# Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - United States Department of State

- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Saint Vincent and the Grenadines				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																																																		f. Transnational Repression																																																																											g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																																											h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																									Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption in Government																															Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																															Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines during the year.Significant human rights issues included credible reports of the existence of the worst forms of child labor.The government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings, during the year.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The law prohibited such practices, and there were no credible reports government officials employed them.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						There were no reports regarding prison or detention center conditions that raised human rights concerns.Administration:  Authorities investigated credible allegations of mistreatment.Independent Monitoring:  The government permitted monitoring by independent nongovernmental observers.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The law prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention and provided for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of their arrest or detention in court.  The government generally observed these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						The law required a judicial authority to issue arrest warrants.  The bail system was generally effective.  Authorities generally gave detainees prompt access to a lawyer.  For indigent detainees accused of a capital offense, the state provided a lawyer.  For other crimes, the state did not provide a lawyer, and defendants without the financial means to hire a lawyer had to represent themselves.Although lengthy delays prior to preliminary inquiries were noted, authorities and civil society reported compliance with Court of Appeal guidelines that required a preliminary hearing to be held within nine months of detention.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The law provided for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.																Trial Procedures						The law provided for the right to a fair and public trial, and the judiciary generally enforced this right.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.																										f. Transnational Repression										Not applicable.																																				g. Property Seizure and Restitution										Not applicable.																																				h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The law prohibited such actions, and there were no reports the government failed to respect these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The law provided for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right.  An independent media, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for media members.Libel/Slander Laws:  Libel, slander, and blasphemy were criminal offenses.  In July the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal ruled in favor of a local journalist who was sued for defamation in 2018 after media reported a magistrate accused the journalist of defaming the defendant.																Internet Freedom						The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The law provided for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The law provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										There was not a significant number of refugees in the country.Access to Asylum:  The law did not provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government had not established a system for protecting refugees.  The government addressed each case individually.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																						The law provided citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																										Elections and Political Participation										Abuses or Irregularities in Recent Elections:  National elections were widely reported to be fair and free of abuses and irregularities.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption in Government												    																						The law provided criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but the government did not always implement the law effectively.For additional information concerning corruption in the country, please see the Department of State’s Investment Climate Statement for the country and the Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which includes information on financial crimes.																											Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																						Several domestic human rights organizations generally operated without government restriction to monitor or investigate human rights conditions or cases and publish their findings.  Government officials were cooperative and responsive to the views of these groups.																											Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence:  Rape of women and men, including spousal and domestic or intimate partner rape and other forms of domestic and sexual violence, as well as so-called corrective rape of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) persons, was illegal.  Sentences for rape began at 10 years’ imprisonment.  According to one nongovernmental organization (NGO), the government did not always enforce the law effectively.  Authorities referred allegations of rape or physical or sexual abuse of women to police, who were generally responsive to these complaints.  Government officials noted increases in both gender-based violence and the number of individuals reporting cases.Authorities reported police recruits received training on engagement with rape and domestic violence survivors.  The government undertook antiviolence campaigns in schools, clinics, and communities as part of the 16 Days of Activism to end Gender-Based Violence campaign.  The government reported two safe houses were used for emergency accommodation of gender-based violence survivors.  Officials reported a survivor support program provided by the Gender Affairs Division offered survivors financial and rental support and therapeutic interventions.  Counselling and other psychosocial support were provided through other agencies, including governmental entities and NGOs.An NGO reported domestic violence was a problem and some survivors of domestic violence did not report abuse because the abusers were the main source of income in the household.  They also noted survivors faced problems when reporting domestic violence to police, who in some instances discouraged reporting.  The NGO alleged that at a nongovernment-run shelter, children were revictimized by security guards selling the victims for sex-work.Other Forms of Gender-based Violence or Harassment:  The law did not specifically prohibit sexual harassment, but authorities were able to prosecute such behavior under other laws.Discrimination:  Women enjoyed the same legal rights to family, nationality, and inheritance as men.  Women received an equitable share of property following separation or divorce.  The law required equal pay for equal work, and authorities generally enforced it.  The law prohibited some forms of discrimination based on sex.  Women were restricted from working in some industries, including mining, construction, factory work, and energy.Reproductive Rights:  There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.Contraception was widely available, including for the purpose of family planning.  There were no legal or social barriers to accessing contraception.The government provided access to sexual and reproductive health services, including emergency contraception, for survivors of sexual violence.  Information on access to HIV prophylaxis was not available.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										The law prohibited racial discrimination but did not specifically mention ethnicity.  The government enforced the law effectively.																																				Children										Child Abuse:  The law provided a legal framework, including within domestic violence laws, for the protection of children.  An NGO alleged the government did not enforce the law effectively.  The NGO reported child abuse was a problem despite government public awareness and prevention campaigns.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage:  The legal minimum age for marriage was 18.  Parental consent was required for underage marriage.  The government enforced the law effectively.Sexual Exploitation of Children:  The law prohibited the sale or use of children for commercial sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking.  The law did not include grooming but could prosecute it under other laws.  The law prohibited the posting and circulation of child pornography on the internet.  The government enforced the law effectively.The law prohibited girls younger than age 15 and boys younger than 16 from engaging in consensual sexual relations.  The law prohibited opposite-sex statutory rape, with special provisions for persons younger than 13.  The government generally enforced the law effectively.																																				Antisemitism										There was no organized Jewish community, and there were no reports of antisemitic incidents.																																				Trafficking in Persons										See the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization:  Anal sex was illegal for men and carried a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.  A separate “indecency law” prohibited other forms of same-sex conduct, with a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.  These laws were not enforced.Violence and Harassment:  In a report based on interviews with 21 LGBTQI+ individuals, Human Rights Watch found most persons interviewed had experienced physical assaults, harassment, or sexual violence.Discrimination:  The Human Rights Watch report also noted discrimination, including in the workplace, occurred for some of the 21 persons interviewed.  No law prohibited discrimination against a person based on sexual orientation or gender identity, nor did it recognize LGBTQI+ couples and their families.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition:  There was no legislation providing for legal gender recognition.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices:  There were no reports of involuntary or coercive medical or psychological practices specifically targeting LGBTQI+ individuals.  There were no reports that medically unnecessary and irreversible “normalization” surgeries were performed on children or nonconsenting adult intersex persons.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association or Peaceful Assembly:  There were no reports of restrictions of freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly regarding LGBTQI+ matters.																																				Persons with Disabilities										The law did not mandate access to buildings for persons with disabilities, and access to buildings generally was difficult.  The law prohibited discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, mental, and intellectual disabilities, and the government generally enforced these prohibitions.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law provided for the right of workers to form and join unions of their choice, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes.  The law did not require employers to recognize a particular union as an exclusive bargaining agent.  The law prohibited antiunion discrimination and dismissal for engaging in union activities.  Although the law did not require reinstatement of workers fired for union activity, a court could order reinstatement.The government recognized the right to freedom of association, with restrictions.  