthless and living off their woman. U liberal idiots need to decide which is which. Ready to bawl and don't know what to bawl about
          • Woman (01/12/2016, 15:42) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
            Old dog you again with your I'm the man and the woman have to bow downnnnn attitude? If I was your wife and you come with the nonsense about you paying all the bills and house is on your land and you try to put me out, you would be the one being escorted out the house and off the property. Have you ever heard of squatters rights? Big dog, don't underestimate the powers of a woman.
      • Well Sah (01/12/2016, 22:35) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        Boss, that's called financial abuse and it's illegal in the BVI.
      • tretretrete (02/12/2016, 11:51) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Im an independent woman, big salary, own house, car, investments and all. Sorry but I well wish I had a partner like old dog. He pay all and I save me money. Only thing to do is feed he and kill he with it. My kind a man.
  • Otherwayaround (30/11/2016, 19:11) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Can women put out man? Lord them going mek them kill one another in those houses.
    • Really. (01/12/2016, 06:38) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
      All these department a waste of money. Gender affairs, a flock of staff at Social development Yet nothing changing...as a matter afact things getting worst. We really need to take a serious look at the effectiveness of these department.
  • santa (30/11/2016, 20:34) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    It's better to be on the street than living in fear. Why should I remain in the home and my life is not at peace, so sorry I only have one life to live and I refuse to stay under the same roof if I am not happy. Ms. Simmons could say as she please but at the end of the day my life is all that matters and not the property.
  • Machete (30/11/2016, 21:35) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    When woman put the man out nobody complains.
  • Yeah Right (30/11/2016, 22:16) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    @Old Dog, please. You are one of those control freaks. Because you are paying the bills and the house is on your land, your wife have to bow down to you? That is the reason why a woman should always have her own money in her pockets, married or not. You seem like the type of man if your wife ask you for money your response is FOR WHAT, or didn't I just give you money? My husband try that S,?t when I ask him for money once. I hand him one slap in his mouth.I bet when I ask him now he give it to me without asking for what. When he ask me for money, I don't question what he need it for.
  • Back - up. (30/11/2016, 22:19) Like (27) Dislike (8) Reply
    Yea. Men must just lie like sheep and these Bxxttxxcchh Women disrespect them and walk all over them. This lady better go back to America.. Caribbean man don't play that..
    • @back-up (30/11/2016, 23:40) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
      But yo know I ain't hearing nobody say anything about them woman who meet the man with them house but marry off because they wanted security and a place to live. When they get in secure them that start acting up, disrespcting, then running police for coverage and want to give the man restraining order against coming close to he own house. Who defends the man now? Cause we have alot of Jamaican and santo domingan know that game very well. And there is alot of females know dam well how to provoke a man and fight him because the law protects them well. So now he cannot hit them back, he cannot put them out and he must now bow his head in defeat and walk out his own home that he laboured and sweat for. This should also be addressed
    • Back up for what. (01/12/2016, 10:57) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well since she's from here she don't have to go back to America Back - up. And she didn't write the law your local members of the House of Assembly and their Attorney General did. Under that law men and women are treated equally, you just haven't seen that for some reason. So that you don't have to make inaccurate comments about something you obviously don't know anything about maybe you should make yourself acquainted with the law. Disrespect is a two edged sword and no one is holding the handle. From your statement I take it you are from here and if anything goes wrong you think the person should go back where they come from, but you see you guys are picking up people from all over creation, putting them in your house and then when they activate the brain they have you act all surprised like you didn't know they had one and want them to go back to wherever. The world, and likewise the BVI, don't work that way any more, you need to get it together otherwise you'll end up outside looking in. I happen to know that FSN counself men same as women, except some men think they don't have to listen because of their status and then when the law kicks in everybody against them. Wise up.
    • Diaspora (04/12/2016, 14:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Dr Simmonds is a daughter of the soil. Love or hate what she ah say she was born at Peebles.
  • Be real (30/11/2016, 22:27) Like (11) Dislike (5) Reply
    The Mental and heart illness women cause and gave me is worst than any thing a man can do to a woman.. Women are just Evil... Woe unto men...
  • No (30/11/2016, 23:18) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ Santa, this is how I did it. He wanted me gone and I did not budge. My husband is to afraid to do anything. I had a few letters typed up and had them notarized. Once something is notarized, it becomes a legal document. I give my family members and kids a copy to keep in the event that if he try something, or anything go down he is the one that did it. If he want me out the house, he is going to have to buy me out. And I am not taking anything less than $850,000-$900,000. I give him 3 kids, stay home and took care of things while he advance himself, he is not going to get off that easy.
  • What to expect (01/12/2016, 05:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    These thing must happen, because every time you turn on your TV watch do you see? The same things happening so we follow suit. Even with our children they are texting in class, snap chatting half naked and not studying. Now we also think being gay is right, so don't blame the church because it can't and would help you
  • Xxx (01/12/2016, 08:02) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    PUT THEM OUT IF THEY ACTING UP YES
  • Hmm (01/12/2016, 08:20) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thats why its going to be half half. You are not putting me in any house to turn around and say is yours. We will be building together. If i meet you with a house you better give to your kids are think about renting. No man is going to tell me get out. I rather be single and by myself than take that sort of abuse. To every situation there's an exception whereas I can see a woman not being given the clearance to stay in the house. But the trend is put your wife our common law out for the new piece around. With the house being in both our names you better be buying me out, or two can play at the game you move in your new woman and I move in my new man.
    • Lawd (01/12/2016, 10:45) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Hmm. Wa I reading this morning ya. Tings to mak we say aw! Lol!
