The opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) says the “refusal” of Prime Minister Gonsalves “to accept that there is a crime crisis in the country and his constant attempts to provide academic analysis as excuses, all point to the bankruptcy of the ULP in governance.
“Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and the ULP have not only lost touch with the reality of Vincentian people’s lives, but are now, undoubtedly bankrupt of practical ideas and strategies and have abdicated their responsibility to provide security to the Vincentian people,” the NDP said on its latest statement on crime in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“… the armed robbery of a school child of her cell phone and money in the area of Block 2000, the attempted armed robbery of Elvin Edwards’ shop in McKies Hill, the robbery of a fruit vendor in the area of the Nurses’ Hostel and the attempted armed robbery at Black Rose Bar in Arnos Vale, have reinforced the fear and insecurity that many Vincentians feel,” the past said.
It further noted last Monday’s armed robbery of a police officer in Stubbs.
The statement also mentioned the armed robbery, earlier this month, of Reisha Twana Browne-Caesar, wife of Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar at her home.
The NDP reiterated that that crime “sent a clear message that no one is safe from crime here in SVG” and that the country “continues to struggle under the ever-rising crime crisis while Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and the ULP remain willfully blind and indifferent…
“We call on Dr. Gonsalves, as the Minister of National Security, to formally address the nation on plans to deal with the ever worsening crime situation in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The continuation of this trend will undoubtedly stymie the development of this nation and worsen joblessness among our youths,” the party said.
It added:
“St. Vincent and the Grenadines — Land of the Blessed — is fast declining into a land of fear and insecurity where law-abiding citizens look at everyone with suspicion. Nevertheless, we urge our people to remain vigilant, resilient and hopeful.
“The NDP again reiterate its willingness to work with the government and other organizations to address the problem. As Vincentians who love our country, only a united and collaborative effort will succeed in combating the national crisis of crime and violence in SVG.
“We again implore anyone with information that might assist the police in their investigations to provide it to the police and we call on the police to redouble their efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, and to resolve other unsolved violent crimes in our country.”
On the crime file, the Prime Minister is a man of logic, reason, and scientific evidence.
On the crime file, the Leader of the Opposition, is a man of emotion, grandstanding in a way that shows he is “willfully blind and indifferent” to any facts or interpretations firmly grounded in established criminological findings.
Since 2001, the NDP has been “undoubtedly bankrupt of practical ideas and strategies” on any issue of importance to our nation which is why it has deservedly lost every election it has contested since that time.
This does not mean that the ULP has done an effective job of governing our nation which it certainly has not.
What it does mean is that Dr. Friday and the NDP are far from ready to govern our country.
Alas, I agree with you again
Each day, we hear about what the ULP is not doing, yet 17 years later, we cant still wait to hear what the NDP will do.
Oh, the excuse of “they aren’t in government” is infantile. If they did in fact have strategies to address the crime situation, they would have (or at least should have) said something by now.
The NDP reminds me of a kid who always blames another for their shortcomings but can’t suggest a way to overcome same. These weekly “point out the government flaws” does nothing to convince independent thinkers.
I have never seen or heard of a Priminister making such excuses for crime that’s occurring in his country and under his administration, what is his true rational and why is he doing this? THAT ‘S THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION!!
simply , he wants no accountability ………but how can one bring about change without first recognizing the problem exist .
Unfortunately, the Prime Minister is doing the best he can with limited resources and incompetent and lazy police officers.
He could easily fire the acting commissioner of police and recruit a retired senior officer from Scotland Yard, America, or Canada to clean house from the bottom to the top. Such an officer, if he did a proper study, would surely dismiss two-thirds or more of the current force. But how would he replace them when new recruits would come from the same cohort of indifferent, ignorant, and lazy people.
If I were Commissioner, I would gradually fire most of the existing officers and replace them almost entirely with young, educated, and committed women, all of whom would be armed with a Glock 40 calibre semi-automatic pistol at all times and obliged to patrol the street in pairs on foot or bicycle accompanied by an attack dog day and night.
We also have far too many high ranking police: too many corporals, sergeants, inspectors, etc. In particular, 95 percent of the force should be ordinary constables — foot soldiers in the war on crime — not desk bound paper shufflers as we have today.
I don’t know why some wannabee bureaucrats come on here and want to dictate to people what they see as truth and reality. When all the while endorsing a morally and otherwise corrupt and ineffective cabinet.
Which Vincentian in his or her right mind would believe a hogwash story like the policies of the government has nothing to with the rapidly rising crime rate? Even police officers have taken to committing crimes and running criminal gangs.
Where is this coming from? Why is this happening? Who should be held to account when these things happen? The common people or the people[the government] who are in charge?
It’s your own fault, that is what they are telling us, and, they add: the NDP is incompetent and can do nothing good for you.
And then the wannabees come here and insult people’s intelligence daily. While the ULP is dancing to the beat of their own drums. And, the lackeys sit waiting for the crumbs and handouts.
In my view it is after them [the bureaucrat and lackeys] belly full; two wines further, they start to chat shit. Well, my fellow Vincy people you can believe me that they are full of shit.
We read the news and follow every development. We know what is going on. Or maybe it is fake news that we are getting or it is the ULP propaganda machine spreading disinformation. I’m sorry to say that this comment will probably not get published because of ULP censorship. There are a lot of things wrong. It’s no wonder that we seem helpless and delivered to the enemy. Thank God for social media without which we would have really been screwed.