The International Labor Organization (ILO) noted with concern the discretionary authority of the government regarding trade union registration and the government’s unfettered authority to investigate the financial accounts of trade unions.The government generally respected the right to collective bargaining in the private sector.  Authorities formed arbitration panels, which included tripartite representation from government, businesses, and unions, on an ad hoc basis when labor disputes occurred.Workers providing essential services – defined as the provision of electricity, water, hospital, and police services – were prohibited from striking unless they provided at least 14 days’ notice to authorities.  Some of these sectors were not covered under the ILO’s description of essential services.The government did not always enforce labor laws effectively.  Penalties were undefined and thus were not consistently commensurate with penalties for other violations involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination.  No information was available on penalties being applied against violators.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										See the Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										See the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/&nbsp;.																																				d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																														e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws:  The law provided for a minimum wage for all sectors.  Minimum wages varied by sector and type of work and were below the poverty income level.  The law prescribed hours of work for specific categories, such as industrial employees (40 hours per week), professionals (44 hours per week), and agricultural workers (30 to 40 hours per week).  The law provided that workers received time-and-a-half pay for hours worked in excess of the standard workweek.  There was a prohibition against excessive or compulsory overtime.Occupational Safety and Health:  Occupational safety and health (OSH) standards were generally appropriate for the main industries, agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.  OSH experts did not actively identify instances of unsafe conditions.  Workers had the right to remove themselves from unsafe work environments without jeopardizing their employment.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement:  The law provided for the safety, health, and welfare of persons at work.  The Labor Department was responsible for the administration and enforcement of the law.  The government did not effectively enforce OSH laws.  Penalties for violations were not commensurate with those for analogous crimes, such as negligence.  No information was available on penalties being applied against violators.Major OSH issues included industrial safety, specifically exposure to harmful substances and compliance with safety protocols.  Inspectors conducted unannounced inspections but were not authorized to levy sanctions.  It was unclear if the number of inspectors was sufficient to enforce compliance.  The Department of Labor did not have the legal authority to impose fines for violations, but it conducted follow-up inspections to assess if the shortfalls had been addressed; no employers were fined or cited for violations.  Judicial officials had the authority to prosecute violations of workplace law and impose fines.  Workers who received less than the minimum wage could file a claim with labor inspectors, who investigated and, if warranted, referred the matter to arbitration.There was no information regarding the size of the informal sector.  The government did not enforce labor laws in this sector.																																				    							View report by:																				Afghanistan											Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bhutan											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Central African Republic											Chad											Chile											China (Includes Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet)											Colombia											Comoros											Costa Rica											Côte d&#8217;Ivoire											Croatia											Cuba											Cyprus											Czech Republic											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France											Gabon											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guinea-Bissau											Guyana											Haiti											Honduras											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iran											Iraq											Ireland											Israel, West Bank and Gaza											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kiribati											Kosovo											Kuwait											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Liechtenstein											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Monaco											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nauru											Nepal											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Korea											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Russia											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											San Marino											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Solomon Islands											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Sudan											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Syria											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											The Gambia											The Netherlands											Timor-Leste											Togo											Tonga											The Bahamas											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Turkey (Türkiye)											Turkmenistan											Tuvalu											Uganda											Ukraine											United Arab Emirates											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vanuatu											Venezuela											Vietnam											Yemen											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																							a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																						b. Disappearance																																																						c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																				Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																				Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																												Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																				f. Transnational Repression																																																						g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																						h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																						c. Freedom of Religion																																																						d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																						e. Protection of Refugees																																																			Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																							Elections and Political Participation																																																			Section 4. Corruption in Government																Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines National Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateOn behalf of the United States of America, please accept my best wishes as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines celebrates its 44th year of independence.The United States is committed to its long-standing partnership with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. We are proud of our work together under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative to address crime and violence and help support a safe, secure, and prosperous Caribbean. Going forward we are excited to collaborate on the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030 (PACC 2030), which will help Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and other countries in the region tackle one of the most pressing global challenges.On this anniversary of your country’s Independence Day the United States hopes for a happy and prosperous year to come for all Vincentians.
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2023 Investment Climate Statements&#8230;Saint Vincent and the Grenadines				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Investment Climate Statements: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines																																																																																												 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																																									Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																																																														Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																																											Business Facilitation																																																																											Outward Investment																																																																																	2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																																																									Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is also party to the following: 																																																																			Caribbean Community (CARICOM)																																																								Organization of Eastern Caribbean States 																																																								Caribbean Basin Initiative																																																								CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement 																																																								CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement  																																																								Caribbean/Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN) 																																																																																																																								3. Legal Regime																																																									Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																																											International Regulatory Considerations																																																																											Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																																											Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																																											Expropriation and Compensation																																																																											Dispute Settlement																																																																			ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																																								Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																																								International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																																																		Bankruptcy Regulations																																																																																	4. Industrial Policies																																																									Investment Incentives																																																																											Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																																											Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																																																	5. Protection of Property Rights																																																									Real Property																																																																											Intellectual Property Rights																																																																																	6. Financial Sector																																																									Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																																											Money and Banking System																																																																											Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																																			Foreign Exchange																																																								Remittance Policies																																																																																																																		Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																																																	7. State-Owned Enterprises																																																									Privatization Program																																																																																	8. Responsible Business Conduct																																																									Additional Resources																																																																											Climate Issues																																																																																	9. Corruption																																																									Resources to Report Corruption																																																																																	10. Political and Security Environment																															11. Labor Policies and Practices																															12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																															13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																															14. Contact for More Information																																																					EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).  