    • @hmm (01/12/2016, 15:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      You wives better thank the law them begin to look out for you and start to buckle up. Santo taking over. Them ain't care if the house or business belongs to first wife and husband. They looking security. They ain't looking man wid nothing. They come with a mission, they looking men that already has something establish so they can bring in confusion, mash up family and take over. When them take over, husband knockabout first wife and biological children. wives be very vigilant. The devils a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour. Nuff dutty hands out there that can stand up against the court eh? Pray and pray again. We wrestle not against flesh and blood
  • Single Mom (01/12/2016, 11:53) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
    There are different situations where the woman may be wrong and where the man may be wrong. Dr. Simmons is just shinning the light on the majority. It is the truth a lot of men are not taking care of there children and there are some that do but not enough and the mother has to struggle to find some way to get things done. As a single mother regardless of how you may feel toward the mother your child the comes first. Respect your child's mom they only have one and need you to set and example to your children to respect there mom as well.
  • Correct (01/12/2016, 12:40) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    @Hmm, girl you are so right. Don't back down. See what I did? Yes, I was planning to burn the house down that I help built. There was no way I was going to allow my husband to toss me and our children for a heifer and her children. They want house together, let the heifer and him build one together.Who knows, knows. I use to get off work at 5:00 and help him clear the land, clear stones, put my savings, borrow money from my parents to help build the house and he want me and the children out. Oh noooo. If me and the children had to go. Like I said, I was going to set it off in flames. If he want the house, then he is going to pay me at least 2 million which he don't have. He and his heifer and her kids can continue to live in the slum rental.
  • @correct (01/12/2016, 15:26) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I like you. You seems to have alot of sense. Dammit. But next time wuk with your mouth shut cause he might still be up to sumptn
    • Correct (01/12/2016, 21:48) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      I'm not worried about it. He knows what time it is. My brothers in NYC will fly out here and handle him big time. Trust me, I got to much on him. No matter what, he is not getting the house. Like I said, I will burn it down before he get it. He knows when he see me to step to the other side of the street. He touch me or come to the gate, it's a rap. I will never let a man, husband or not, take my powers away from me.
  • officer (01/12/2016, 17:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    sounds ridiculous to me, cant stand this heffa, while I am against domestic dispute but there are some woman who take full advantage. let the aggressive person leave or person in wrong url just making a good man turn too a dog. n u wonder why
  • equal rights (01/12/2016, 19:12) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    what the f... simmondc talking bout woman putting out man out for years through the law
    • @equal rights (01/12/2016, 23:41) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      What simmonds needs to do is clean up her own dam backyard, go mind her business and stop giving counsel. TONGUE AND TEETH DOES BITE. When you telling men you cant put wife out you also need ro tell the women that they are wife and to act as such. I read some of the comments on here sound so dam deplorable like slapping your husband cause he ask you what you need the money for. Men are the head of the home. A home is blessed because the blessing of God falls on the man and on to his family. Nobody speaks about women who abuses men in their own home, have side men and come home to disrespect the man and lay in bed next to him. Take his money and support other man, the same things men can be blamed and penalized for, woman should too because they are just as wicked, undercover, bitter, controlling, coniving and evil. Dont ever forget was Eve who made Adam sin in the garden and still wicked up to this day. Am sure if some if you do what you suppose to do and stop belittling your husband/mate, he would stop reaching out to new matey to cofort he dam ego. Ladies you really needs to sit down and think about what really goes on in your home and the negative roll you play and stop up here pretending to be the victim
      • @Eualrights (02/12/2016, 11:34) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        BOL. You are so right. Saw a woman slap her husband phone out his hand because he was talking to his mother and took too long to answer her. Sam a dem need hard slap in dey rass for that $h!t
      • well said SIR!! (04/12/2016, 11:00) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        You are so right, there are some very nasty and bitter female around this island riding around spreading their evil venom i can speak because i just had to conclude my relationship with one who lies in bed next to me on her phone and IPOD daily making next day plans with her many other men and constantly accusing me of running around and forgetting how to clean her own mess, it's just disgusting and scary to say the least to be in such relationship when there's so much STD and the bigger killer AIDS on this small island. So Ms Simmonds your comments are not just wrong they are very bias and it might appear as if you may have had some very bad relationships yourself when you make general statements like those. there's very nice and kind men on this island who tries their very best everyday but some females are just sick in every means of sick and would drive even the father above to abandon ship and run for your life.
  • Reel Talk (01/12/2016, 21:30) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dr. Vanterpool with all due respect, are you fighting a ghost from the past? I am tired of all this talk about domestic violence!!! The courts destroy people's family all in the name of what??? The courts have no heart or true empathy for families. It's all a about ego and power. Yes some cases are extreme while some are just nuisances!!!! Not in the interest of the public. But instead of putting tax payers money to good use the courts vilify the innocent... I agree to punish those who threaten the safety of others yes! But give me a break!!! Why pretend to be a moral compass When you have skeleton in you own closet!!! The Court has to know when to lay it down and when to have a commonsense approach. University don't give commonsense!! Go figure..
  • salty (03/12/2016, 10:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    see now how people does provoke things. one woman said she slapped. her husband. and sylvia have nothing to say about that. isnt that abuse? ok lets go to records, does sylvia the doctorate have a man or husband? but she here deciding for family personels. she says man cant put you out, but check how many men had to leave house and home
    because of them.. these woman who come and. marry. men. and hide that they have children young ones tobooth and. after marrying. bring any number of kids into your house, later on they create incidents and run to athourity complaining about abuse and the law wants to put the men out of their houses, to see the same policemen who came to get the men out with them liming and in and out of your house,isnt that time for the unexpected.
    • salty, a true (03/12/2016, 16:10) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      That's why no one trust the police? No professional ethics.


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