In a statement yesterday, Help and Shelter said it looks forward to receiving early disbursement of the funds and is in communication with Minister within the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Bibi Shadick to this end.

"Help and Shelter wishes to express its deep appreciation of all the support - both financial and moral - that it has received since the announcement of the enforced closure of the shelter," the statement said.

"It is a real measure of the recognition of the need for and importance of the work we do and of the progress we are making," it said.

"We are, however, actually aware that we have a lot more work ahead of us in our mission to change attitudes towards the use of violence in all forms, and will continue to work assiduously with all other organisations and agencies that are committed to achieving a violence-free Guyana," the organisation added.