About Esther’s Promise
At Esther’s Promise, our mission is clear and unwavering: to provide a haven of hope for young women who face distress caused by poverty, abuse, or abandonment. We are a registered non-profit organization focused on the empowerment and transformation of vulnerable women aged 18–25. We offer a two-year live-in program that combines safe housing, life skills development, and opportunities for socio-economic independence. Since opening our doors, we welcomed our first group of residents in January 2025 at our home created to foster healing, growth and hope.
No good deed goes unpunished…
- In April 2024, weentered a lease-to-own agreement. An independent property valuation for the purchase price was conducted prior. There was limited access by members of the Board for proper inspection for occupancy. Though we had concerns about the state of the property, we moved forward in good faith, trusting verbal assurances that repairs would be made. Our trust was misplaced.
- We took possession of the property—only to be confronted with a severely degraded property: ripped tiles, mold-covered walls, an organic and chemical manure wasteland in what was to be the living room, missing and damaged bedroom doors, broken plumbing, damaged ceiling, faulty electrical wiring, bat infestation and non-functional and rotting farm equipment and chattel, to name a few. We expressed our disappointment to the landlord on several occasions.
- Added to that, the arrangement for the farm upon which we were to rely as a sustainable source of self-revenue did not live up to the assurances provided by the landlord that it was a going concern. The skills of the farmhand we inherited were grossly questionable as the cultivation yielded nothing and many of the animals vanished. We paid more than $10,000.00 EC from our coffers during the farm transition period and had nothing to show for it. The farm continued to perform poorly despite our best attempts including intervention by Agricultural experts. We expressed our disappointment to the landlord on several occasions.
- Despite these challenges, we invested over $100,000 EC to bring the property to a livable and safe condition for our residents—an investment far beyond what was budgeted. This was not just an act of renovation and repair; it was an act of restoration, for the sake of the vulnerable women we serve.
- As a non-profit, we depend on donors. The abrupt exit of our main benefactor from the SVG market in early 2025 caused unavoidable financial strain. We communicated openly to the landlord, made partial payments but we struggled with a 3 months’ rent lapse and a balance on the chattel. We requested revised terms that reflected our financial reality and the considerable improvements we made to the property. While some initial flexibility of payment dates was offered, our proposals were ultimately rejected.
- Given continued financial pressure compounded by repeated burglary attempts at the property, we issued a one-month notice as per the agreement to end the lease and proposed a set-off based on our investments – a mutual balancing of what we’ve invested against what is owed.
- We vacated the property on our own accord. We left it with changes that significantly improve the value of the property. Only a delusional and irrational human might attempt to penalize us for this positive.
The matter was placed in the hands of our respective legal representatives with a reasonable expectation of mediation.
Instead of allowing the legal process to ensue and/or engaging with Esther’s Promise constructively, a public defamation campaign was launched on social media to falsely accusing Esther’s Promise Board members of criminality and attacking their integrity and professional competence and claiming damages to a property whose value was significantly enhanced. We reject these baseless claims. Ironically, such claims have been invented by some —who have previously solicited funds from the public for the building a home for battered women, yet to be delivered—and are now attempting to tarnish the reputation of Esther’s Promise, a legally registered and fully operational home that has actually taken in women in need.
We will not be bullied into silence.
Our work is rooted in compassion, accountability and integrity and we take our responsibility to the young ladies we serve and to the public very seriously. We urge the public to be mindful of the facts and to avoid engaging with or spreading unverified information.
The law is clear. Our lease permitted renovations without the need for prior approval and the property had defects that were not addressed and/or disclosed, which made it uninhabitable. Our records, including before-and-after documentation and receipts, reflect our substantial investment in making this property livable. As such, we have instructed our attorneys to pursue all legal remedies, including damages for defamation, and to defend our right to a fair set-off. We will not allow a slanderous campaign to undo the important work we are doing.
We remain resilient.
To our supporters, we thank you. Your faith and encouragement allow us to keep pushing forward, even in the face of adversity. We will not be deterred from our purpose, and we will continue to advocate for and support the young women who depend on us. We will continue to provide a place of healing, empowerment, and transformation. That is our promise. Esther’s Promise.
Let it be known—we build homes, not headlines. We plant hope, not hate. And we lift women up, even as others try to tear us down.
Board of Directors: Shafia London, Laura Anthony-Browne, Jacqueline James-Lyttle, Vynnette Frederick, Alison Austin, Debbie Dalrymple
