NDP VIEW – It’s time for discussion on crime in SVG

The increase in violent crimes in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a major concern to Vincentians. St Vincent and the Grenadines has seen record levels of homicides in 2022 and 2023. The Unity Labour Party (ULP) government has failed to act on this critical issue which is affecting Vincentians.
The New Democratic Party (NDP) has been calling for action from the ULP government to address the spiralling crime situation for a number of years. In 2018, members of the NDP walked from Fitz Hughes to Kingstown and from Rabacca to Kingstown, to bring awareness to the serious crime situation in the country. In 2022, Leader of the Opposition, Dr Godwin Friday, addressed the nation, on the topic, ‘Combatting Crime’. The party took other actions but the ULP government has failed to act.
The recent action by the NDP to erect a billboard at Gibson Corner grabbed the attention of the ULP. The billboard highlights the state of crime in the country. The caption, ‘There were 52 homicides in SVG in 2023: Crime is out of Control. The NDP has a plan to make SVG safe again’. It sparked discussion among most Vincentians, and what some may describe as a ‘fake outrage’ from the ULP. The ULP ‘spin doctors’ were scrambling and trying hard to blame the NDP for their failure to tackle crime.
The ULP would like Vincentians to believe that what the billboard depicts, will hurt tourism. That is far from the truth. “5 dead in mass shooting on Caribbean island of St. Vincent”. That was the headline of an international online publication, on 20th July, 2023. St Vincent and the Grenadines is ranked number 7 in the world for the highest murder rate. Isn’t that a cause for concern? It is the ULP that has made our country looks bad by not addressing the real issue, the crime crisis, which exists in the country. They would also like us to believe that the problem does not exist. We must turn a blind eye to it, and it would disappear. It does not work that way. The ULP government does not have the will, the moral authority, nor the competence to tackle the problem. They lack ideas and, therefore, lack solutions. 
We have placed a billboard at our headquarters. This one shows the NDP’s four pillars of economic development, to rebuilt the economy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. And, there are more billboards to be erected, which will highlight the failures of the ULP government and our plans for the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Our Plan
To be effective, we must understand what gives rise to crime, then develop strategies and programs to address the problem. 
The following was outlined by Dr Godwin Friday: We must focus on crime prevention. We should therefore invest heavily upfront, on crime prevention. In this regard, the programmes outlined in the NDP’s Spiritual and Social Redemption Charter should be implemented. The Charter promotes positive community-oriented programs that would steer vulnerable young people away from crime towards socially positive behaviour.
We must restore trust and confidence in the police and the criminal justice system. The police cannot solve crimes by themselves. They need the community to provide information during investigations and to be witnesses in criminal cases. We can promote this by implementing and pursuing community policing. With specific training in community policing, the police would engage in trust-building activities in communities. For example, regular meetings between the police and community members should be introduced so that they would work together to prevent and solve crimes. The police must see their mission as serving and protecting people and be keen to embrace the community in so doing. We must also increase the presence and visibility of police in our streets and communities, not in a hostile manner but to assure people that they are there to protect them.
We need a well-resourced and well-equipped criminal justice system. There continues to be an outcry in our country about the ineffectiveness of our criminal Justice system that too often fails to impose appropriate penalties to deter offenders. Creating an effective and well-resourced criminal justice system involves the police, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the courts (i.e., magistrates and judges) and the prison system. It is vital that these components are appropriately equipped and that they function professionally and independently. 
It also involves (i) reviewing our criminal laws and revising them to provide greater sentencing options for magistrates and judges; (ii) introducing measures that would improve access to justice; (iii) increasing the number of magistrates; (iv) expanding the High Court and improving its facilities; and (v) introducing forensic laboratory services to expedite investigation and prosecution of offences and thereby eliminate the backlog of criminal cases. The system must also provide support for victims of crimes such as rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence to help them recover and be able to resume their lives as best they can. 
Fighting crime is not only about punishing offenders; it must also involve rehabilitation. Offenders should be provided with programs that would help to keep them from reoffending and becoming a perpetual menace to society. In this regard, we should establish a Young Persons Rehabilitation Centre for non-violent young offenders. This will prevent many young offenders from becoming hardened criminals, lost to a life of crime.
We must professionalize and modernize the police service. To achieve the best outcomes in crime fighting, the best officers must be recognized, supported, and rewarded. This includes reviewing remuneration and promotion practices for the police, including the Auxiliary Police, and ensuring that they are done, not as political favours, but on merit. Fairness is key to success. It should be clear that combatting crime is not just for the police; it is everybody’s business. It requires us to work together at all levels to succeed.