In the most recent available figures from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), the country’s 2022 estimated gross domestic product (GDP) was projected at $871.4 million (2,355 billion Eastern Caribbean dollars). In 2023, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has continued to recover from the effects of the 2021 volcanic eruption, Hurricane Elsa, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most of the Eastern Caribbean, the country continues to grapple with supply-chain delays and surging consumer food and fuel prices exacerbated by Russia’s war on Ukraine. As of May 2023, the International Monetary Fund forecast the Vincentian economy to grow by 6.0% by the end of 2023.The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines strongly encourages foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly in industries that create jobs and earn foreign exchange.  Through the Invest Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Authority (Invest SVG), the government facilitates FDI and maintains an open dialogue with current and potential investors.The country continues to promote economic diversification and investment in several niche markets, particularly tourism, international financial services, agro-processing, scientific and medical research, light manufacturing, renewable energy, creative industries, and information and communication technologies.  The government is also pushing ahead with planned upgrades to the healthcare sector.Supported by the National Climate Change Policy and National Adaption Plan, green and blue investment opportunities are encouraged particularly in critical sectors such as tourism, general infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and light manufacturing. The government continues to place priority in the tourism sector as it continues to show signs of recovery with increasing visitor arrivals in 2023. Long awaited construction projects in the tourism sector and civil infrastructure are expected to commence within the calendar year and will provide a much-needed economic boost.The government does not impose limits on foreign control, nor are there requirements for local ownership or ownership in locally registered companies.  The island’s legal system is based on the British common law system.Saint Vincent and the Grenadines does not have a bilateral investment treaty with the UnitedStates.  It has double-taxation treaties with the United States, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.In 2016, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines signed an intergovernmental agreement in observance of the United States’ Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), making it mandatory for banks in the country to report the banking information of U.S. citizens.Table 1: Key Metrics and RankingsMeasure Year Index/Rank Website AddressTI Corruption Perceptions Index 2022 45 of 180http://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/overview  Global Innovation Index 2022N/A https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/analysis-indicator  U.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, historical stock positions) 2021 $7 Mhttps://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet World Bank GNI per capita 2021  $8,720http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD  																																					1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment						    																																																Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment										The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, through Invest SVG, strongly encourages foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly in industries that create jobs and earn foreign currency.  The government is open to all investment, but is currently prioritizing investment in niche markets, particularly tourism, international financial services, agro-processing, light manufacturing, renewable energy, scientific and medical research, creative industries, and information and communication technologies.Invest SVG’s FDI policy is designed to attract investment into priority sectors.  It advises the government on the formation and implementation of policies and programs that attract and facilitate investment.  The government offers special incentive packages for foreign investments in the hotel industry and light manufacturing.  The government offers other incentive packages on an ad hoc basis.  Invest SVG promotes and facilitates both local and foreign direct investment through a range of services. More information is available from its website:  https://investsvg.com/ .																																				Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																													There are no limits on foreign control in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, nor are there requirements for local investment or ownership in locally registered companies, although non-nationals must apply for a license from the Prime Minister’s Office to acquire more than 50 percent of a company.  An attorney must submit this application and Cabinet must approve it.  Companies holding at least five acres of land may restrict or prohibit the issue or transfer of their shares or debentures to non-Vincentian nationals.The government has not officially closed any industries to private investment, although some activities such as telecommunications, utilities, broadcasting, banking, and insurance require a government license.Invest SVG has the authority to screen and review FDI projects.  The review process is transparent and contingent on the size of capital investment and the project’s projected economic impact.  The investor must complete a series of steps to obtain a business license.  These steps are listed at  http://investsvg.com .  All potential investors seeking an incentive package must submit their proposals for review by Invest SVG to ensure the project is consistent with the nation’s laws and interests and would provide economic benefits to the country. Local enterprises generally welcome joint ventures with foreign investors to access technology, expertise, markets, and capital.																																				Other Investment Policy Reviews										In May 2023, the World Trade Organization (WTO) conducted a trade policy review of the OECS of which Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member. The full report is available at  https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp537_e.htm . There have not been any investment policy reviews of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines by civil society organizations in the past five years.																																				Business Facilitation										Invest SVG facilitates domestic and FDI in priority sectors and advises the government on the formation and implementation of policies and programs to attract investment.  Invest SVG provides business support services and market intelligence to all investors.  It also reviews all investment projects applying for government incentives to ensure they conform to national interests and provide economic benefits to the country.  Its website is  https://investsvg.com/ . In addition to the Invest SVG website, the country offers an online guide that is useful for navigating the laws, rules, procedures, and registration requirements for foreign investors.  The guide is available at  http://theiguides.org/public-docs/guides/saintvincentandthegrenadines  .The general practice is to retain an attorney to prepare all incorporation documents.  Local laws dictate that a business must register with the Commerce and Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), the Ministry of Trade, the Inland Revenue Department, and the National Insurance Service.  The CIPO has an online information portal that describes the steps to register a business in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.  There is no online registration process, but the required forms are available online.  These must be printed and submitted to the CIPO.  It takes about two business days to register a business. More information is available at  http://www.cipo.gov.vc .																																				Outward Investment										There is no restriction on domestic investors seeking to do business abroad.  Local companies are actively encouraged to take advantage of export opportunities specifically related to the country’s membership in the OECS Economic Union and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), which enhances the competitiveness of the local and regional private sectors across traditional and emerging high-potential markets.																																												2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties						    																						Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has not signed a bilateral investment treaty with the United States.  The country, however, has bilateral tax treaties with the United States, as well as with Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has signed agreements on the reciprocal protection of investment with Germany and the UAE. The country also has a double taxation treaty with the UAE.																										Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is also party to the following: 																										Caribbean Community (CARICOM)						The Treaty of Chaguaramas established the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in 1973 to promote economic integration among its 15 member states.  Investors operating in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have preferential access to the entire CARICOM market.  The 2001 Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas established the CSME, which permits the free movement of goods, capital, and labor among CARICOM states.  CARICOM has bilateral agreements with Cuba, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.  In 2013, CARICOM entered into a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States.						Organization of Eastern Caribbean States 						The Treaty of Basseterre established the OECS in 1981.  The OECS consists of seven full members (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), and four associate members (Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, and Martinique).  The purpose of the Treaty is to promote harmonization among member states in foreign policy, defense and security, and economic affairs.  The seven full members ratified the Revised Treaty of Basseterre establishing the OECS Economic Union, which entered into force in 2011.  The Economic Union established a single financial and economic space within which goods, services, and people move without hindrance.						Caribbean Basin Initiative						The Caribbean Basin Initiative facilitates the economic development and export diversification of the Caribbean Basin economies. It encourages private sector initiatives by expanding foreign and domestic investment in non-traditional sectors, diversifying country economies, and expanding their imports, and it permits duty-free entry of eligible products manufactured or assembled in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines into the United States.						CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement 						The Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) and the European Community signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in 2008.  The overarching objectives of the EPA are to alleviate poverty, promote regional integration and economic cooperation, and foster the gradual integration of the CARIFORUM states into the world economy by improving trade capacity and creating an investment-conducive environment.  The EPA promotes trade-related developments in areas such as competition, intellectual property, public procurement, the environment, and the protection of personal data.						CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement  						The UK and the CARIFORUM states signed an EPA in 2019, committing to trade continuity after Britain’s departure from the European Union.  The CARIFORUM-UK EPA eliminates all tariffs on all goods imported from CARIFORUM states into the UK, while those Caribbean states will continue to gradually cut import tariffs on most of the region’s imports from the UK.						Caribbean/Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN) 						The Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN) is an economic and trade development assistance program for Commonwealth Caribbean countries. Through CARIBCAN, Canada provides duty-free access to its national market for most products originating in Commonwealth Caribbean countries.																																		3. Legal Regime						    																																																Transparency of the Regulatory System										Saint Vincent and the Grenadines uses transparent policies and laws to foster competition and establish clear rules for foreign and domestic investors in the areas of tax, labor, environment, health, and safety.  Accounting, legal, and regulatory practices are generally transparent and consistent with international norms.  The International Financial Accounting Standards, which stem from the General Accepted Accounting Principles, govern the accounting profession in the country.Rulemaking and regulatory authority rests in the unicameral House of Assembly, which has fifteen elected members and six appointed senators who sit for a term of up to five years.  The Public Accounts Committee and Director of Audits ensure the government follows administrative processes.National laws govern all regulations relating to foreign investment.  Ministries develop these laws, which are then drafted by the Ministry of Legal Affairs.  Laws pertaining to Invest SVG also govern FDI.  Invest SVG has the main responsibility for investment supervision, while the Ministry of Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, Industry, Information, and Labor tracks investments to collect information for national statistics and reporting purposes.The government publishes most draft bills in local newspapers for public comment.  In addition, the government circulates bills at stakeholder meetings.  Some bills and laws are published on the government website at  www.gov.vc , though the only official source is the printed Saint Vincent Gazette. The government sometimes establishes a select committee to suggest amendments to specific draft bills.  In some instances, these mechanisms may also apply to investment laws and regulations.  There is no obligation for the government to consider proposed amendments prior to implementation.  The government discloses information on public finances and debt obligations.  The annual budget address can be found online at  www.gov.vc  .The country’s membership in regional organizations, particularly the OECS and its Economic Union, commits the state to implement all appropriate measures to fulfill its various treaty obligations.  For example, the Banking Act, which establishes a single banking space and the harmonization of banking regulations in the Economic Union, is uniformly in force in the eight member territories of the ECCU, although there are some minor differences in implementation from country to country.  The enforcement mechanisms of these regulations include penalties or legal sanctions. The most recent Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Mutual Evaluation assessment found Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to be largely compliant.  The ECCB is the supervisory authority over financial institutions registered under the Banking Act of 2015.																																				International Regulatory Considerations										As a member of the OECS Economic and Currency Union, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines subscribes to a set of principles and policies outlined in the Revised Treaty of Basseterre.  The relationship between national and regional systems is such that each participating member state is expected to coordinate and adopt, where possible, common national policies aimed at the progressive harmonization of relevant policies and systems across the region.  Thus, the country must implement regionally developed regulations, such as legislation passed under the OECS Authority, unless it seeks specific concessions.The country’s Bureau of Standards is a statutory body which prepares and promulgates standards in relation to goods, services, processes, and practices.  As a signatory to the WTO Agreement on the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines must notify the TBT Committee of all draft national standards are harmonized to meet international norms in order to avoid creating technical barriers to trade.Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in 2017 and subsequently notified its Category A measures.  Included in the Trade Facilitation Agreement are measures to improve risk management techniques and a post-clearance audit system to eliminate delays and congestion at the port.  A full list of measures undertaken pursuant to the TFA is available at  https://tfadatabase.org/en/members/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines .As a member of CARICOM, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines utilizes the Advanced Cargo Information System, a computer-based system developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to harmonize and standardize electronic cargo information in order to improve the capability to track cargo efficiently and to support regional and international trade. The Advanced Cargo Information System forms a critical part of the World Customs Organization SAFE Framework of Standards.																																				Legal System and Judicial Independence										The country’s legal system is based on the British common law system.  The constitution guarantees the independence of the judiciary.  The judicial system consists of lower courts, called magistrates’ courts, and a family court.  The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Act establishes the Supreme Court of Judicature, which consists of the High Court and the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.  The High Court hears criminal and civil (commercial) matters and makes determinations on constitutional matters.  Parties may appeal first to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, a court that hears appeals from all OECS members.  The final court of appeal is the Judicial Committee of the UK Privy Council.The country has a strong judicial system that upholds the sanctity of contracts and prevents unwarranted discrimination towards foreign investors.  The government treats foreign investors and local investors equally with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition of investments in its territory.  The police and court systems are generally unbiased in commercial matters.The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is the regional judicial tribunal, established in 2001 by the Agreement Establishing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.  The CCJ has original jurisdiction to interpret and apply the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, while the Vincentian government has considered moving to replace the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council with the CCJ as the country’s highest court of appeal.  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is subject to the original jurisdiction of the CCJ.The United States and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are both parties to the WTO.  The WTO Dispute Settlement Panel and Appellate Body resolve disputes over WTO agreements, while courts of appropriate jurisdiction in both countries resolve private disputes.																																				Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment										Through Invest SVG, the government provides guidance on the relevant laws, rules, procedures, and reporting requirements for investors.  Interested parties should contact Invest SVG to initiate the process. The website  http://investsvg.com  serves as the primary source of all information relating to investment. The website lists priority sectors, areas of opportunity, country information, laws and regulations, facilitation and promotion services; and contact information.																																				Competition and Antitrust Laws										Chapter 8 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas outlines the competition policy applicable to CARICOM states.  Member states are required to establish and maintain a national competition authority for implementing the rules of competition.  CARICOM established a Caribbean Competition Commission (CCC) to apply rules of competition regarding anti-competitive cross-border business conduct.  CARICOM competition policy addresses anti-competitive business conduct such as agreements between enterprises, decisions by associations of enterprises, and concerted practices by enterprises that have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition within CARICOM, and actions by which an enterprise abuses its dominant position within CARICOM.  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of the CCC.The OECS has agreed to establish a regional authority to regulate competition in the economic union and would be a part of the CCC. To date, the draft OECS Competition Bill remains under review. As such, there is currently no legislation or authority outside of the CARICOM framework that regulates competition in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.																																				Expropriation and Compensation										Under the Land Acquisition Act, the government may acquire land for a public purpose.  The government must serve a notice of acquisition to the person from whom the land is acquired.  A Board of Assessment determines compensation and files its award in the High Court.  The value of the land is based on the amount for which the land would be sold on the open market by a willing seller.  Under the Alien’s (Land-Holding Regulation) Act, the government can hold properties forfeit without compensation if the terms of investment are not met.  The U.S. Embassy is not aware of any outstanding expropriation claims or nationalization of foreign enterprises in Sain Vincent and the Grenadines.																																				Dispute Settlement																										ICSID Convention and New York Convention						Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States and the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, also known as the New York Arbitration Convention.The court system and bureaucracy are widely seen as slow and are considered the main hindrances to timely resolution of commercial disputes.   Through the Arbitration Act of 1952, the government makes provision for arbitration in the local courts and for the execution of foreign arbitral awards.						Investor-State Dispute Settlement						Investors are permitted to use national or international arbitration regarding contracts entered into with the state.  The local courts recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards issued against the government. