Policy and Possibility: What the NDP Says It Would Do for the Economy
By Marlon Bute
When a Facebook post asked for five NDP policies that could help the economy, I got curious. So I decided to dig a little deeper. What I found was far more than five — a whole set of initiatives aimed at jumpstarting growth, creating jobs, and easing the cost of living in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
On one of my usual browses on Facebook, I saw a post by someone asking a pertinent — a very pertinent — question. He said, “Could someone list five policies of the New Democratic Party that would be helpful to the economy?”
Now, it didn’t matter to me that the poster might have been trying to suggest that the NDP has not come up with or articulated clear economic policies for growth, for job creation, for lowering the cost of living, for a better quality of life, for wealth creation, and so on.
So, I decided to take some time to find out for myself what sorts of policies the NDP — which is hopeful of forming the next government — has been proposing.
And I want you to take a few minutes and read through. It’s here, and not on the poster’s page, because I think that as important as the question was, the response based on my research is even more important and should be shared far wider than a Facebook comment.
Key NDP Policies and Their Economic Impact
1. Reduce VAT from 16 to 13 percent and introduce VAT-free shopping days
Lowers the cost of living, boosts disposable income, and stimulates retail activity.
2. Establish a National Development Bank
Provides affordable financing for farmers, fishers, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs, enabling expansion and job creation.
3. Rehire workers dismissed under the vaccine mandate
Restores employment, strengthens service delivery, and increases household spending power — an immediate stimulant to the economy.
4. Introduce a Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) programme
Attracts foreign capital to fund infrastructure and business development while creating new jobs.
5. Create a National Eco-Tourism Strategy
Develops rural and community tourism, spreads income beyond resorts, and supports small enterprises.
6. Implement a Youth Guarantee Programme
Ensures that every young person can access work, training, or internship opportunities, reducing unemployment and idleness.
7. Build a National TVET Centre of Excellence
Upgrades technical and vocational training to meet modern labour-market needs and attract investment.
8. Modernise Agriculture and Fisheries
Provides feeder roads, equipment, and marketing support to boost productivity, exports, and food security.
9. Simplify Business Processes and Support Local Enterprises
Cuts bureaucracy, encourages entrepreneurship, and strengthens domestic manufacturing.
10. Upgrade Roads, Ports, and Rural Infrastructure
Reduces transportation costs, improves access, and raises investment values nationwide.
11. Promote Renewable Energy and the Green Economy
Lowers electricity costs, reduces imported-fuel dependence, and opens new green-sector employment.
12. Introduce Year-End Bonuses and Performance Pay for Public Servants; Duty-Free Concessions after Ten Years of Service
Rewards productivity, boosts morale, and injects spending power into the economy. Duty-free concessions for long-serving public servants would recognise commitment, help families upgrade vehicles or appliances, and stimulate local commerce.
13. Increase Social Assistance and Expand Support for the Vulnerable
Raises household purchasing power, eases hardship, and sustains demand for goods and services.
14. Create a Diaspora Investment Programme
Mobilises the resources and expertise of Vincentians abroad to fund local ventures and development projects.
15. Establish a National Investment Bureau
Acts as a one-stop agency to attract foreign direct investment and assist local business expansion.
16. Build a National Health Insurance Scheme
Improves healthcare access and quality, resulting in a healthier, more productive workforce.
17. Expand Affordable Housing
Stimulates construction jobs, improves living conditions, and strengthens domestic demand.
18. Expand Broadband Access and ICT Infrastructure
Facilitates digital learning, remote work, and tech entrepreneurship, linking SVG to global markets.
19. Launch Apprenticeship and Youth-Entrepreneurship Funds
Creates structured pathways for young people into trades, self-employment, and innovation.
20. Promote Agro-Processing and Export Clusters
Adds value to local produce such as cocoa, fruits, and root crops, increasing export earnings.
21. Strengthen the Blue Economy
Upgrades fisheries, ports, and marine services to expand sustainable employment and exports.
22. Encourage Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for Infrastructure
Leverages private capital for roads, ports, and utilities, accelerating development and job creation.
23. Launch a National Apprenticeship and Skills-Matching System
Connects training with real job opportunities, reducing mismatch and improving productivity.
24. Cover the Fees for External Examinations (CXC and others)
Removes a financial burden from parents, allows more students to sit more subjects, and widens access to education — a long-term investment in national talent and competitiveness.
In my research, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of policies and initiatives that make up this framework — one intended not only to help the New Democratic Party make its case to be elected, but, more importantly, to guide governance if it does form the next administration.
Certainly, each listed policy framework could engender a conversation as to how useful it could be. We ought to have conversations that surround the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. They are healthy, and it’s only by having these types of constructive conversations that, as citizens, we could best contribute to our country’s development.
Marlon Bute is an entrepreneur, construction worker and writer.
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