ULP regime mismanagement, trade shocks and fiscal imbalances have put the SVG economy at a big disadvantage to stem spiralling crime in SVG. On the economic front:

a) the reported dreaded Moko disease in the SVG  banana industry will cause the banana output to fall substantially with a high negative impact on the economy and rural communities;

b) the poorly put together merger of Caribbean Star and LIAT has created a monopoly with regional airfares at sky high levels, impacting negatively on the SVG carnival and tourism;

c) the Kingstown Medical College, that injected EC$30 million into the SVG annually, is unlikely to re-open in SVG. This is having a big negative impact in SVG;

d) the economic crisis is fuelling crime in SVG and this in turn is having a negative impact on the economy;

e) the unwise introduction of VAT is choking off savings and investment and hitting the poor. It severely reduces poor people’s disposable income and their ability to buy things.

Let us look at crime in SVG in the first 3 months of 2007 as compared to 2006.

The table clearly shows that there have been large increases in crime even within the first few months of this year. That is mainly caused by the economy being much worse than last year. There are 120 cases laid down for hearing in the courts. On Tuesday 5th June 2007, a High court judge in SVG said the Judicial system is sinking, especially the criminal justice system.

The ULP regime’s stop-gap policies such as the ‘YES programme’ are no answer to the rapidly growing high rate of crime in SVG. The ULP regime is failing to take the SVG economy out of the gutter. The ULP regime’s methods are a formula to collapse any economy.

The ULP regime shows a lack of care for Vincentians, in that, although they know they are unable to properly manage the economy, they still will not step down. It is a form of arrogance to put themselves before the real concerns of the country.

What’s more incredible is that after over 6 years of the ULP regime begging and borrowing the economy is in a far worse state than when they started. All the signs are that what the ULP regime is doing is disappointing and also hugely unsuccessful.

SVG Green Party is saddened seeing so many Vincentians suffering needlessly. Many families are suffering the effects of poverty and crime purely because this government is incompetent. It is unfortunate for this ULP regime to continue in office as their inability to properly manage the SVG economy is causing suffering and increased poverty.