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines does not have a bilateral investment treaty or a free trade agreement with an investment chapter with the United States.  The U.S. Embassy is not aware of any current investment disputes in the country.						International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts						The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is the domestic arbitration body, and the local courts recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards.  The Trade Disputes (Arbitration and Inquiry) Act provides that either party to an existing trade dispute can report it to the Governor General.  The Governor General may, if both parties consent, refer the dispute to an arbitration panel for settlement.  The arbitration panel must issue an award that is consistent with national employment laws.  Parties can be represented by legal counsel before the arbitration panel.  These bodies may conduct proceedings in public or private.  The Trade Disputes Act provides that alternative dispute mechanisms are available as a means for settling disputes between two private parties.  The government recognizes voluntary mediation or conciliation as dispute resolution mechanisms.  The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’s Court of Appeals also provides mediation.																										Bankruptcy Regulations										The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act with its amendments and the Banking and Insolvency Regulations of 2015 govern the country’s bankruptcy framework and grants certain rights to debtors and creditors. This framework makes provisions for both corporate and individual insolvency, the rehabilitation of the insolvent debtor, the creation of the office of the Supervisor of Insolvency, and for other related matters.																																												4. Industrial Policies						    																																																Investment Incentives										Through the Fiscal Incentives Act, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines offers many incentives to investors and provides the necessary information on the laws, criteria, and application procedures to qualify for these incentives. These incentives are available to all foreign investors, including those from unrepresented groups such as women.The list of incentives includes exemption from or reduction of duty payments on the importation or purchase of materials and other equipment for use in construction and operation of the business. Other incentives are the exemption from or a reduction of duty on the importation or purchase of vehicles for use in operation of the business, and a reduction of property tax of up to 10% for land and buildings used in the operation of the business.The government also provides tax holidays as an investment incentive. Group I enterprises (50 percent or more local value added) enjoy a 15-year tax holiday; Group II enterprises (25 to 49 percent local value added) are granted 12 years; Group III enterprises (10 to 24 percent local value added) receive ten years. Enclave enterprises (producing wholly for markets outside of CARICOM) enjoy a 15-year tax holiday. The Industry Unit under the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology administers this act. These fiscal incentives may be granted to manufacturing and processing companies producing “Approved Products.” Companies must apply to the Cabinet to become “Approved Enterprises” producing such products. Local value is determined by the percentage of annual sales not contributed by imported materials and services, non-CARICOM national labor, profits and other income payments distributed to members outside of CARICOM, or depreciation on imported machinery and equipment. Tax holidays are also granted to capital-intensive industries investing at least $9.25 million (25 million Eastern Caribbean dollars).Local laws dictate that companies must meet export performance requirements to take advantage of certain tax incentives. For example, enclave enterprises must produce goods exclusively for export outside the CARICOM region. Foreigners may finance investments using domestic or foreign capital sources. The Fiscal Incentives Act confers income tax credits in the form of export allowance to qualifying enterprises for the export of approved products.In the tourism sector, the Hotels Aid Act provides incentives for the renovation, refurbishment, and expansion of existing hotels and for the construction of new hotels. Concessions for expansions of not less than five guest rooms are also available. The Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture administers the act.The maximum corporate tax rate currently stands at 28%, except for companies granted tax holidays under the Fiscal Incentives Act. Companies manufacturing goods for local or export markets and which have maintained a special account conforming to Comptroller of Inland Revenue requirements have access to reduced tax rates. Offshore businesses are also subject to value added tax (VAT) on taxable goods imported into Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. VAT is 16%. An international company may import machinery and equipment free from certain taxes and customs duties if the imports are capital goods to be used in a company’s business.The government recognizes trusts if they are in writing and follow the formal requirements for a deed or settlement under the International Trust Act. The act recognizes several types of international trusts: protective or spendthrift trusts, charitable trusts, and purpose trusts. A Registrar of Trusts has direct regulatory responsibilities relating to registration, certificate issuance, and review of trust documentation. At least one trustee must be registered and licensed for an international trust to be registered. The government confers certain benefits on registered trusts, including exemptions from various taxes and duties provided the settler was not insolvent at the time the trust was created or did not become insolvent because of the creation of the trust. The exemptions include income tax, excise tax, customs duties, and stamp duty exemptions. These are applicable if certain conditions are met, one of which being that the trust must not be domiciled in the country. The Comptroller of Inland Revenue is empowered to assess a trust’s eligibility for tax exemptions and may require the registered trustee to provide financial information.According to the Trust Act, if at least one beneficiary of a registered trust becomes a resident after the trust is registered, and if the trust is in good standing, the fact of the residency of the beneficiary will not invalidate the trust. Neither the trust nor its beneficiaries will be entitled to tax exemptions for any year during which the trust had one or more resident beneficiaries. An international trust, except one that is an international company, will not become void or voidable due to a settler’s bankruptcy, insolvency, or liquidation, the law of the settler’s domicile or ordinary residence notwithstanding.While there is no formal legislation in relation to incentives in the information and telecommunications sector, commercial presence and establishment is at the discretion of the Cabinet on advice from the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission.In the areas of clean and renewable energy, the government has currently revamped its policy, legislation, and regulatory framework to include net billing, feed-in tariffs and interconnection. The government continues to purse renewable energy investments in wind, solar, and geo-thermal, primarily on a commercial level. Similarly, the government is also interested in expanding energy storage, energy efficiency and low-carbon transport (hybrid and electric vehicles) capabilities. So far, tax incentives exist for renewable energy improvements such as purchasing solar photovoltaic equipment.																																				Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation										The Export Free Zones Act of 1999 provides for the designation or establishment of export free zones, which allow for the duty-free import of inputs for processing and export and other approved activities.  While allowable under law, there are currently no operational foreign trade zones or free trade zones in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.																																				Performance and Data Localization Requirements										As a member of the WTO, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is party to the Agreement to the Trade Related Investment Measures. While there are no formal performance requirements, the government encourages investments that will create jobs and increase exports and foreign exchange earnings. There are no requirements for participation either by nationals or by the government in foreign investment projects. There is no requirement that enterprises must purchase a fixed percentage of goods or technology from local sources, but the government encourages local sourcing. The government does not mandate local employment.The Employment of Foreign Nationals and Commonwealth Citizens Act provides that foreign nationals or Commonwealth citizens must obtain valid work permits. The ministry responsible for national security oversees work permit applications. The government may modify or cancel work permits after a seven-day notice if the holder fails to comply with the conditions of the permit.There is no requirement that enterprises purchase a fixed percentage of goods from local sources. There are no requirements for foreign information technology providers to turn over source code and/or provide access to surveillance (back doors into hardware and software keys for encryption, etc.). The government passed the Privacy Act in 2003; however, it has not adopted any specific data protection legislation.																																												5. Protection of Property Rights						    																																																Real Property										The Aliens’ Land Holding Act regulates the holding of land and mortgages related to land by individuals who are non-nationals and companies controlled by non-nationals. Non-nationals must apply for and be granted a license to hold land. The breach of any condition of the license authorizes forfeiture to the government of the interest held by the non-national. License conditions may require that land be developed within a specific timeframe. Non-nationals must use a locally licensed attorney to apply for a land license. The applications are processed through the office of the Prime Minister. If approved, the non-national must file the license at the Registry of the High Court. The Registry collects all applicable registration fees and stamp duties.																																				Intellectual Property Rights										Saint. Vincent and the Grenadines has a legislative framework protecting intellectual property rights (IPR). While legal structures governing IPR are adequate, enforcement measures are inconsistent. The country is not listed in the U.S. Trade Representative’s 2023 Special 301 Report or in its 2022 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy. The administration of IPR laws is the responsibility of the Office of the Attorney General. The Commerce and Intellectual Property Office administers the registration of patents, trademarks, and service marks. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. It is also a member of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization and is a signatory to its treaties.Article 66 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the CSME commits all 15 members to implement stronger intellectual property protection and enforcement. The EPA between CARIFORUM states and the European Community contains the most detailed obligations with respect to intellectual property in any trade agreement to which Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a party. The EPA recognizes the protection and enforcement of IPR. Article 139 of the EPA requires parties to “ensure an adequate and effective implementation of the international treaties dealing with intellectual property to which they are parties, and of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS).” As a member of the WTO, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines recognizes the WTO TRIPS Agreement.The Enforcement Division of the Customs and Excise Department spearheads the preventative and enforcement aspects of IPR protection, which includes the detention, seizure, and forfeiture of counterfeit goods. The Enforcement Division also conducts investigations of customs offenses and administers fines and penalties.For additional information about national laws and points of contact at local IP offices, please see WIPO’s country profiles at  http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/. 																																												