Government not keen to privatise Utility Bodies, PM

The privatisation of utility entities like the St Vincent Electricity Services (VINLEC), and the Central Water and Sewage Authority (CWSA) is not always a good idea in the context of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves shared this perspective while speaking on August 11, 2025 at the Methodist Church Hall, Kingstown, during the launch of VINLEC’s Smart Meter Project, during which he underscored that it has always been the policy of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration to keep these operations state owned.

“… there was a talk before we came to office that you would privatize…I’m not interested in privatizing VINLEC, like I’m not interested in privatizing CWSA.

“…and the talk in those days from the World Bank and the IMF is that, generally speaking, that private sector utilities do better than public sector ones…,” Prime Minister Gonsalves said.

He added, “…and I asked them to tell me about small island developing states in the era of the Anthropocene- that is to say, man-made climate change. I wanted them to tell me whether those are better run by the state or by the private sector. Give me the evidence…,” he challenged.

“They didn’t have that. But of course, a lot of bright young people came from the IMF and the World Bank, in their 30s and early 40s. They never run anything in their life, and they want to advise people who are on the ground and who understand things like that….”

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