Violent crime in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been escalating at an alarming rate under the Unity Labour Party (ULP) government. Despite the pressing need for decisive action, the Minister of National Security has failed to implement effective measures to curb this surge in crime.
For the week ending Saturday 17th May 2025, a total of five homicides were recorded in that week. Three individuals were fatally shot on the night of Friday, 16th May 2025, bringing the total number of homicides for the year to fifteen. This year continues to reflect a concerning trend, following a record-breaking 55 homicides in 2023 and 54 reported homicides in 2024.
It would appear that the government has not fully recognized the severity of the ongoing crime crisis. While it is commendable that the police leadership held a press conference on Saturday 17th May2025, to inform the public about the situation, more needs to be done to effectively combat crime. The nation also awaits a clear and comprehensive statement from the Minister of National Security, as he must demonstrate a sense of urgency and accountability in tackling this crisis.
Vincentians are growing increasingly concerned about the government’s commitment in addressing the causes of crime in the country. Research has shown that high levels of unemployment and poverty significantly contribute to criminal activities, yet these issues remain inadequately addressed. Also, a senior police officer has revealed the presence of gangs within our communities, which highlights the severity of the problem. Despite this troubling situation, the ULP government has failed to implement comprehensive strategies to tackle the root causes.
Vincentians deserve a government that genuinely cares about their safety and well-being. Unfortunately, the ULP has failed in this regard. It has failed to implement effective measures or demonstrate the necessary commitment to reduce crime and improve the wellbeing of Vincentians.
The Way Forward
The NDP has a plan to address the crime situation in the country. We will:
- Establish a national forensics lab
- Improve training for police
- Collaborate with international criminal enforcement agencies
- Introduce community policing
- Strengthen the police service and justice system and rebuild trust in them
- Equip the police service with modern tools and procedures to defeat criminals
- Protect women and girls from sexual violence and domestic abuse with dedicated services
- Have streamlined procedures and specialised units to respond to tourism-related crimes, especially yacht break-ins, and praedial larceny.
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 will establish a Young Persons Rehabilitation Centre for non-violent young offenders.
Further, the NDP is committed to fostering economic development to generate meaningful employment opportunities. We believe that a strong and vibrant economy is essential for addressing the root causes of crime, such as poverty and unemployment.
Tribute to Leslyn
Senator Israel Bruce paid tribute on the New Times program to Leslyn Davis, a trafficker, who was gunned down. He said: “For persons who didn’t know Leslyn, she made a significant contribution in making sure that she assisted farmers in finding ready markets for their produce.
You hear us cry and lament consistently and continuously that one of the shortcomings of the current administration is, its absolute failure to assist the farmers of this country in finding sustainable market for their agricultural produce. Leslyn, contributed to assisting farmers in finding that market.
I had the opportunity to interface with some of Leslyn’s family. I was in Belmont. You hear sometimes people accuse some traffickers of certain things, whether justifiably or unjustifiably so. But Lesley was one of, she was not the only one, probably one of those traffickers, who showed up at the buying spots, or farmers will take their produce to the point of sale in Belmont and they were guaranteed that they would leave with the cash for their produce in their hands.
So, she guaranteed them sales, but she also guaranteed them immediate payment. By that, she was taking the risk of going to her sell-off points. And if items spoiled, it was on her. If she didn’t get them sell-off on time, it was on her. She was taking the risk involved. She was making sure that she was providing an opportunity for farmers to sell their produce and to put food on their tables for themselves and their families.
In fact, I am aware that there are some traffickers who have even gone as far as to take credit from some farmers, and when they realized that their credit worthiness status was so damaged that they turned to Leslyn and had Leslyn bought excess materials for them to sell and to keep their side of the trade going.
For a woman who essentially got up roughly three o’clock in the morning to see that her business was getting ‘cracking’ and probably went back to bed three o’clock the next morning having put everything together, getting up early and going to bed late, working honestly, steadfastly for her daily bread, it must be scorned with profound loudness that what had happened in the case of Leslyn.
I’m not diminishing the death of the others. I don’t know of their circumstances and I don’t know the individuals so closely either. But it is the fact that Leslie’s death is going to have an effect on the market possibilities and opportunities for farmers, the ease at which they did their business as part of their trade. It was on Friday, a farmer from South Central Windward took quite a lot of plantings to Leslyn, sold his plantings and got his money. She also used what she had to help families that were poor, destitute and underprivileged. It is a simple person that we’ve lost, but we’ve lost a giant of a personality.”