6. Financial Sector						    																																																Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment										Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of the ECCU. As such, it is a member of the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE) and the Regional Government Securities Market. The ECSE is a regional securities market established by the ECCB and licensed under the Securities Act of 2001, a uniform regional body of legislation governing the buying and selling of financial products for the eight member territories. It is regulated by the Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission. As of March 2022, there were 164 securities listed on the ECSE, comprising 135 sovereign debt instruments, 13 equities, and 16 corporate debt securities.  Market capitalization stood at $703 million (1.9 billion Eastern Caribbean dollars.The ECSE and its subsidiaries, the Eastern Caribbean Central Securities Depository and the Eastern Caribbean Central Securities Registry, facilitate activities on the ECSE. The main activities are the primary issuance and secondary trading of corporate and sovereign securities, the clearance and settlement of issues and trades, maintaining securities holders’ records, and providing custodial, registration, transfer agency, and paying agency services while respecting listed and non-listed securities. As of March 2022, there were 164 securities listed on the ECSE, comprising 135 sovereign debt instruments, 13 equities, and 16 corporate debt securities. Market capitalization stood at $703 million (1.9 billion Eastern Caribbean dollars). Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is open to portfolio investment.Saint Vincent and the Grenadines accepted the obligations of Article VIII of the IIMF Agreement, sections 2, 3, and 4, and maintains an exchange system free of restrictions on making international payments and transfers. St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not have a credit rating bureau.																																				Money and Banking System										The eight participating governments of the ECCU have passed the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Agreement Act. The act provides for the establishment of the ECCB, its management and administration, its currency, relations with financial institutions, relations with the participating governments, foreign exchange operations, external reserves, and other related matters. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a signatory to this agreement. Therefore, the ECCB controls the country’s currency and regulates its domestic banks.The Banking Act (2015) is a harmonized piece of legislation across all ECCU member states. The ECCB and the Ministers of Finance of member states jointly carry out banking supervision under the act. The Minister of Finance usually act in consultation with the ECCB with respect to those areas of responsibility within the minister’s portfolio.Domestic and foreign banks can establish operations in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The Banking Act requires all commercial banks and other institutions to be licensed. The ECCB regulates financial institutions. As part of ongoing supervision, licensed financial institutions are required to submit monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports to the ECCB. In its latest annual report, the ECCB listed the commercial banking sector in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as stable. Assets of commercial banks totaled $833 million (2.25 billion Eastern Caribbean dollars) at the end of the last reported year of 2019. The reserve requirement for commercial banks was six percent of deposit liabilities.The Caribbean region has witnessed a withdrawal of correspondent banking services by U.S., Canadian, and European banks due to risk management concerns. CARICOM remains committed to engaging with key stakeholders on the issue and appointed a Committee of Ministers of Finance on Correspondent Banking to continue to monitor the issue.Bitt, a wholly U.S. owned company founded in Barbados, developed digital currency DCash in partnership with the ECCB. The first successful DCash retail central bank digital currency (CDBC) consumer-to-merchant transaction took place in Grenada in February 2021 following a multi-year development process. The ECCB and BITT signed a memorandum of understanding in March 2018 and launched their fintech pilot project and regulatory sandbox in four member countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia a year later. In March 2021, DCash was officially rolled out. Bitt launched DCash in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in August 2021 to aid in the recovery of the volcanic eruption on the island. After some challenges in early 2022, the DCash online platform remained online and available for transactions during the reporting period.In 2022, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines approved the Virtual Assets Bill in Parliament. The bill regulates virtual currencies with the expectation that they will become increasingly prevalent. The bill is intended to facilitate the ease of doing business in a cashless society, and to combat theft, fraud, money laundering, Ponzi schemes, and terrorist financing. All businesses in this sector must register under this act. This bill was drafted by the ECCB.																																				Foreign Exchange and Remittances																										Foreign Exchange						Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of the ECCU and the ECCB. The currency of exchange is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD). As a member of the OECS, its foreign exchange system is fully liberalized. The XCD has been pegged to the U.S. dollar at a rate of XCD 2.70 to $1.00 since 1976. As a result, the Eastern Caribbean dollar does not fluctuate, creating a stable currency environment for trade and investment.						Remittance Policies						Companies registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have the right to repatriate all capital, royalties, dividends, and profits free of all taxes or any other charges on foreign exchange transactions. International companies are exempt from taxation. Under present regulations, there are no personal income taxes, estate taxes, corporate income taxes, or withholding taxes for international companies operating in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. International companies are also exempt from competitive tax for 25 years.Only banks may make currency conversions. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of the CFATF.In 2014, the government signed an intergovernmental agreement with the United States to facilitate compliance for FATCA, which makes it mandatory for Vincentian banks to report the banking information of U.S. citizens.																										Sovereign Wealth Funds										Neither the government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines nor the ECCB, maintains a sovereign wealth fund.																																												7. State-Owned Enterprises						    																						There are several state-owned enterprises (SOEs) operating in the following sectors: water, transportation, housing, transportation (ports), electricity, tourism, information and communication, telecommunications, investment and investment services, financial services, fisheries, agriculture, sports and culture, civil engineering, and infrastructure.SOEs in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are wholly owned government entities. They are headed by boards of directors to which senior managers report. They are governed by their respective legislation and do not generally pose a threat to investors, as they do not have a mandate to compete with private-sector companies. There is no single published list of SOEs, though information about individual SOEs is available.																										Privatization Program										There are no targeted privatization programs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.																																												8. Responsible Business Conduct						    																						The government and the public view responsible business conduct positively. The private sector is involved in projects that benefit society, including in support of environmental, social, and cultural causes. Individuals benefit from business-sponsored initiatives when employees of local and foreign-owned enterprises volunteer and when companies make monetary or in-kind donations to local causes.The NGO community, while comparatively small, is involved in fundraising and volunteerism in gender, health, environmental, and community projects. The government sometimes partners with NGOs and generally encourages philanthropy.There are no alleged or reported human or labor rights concerns relating to responsible business conduct of which foreign businesses should be aware.Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is not a signatory of the Montreux Document on Private Military and Security Companies or a participant in the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers’ Association.																										Additional Resources										Department of StateCountry Reports on Human Rights Practices ( https://www.state.gov/reports-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/)Trafficking in Persons Report ( https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/)Guidance on Implementing the &#8220;UN Guiding Principles&#8221; for Transactions Linked to Foreign Government End-Users for Products or Services with Surveillance Capabilities ( https://www.state.gov/key-topics-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/due-diligence-guidance/)U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises ( https://www.state.gov/u-s-national-contact-point-for-the-oecd-guidelines-for-multinational-enterprises/)Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory ( https://www.state.gov/xinjiang-supply-chain-business-advisory/)Department of the TreasuryOFAC Recent Actions ( https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions )Department of LaborFindings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Report ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings  )List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods )Sweat &amp; Toil: Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking Around the World ( https://www.dol.gov/general/apps/ilab )Comply Chain ( https://www.dol.gov/ilab/complychain/ )																																				Climate Issues										Saint Vincent and the Grenadines remains susceptible to natural disasters and other effects due to climate change. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has developed a multi-stakeholder policy framework on the environment that focuses on climate resilience and adaptation, disaster risk reduction, protection of biodiversity, effective natural resources, and environmental management through the enforcement of policies, legislation, and regulations. The National Economic, Social and Development Plan seeks to address sustainable national development and is working toward integrated climate change adaptation. The National Adaptation Plan seeks to fulfill the government’s UN obligations and integrate all policies, programs and activities as it relates to climate change. