More measures coming to fight crime

The government of St Vincent and the Grenadines plans to ramp up its efforts to fight crime across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

This year, there will be a $7 million increase in the funds allocated to the Ministry of National Security as the government seeks to improve its efforts to maintain the safety of its citizens and visitors.

Presenting the 2025 Budget on Monday, January 13, 2025, Minister of Finance, Camillo Gonsalves said millions more will be spent to repair police stations that were damaged by Hurricane Beryl.

Additionally this year, the Ministry of National Security will spend over $1 million to purchase specialized equipment and additional vehicles for improved service.

Minister Gonsalves said there will be 160 more CCTV cameras placed across the state with assistance from the Government of Taiwan.

These cameras have already arrived in the state and, he said installation will begin “in the coming weeks.”

The ministry also has plans to expand the CCTV command centre at Questelles.

“CCTV is a proven deterrent and crime fighting tool,” Minister Gonsalves stated in his Budget address this week.

Also, the budget projects that more than $8 million in repair work will be undertaken on police stations at Chateaubelir, Old Montrose, Rose Hall, Stubbs, Vermont and at the Coast Guard base at Calliaqua.

Expansion work will also be carried out at the stations in Calliaqua, Layou, Paget Farm and Union Island.

The minister also stated that there are plans to locate a police station in the community of Diamond this year. Gonsalves explained that this new station will complement the existing police stations at Stubbs and Calliaqua.

In its continued crime fighting effort, the Government intends as well to add 25 positions to the ranks of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), from the level of Corporal to Assistant Commissioner.

The minister stated firmly that in 2025, there will be 1,100 police officers available to fight crime in St Vincent and the Grenadines.