ULP has created the hardship in SVG!
“How Vincy hard so? How Vincy rough so? How Vincy tough so?” asked Karbon Jamz. The young man has captured the realities of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in song. It is a fact. Most people are experiencing severe hardship because of the mismanagement of this country’s economy and the ill-advised policies of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) government.
Everything in St. Vincent and the Grenadines except salary has gone up. For instance, cost of living has skyrocketed. Gas prices have been increasing steadily at the pumps; so, too is the ‘cooking gas’. The fuel surcharge on our electricity bills is the highest it has been. And, with the increase of transportation fares to come according to the Minister of Transport and works; one wonders, how Vincentians will survive.
The unemployment situation is the worst it has ever been since conquest and settlement. The ULP government has lifted the unemployment situation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines higher. The last figures from the International Monetary Fund showed that 46 percent of young people were unemployed and that was before COVID.
Poverty has also increased under this ULP government. They have tried to hide the Poverty Assessment Report of 2018. They are ashamed to publish it. But, we got hold of it. It painted a damning picture of poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The report concluded that poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is worse than when the ULP gained power in 2001. It stated that poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines had moved from 30.2% of the population in 2008 to 36.1 % in 2018. The indigence level had moved from 2.9% to 11.3% in the country of 110,000 people.
Contrary to what the government wants us to believe, crime is on the rise in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ranks 2016 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as the 6th bloodiest in the world in the period 2012 to 2020. And, we have already recorded nineteen (19) homicides so far for the year. Praedial larceny is a major concern; that too has gone up. And, violence against women is at a crisis stage. Of greater concern is the administration’s refusal to acknowledge the depth of this crisis. It is evident that as Minister of National Security Dr. Gonsalves has failed to be “tough on crime and the causes of crime.”
It is extremely hard to make ends meet in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Food is all most Vincentians salaries can afford. Vincentians need jobs and incomes to support their families. The ULP government has failed miserably to improve the lives of our people. And, that is why most Vincentians have joined the chorus and are asking, why Vincy hard so?
The NDP has a better Way
The New Democratic Party (NDP) has a better way. We have a clear plan and the determination to build a better St. Vincent and the Grenadines for our future. We are passionate about building a country that works for everyone and where everyone who wants to work can work. Our plan will be to create better conditions which mean Vincentians are happy to stay.
We will set ambitious targets to deliver the investment resources and production we need. A strong economy and good infrastructure will bring foreign investment and increased wages for all Vincentians. Without a strong economy, we cannot afford to pay for housing, schools or hospitals.
Further, the NDP will set reasonable and effective tax rates. Lower taxes will make St. Vincent and the Grenadines more attractive for tourism and other investments, and reduce the need for investors to negotiate major tax holidays, which negatively impact on our economy and reduce potential investors. Reduce VAT and remove it from essential items to put money back in consumers’ pockets. And, reform personal income tax to encourage private investment. Our taxes are too high when compared to our neighbours.
Also, in recognition of the importance of the fishing industry to our plan to grow the economy. We will create a separate Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Conservation; to manage the transformation of the sector in a sustainable way. Our goal is to move rapidly from subsistence fishing to thriving businesses for our fisherfolk.
An NDP government will partner with existing local and international experts and stakeholders to redevelop our fishing sector to produce a sustainable, high-quality supply of seafood for both local and external markets. This will create economic opportunities and well-paying jobs. We will use technology such as fish finders, FADs and online markets to assist fisherfolk in their jobs. An NDP government will help to find and keep markets for our seafood and benefit our fisherfolk.
We will work with European regulatory bodies to lift the ban our fish products. This will create more opportunity for our fisherfolk through legitimate trade in fish, conch and lobster, and gain access to markets in Martinique, Guadeloupe, and other European markets.
Moreover, our development Bank will provide low interest-rate financing for fisherfolk. This will help them to get the equipment they need for their businesses. As part of this, we will create a special regime of incentives for fishing boats and equipment, and promote the use of larger boats that can stay at sea longer and more productive.
We will develop a transparent grants program to promote high growth industry. We will develop a transparent government grants programme to promote industries with the highest identified growth potential, with clear guidelines on access and oversight to ensure the maximum value for the taxpayer dollar and job creation.
And, reduce electricity costs by examining the fuel surcharge and by encouraging the use of solar energy. The NDP is committed to improve the standard of living for all Vincentians.