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is party to the Paris Agreement. The National Climate Change Policy is a cross-sectoral strategy to strengthen resilience to climate change and its integration into the national development agenda for low carbon and sustainable growth.																																												9. Corruption						    																						The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, and the government generally implements these laws. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a signatory to the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption, but not to the UN Anti-Corruption Convention.The Director of Public Prosecutions has the authority to prosecute several corruption-related offenses. Corruption allegations are investigated by the Royal Sain. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force. There is generally no statutory standard obligation for public officers to disclose financial information to a specific authority. If confiscation proceedings are initiated or contemplated against a corrupt official, the courts can order disclosure of financial information. The Financial Intelligence Unit has the authority to conduct financial investigations with a court order.The law also provides for public access to information. Only a narrow list of exceptions outlining the grounds for nondisclosure exists, but there is no specific timeline for relevant authorities to make the requested response or disclosure. There are no criminal or administrative sanctions for not providing a response and there is no appeal mechanism for review of a disclosure denial.																										Resources to Report Corruption										Contact at the government agency or agencies that are responsible for combating corruption:Sejilla McDowallDirector of Public ProsecutionsOffice of Public ProsecutionsFrenches Gate, KingstownTelephone: 784-457-1344Email: dppsvg@vincysurf.comColin JohnCommissioner of PoliceRoyal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police ForceKingstownTelephone: 784-457-1211Email: svgpolice@gmail.com																																												10. Political and Security Environment						    																						Saint Vincent and the Grenadines does not have a recent history of politically motivated violence or civil disturbance. Elections are peaceful and regarded as being free and fair. The next general elections are constitutionally due in 2025.																																		11. Labor Policies and Practices						    																						According to the World Bank, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had an active labor force of approximately 52,095 persons in 2022 with an unemployment rate of 19%. The government generally enforces labor laws, and penalties are sufficient to deter violations. The law, including related regulations and statutory instruments, provides for the rights of workers to form and join unions of their choice, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes. The law also provides that it is lawful to conduct peaceful picketing in contemplation of a trade dispute. Trade unions and leaders of the trade union movement enjoy a strong voice in the labor and economic affairs of the country.The law provides for the right of workers to form and join unions of their choice, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes. The law does not require employers to recognize a particular union as an exclusive bargaining agent. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination and dismissal for engaging in union activities. Although the law does not require reinstatement of workers fired for union activity, a court may order reinstatement.One union accused the government of using a colonial-era public order law to limit its right to protest. Union leaders contended some public servants were arrested and suspended from work without charge until their matters were resolved in court. This resulted in persons experiencing hardship after their cases were dismissed, since their salaries and pensions were not restored by the government. Observers said this was intended to stifle protest.The government recognizes the right to freedom of association, with restrictions. The International Labor Organization (ILO) noted with concern the discretionary authority of the government over trade union registration and the government’s unfettered authority to investigate the financial accounts of trade unions.The government generally respected the right to collective bargaining in the private sector. Authorities formed arbitration panels, which included tripartite representation from government, businesses, and unions, on an ad hoc basis when labor disputes occurred.Workers providing essential services – defined as the provision of electricity, water, hospital, and police services – are prohibited from striking unless they provide at least 14 days’ notice to authorities. Some of these sectors were not covered under the ILO’s description of essential services.The Trade Disputes (Arbitration and Inquiry) Act Chapter 215 provides for establishment of an arbitration tribunal and a board of inquiry in connection with trade disputes and allows provision for the settlement of such disputes. Labor unions and businesses are generally satisfied with the arbitration panels, which have tripartite representation. One of the mandates of the Department of Labor is to serve as a dispute resolution mechanism.The Wages Council Act establishes the Wages Council, which addresses minimum wages, hours of work, overtime, vacation, sick leave, and maternity leave for specified categories of workers. Employers who fail to pay minimum wages are subject to orders for the payment of the wages. The statutory minimum wages are set out in regulations under the Wages Council Act. Minimum wages varied by sector and type of work and were below the poverty line. The law prescribes hours of work for specific categories, such as industrial employees (40 hours per week), professionals (44 hours per week), and agricultural workers (30 to 40 hours per week). The law provides that workers receive time-and-a-half pay for hours worked above the standard workweek.The Equal Pay Act makes provision for the removal and prevention of discrimination, based on the sex of the employee, in the rates or remuneration for males and females in paid employment. Teachers, police officers, public servants, the Medical Association, industrial workers, and some members of the private sector, especially in financial services, operate under collective bargaining agreements.The Protection of Employment Act No. 20 of 2003 allows for severance. Article 27 (1) allows employees to ask that their services be deemed as severed after six weeks of being laid off from work. There is typically no unemployment insurance or other social security safety net programs for workers laid off for economic reasons.The law provides for a minimum working age of 16. This provision is generally observed in practice. Compulsory primary and secondary education policies reinforce minimum age requirements. The Labor Department has a small cadre of labor inspectors who conduct spot investigations of enterprises and checked records to verify compliance with the labor laws. These inspectors may refer cases to the police and the public prosecutor’s office for legal action against an employer who employs underage workers.The government did not always enforce labor laws effectively. Penalties were undefined and thus were not consistently commensurate with penalties for other violations involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination.Investors in the country are responsible for maintaining workers’ rights and safeguarding the natural environment. Workers have the right to report and/or leave unsafe work environments without risking their continued employment.																																		12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs						    																						Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is classified as an upper-middle income country under the World Bank’s definition. The DFC may consider investments in certain projects in upper-middle-income countries that address key U.S. government priorities.																																		13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics						    																						&nbsp;Table 2: Key Macroeconomic Data, U.S. FDI in Host Country/EconomyHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or International Source of Data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherEconomic DataYearAmountYearAmountHost Country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ($M USD)2022$871.42021$948.6https://data.worldbank.org/country/st-vincent-and-the-grenadines?view=chart Foreign Direct InvestmentHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or international Source of data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherU.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/A2021$7BEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/factsheet.html#271 Host country’s FDI in the United States ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/A2021$3BEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/ Total inbound stock of FDI as % host GDPN/AN/A2021161.8%UNCTAD data available athttps://unctad.org/topic/investment/world-investment-report   * Source for Host Country Data: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank: https://www.eccb-centralbank.org/statistics/dashboard-datas/ Table 3: Sources and Destination of FDISaint Vincent and the Grenadines is not included in the survey. Data not available.																																		14. Contact for More Information						    																						Political/Economic Section U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Telephone Number:  +1 246 –227 4000 Email Address:   BridgetownPolEcon@state.gov    																										    							View report by:																				Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											The Bahamas											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Chile											China											Colombia											Costa Rica											Côte d’Ivoire											Croatia											Cyprus											Czechia											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France and Monaco											Gabon											The Gambia											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guyana											Honduras											Haiti											Hong Kong											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iraq											Ireland											Israel											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kosovo											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Macau											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nepal											Netherlands											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											Timor-Leste											Togo											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Türkiye											United Arab Emirates											Uganda											Ukraine											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vietnam											West Bank and Gaza											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																							Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																																			Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																						Business Facilitation																																																						Outward Investment																																																			2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																																							Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is also party to the following: 																																																				Caribbean Community (CARICOM)																																												Organization of Eastern Caribbean States 																																												Caribbean Basin Initiative																																												CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement 																																												CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement  																																												Caribbean/Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN) 																																																																																	3. Legal Regime																																							Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																						International Regulatory Considerations																																																						Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																						Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																						Expropriation and Compensation																																																						Dispute Settlement																																																				ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																												Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																												International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																				Bankruptcy Regulations																																																			4. Industrial Policies																																							Investment Incentives																																																						Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																						Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																			5. Protection of Property Rights																																							Real Property																																																						Intellectual Property Rights																																																			6. Financial Sector																																							Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																						Money and Banking System																																																						Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																				Foreign Exchange																																												Remittance Policies																																																																																				Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																			7. State-Owned Enterprises																																							Privatization Program																																																			8. Responsible Business Conduct																																							Additional Resources																																																						Climate Issues																																																			9. Corruption																																							Resources to Report Corruption																																																			10. Political and Security Environment																11. Labor Policies and Practices																12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																14. Contact for More Information																						Tags																					Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Press briefing with Todd D. Robinson, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Todd D.  Robinson, Assistant SecretaryBureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement AffairsMODERATOR:  Greetings to everyone from the U.S. Department of State’s Media Hub of the Americas in Miami, Florida.  I would like to welcome our participants who have dialed in from the United States and across the region.  This is an on-the-record press briefing with the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Todd D. Robinson. Assistant Secretary Robinson will discuss outcomes from Friday’s virtual ministerial to launch a Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats as well as next steps for the global coalition.  This coalition seeks to unite countries worldwide in a concerted effort to prevent the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs, identify emerging drug trends, and respond effectively to their public health impacts. As a reminder, today’s briefing is on the record.  And with that, I will turn it over to Assistant Secretary Robinson. ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you for joining this call today and for the opportunity to discuss the collective efforts we have undertaken to confront the important issue of synthetic drugs. Last Friday, as you know, Secretary Blinken hosted a virtual ministerial to launch a Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats.  Nearly 100 countries and international organizations participated in the launch, underscoring the shared concern about this public health and national security threat.  The coalition aims to unite countries worldwide in a concerted effort to combat the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs.  Together, we hope to strengthen efforts to prevent the production and trafficking of illicit synthetic drugs, identify emerging synthetic drug trends and use patterns, and promote efforts to respond effectively to the public health impacts they impose. Participants at the ministerial underscored the importance of sharing data and increasing efforts to mitigate the health impact of synthetic drug use.  As you all already know, synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine pose a grave risk to the health and security of our citizens here in the United States.  The consequences of these drugs are devastating as evidenced by the alarming statistics. In 2022, the CDC estimated that nearly 110,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses.  Recognizing the gravity of this situation, the Biden administration is fully committed to preventing drug use and minimizing its negative impact.  We understand the importance of connecting individuals to treatment and supporting the more than 20 million Americans in recovery.  President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy has allocated a substantial $24 billion dollars in this fiscal year to strengthen drug-related public health interventions.  These measures not only safeguard the health of our citizens, but also exemplify our dedication at home as we look to other nations to also take action. It is vital to note that these dangers are not limited to the United States.  More countries than ever are facing an increasing threat from synthetic drugs like tramadol, Captagon, MDMA, and Ketamine.  Criminals are constantly innovating to create new synthetic drugs, adjusting formulas to avoid international controls and domestic regulations, and creating new demand.   One staggering number to note:  Over the past decade, more than 1,100 new synthetic drugs were detected and reported by the United Nations.  Through the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, we are harnessing international cooperation and shared knowledge to tackle this crisis head on.  By working together, we can more effectively disrupt the illicit synthetic drug supply chains, enhance our ability to identify and respond to emerging threats, and protect the lives and well-being of our own citizens and of people around the world. The United States has already been working with partners like Mexico, Canada, and other countries to drive urgent global action to disrupt the synthetic drug trade from beginning to end.  We are engaging with countries such as India to strengthen our partnerships on securing pharmaceutical and chemical supply chains to prevent criminal diversion of dual-use precursor chemicals, and we remain committed to engaging with the PRC to address the threat illicit synthetic drugs pose to our countries.  The Department of State also works within the UN, the Organization of American States, the G7, G20, and other organizations to improve the abilities of our countries to detect and disrupt the illicit manufacturing, diversion, and trafficking of precursor chemicals and finished drugs.   We have more important work to do, so in closing, let me express my gratitude to our international partners who have already joined us in this crucial endeavor.  The fight against synthetic drugs requires a global response, and we are confident that our collective efforts will yield significant results.  Together, we can create a safer and healthier future for our citizens and generations to come.   Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.   MODERATOR:  Thank you so much, Assistant Secretary.  We will now begin the question-and-answer portion of today’s briefing.  For those on the English line asking questions, please limit yourself to one question related to the topic of today’s briefing.  If you submitted your question in advance, I have incorporated the question into the queue.  Our first question today we received from Daniel – from Jim Carson of La Jornada in Mexico:  “What specific will be new out of this declaration?  Are you setting up a FinCEN-type structure to share information, do evaluations, and a secretariat, or is it simply a reiteration of past commitments without any specific additional actions?”   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Great question.  The first thing I would say is we are – we are building on what we have done in the past and what has been done by other countries in the past.  The coalition is intended to be an inclusive forum for sharing best practices and identifying areas for collaboration to improve the global response to public health and security threats posed by synthetic drugs.  We ask that countries commit to working collaboratively with other coalition member countries at both political and technical levels to develop a joint framework for addressing synthetic drugs and develop actions in line with that framework.  Thanks.   MODERATOR:  Thank you.  We received a question from journalist Fernando Morales from Red Salvadoreña de Medios in El Salvador: “El Salvador is a corridor for the transit of synthetic drugs like fentanyl.  How is work being done to prevent the trafficking of these narcotics?”   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  I’m sorry.  Could you say that again?  MODERATOR:  Absolutely, Assistant Secretary.  “El Salvador is a corridor for the transit of synthetic drugs like fentanyl.  How is work being done to prevent the trafficking of these narcotics?&#8221; ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Great question.  As our correspondent will note, the United States Government on several different levels is working with members of the civilian security forces in El Salvador and throughout the region – El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras – on things like investigations, going after the trafficking networks.  We have experts on the ground from DEA and the Department of Justice.   We also work on training.  As the correspondent will note, there is an International Law Enforcement Academy hosted by the Government of El Salvador where we can do training for police and prosecutors in the region on different techniques and modernized techniques for going after these networks.  So those are ways that we are – those are ways that we are trying to get after these – shut down these corridors.   MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  The next question will go to Jesús Esquivel from Proceso Magazine in Mexico.  Jesús, please unmute yourself.   QUESTION:  Hello.  Can you hear me?   MODERATOR:  Yes.  Please ask your question.  &#8212;    QUESTION:  Okay.  Yes.  Under Secretary, there has always been the accusations that the Mexican cartels are responsible for all the synthetic drugs in the United States, but as you probably know, the domestic cartels in the U.S. are also responsible for the distributions and sale of these drugs.   My question to you is:  What exactly or when exactly the U.S. Government for the first time is going to be exposing the domestic cartels in this problem and in the United States?  And also, if you think the accusations as – members of the U.S. Congress made to Mexico and threats that they probably going to invade Mexico to stop the drug trafficking, it will help in this global coalition in the case of – specifically of Mexico to cooperate with the U.S. Government?   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you, Jesús.  Both good questions.  Look, first of all, I would – I would not exactly support the premise of your question.  We have never said that all of the fentanyl or synthetic opioids that are coming to the United States are coming from Mexico.  We know that this is a global – a global effort by cartels from different regions around the world, including criminals in the United States.  I don’t think the FBI or the Department of Justice or our local law enforcement authorities have been shy about exposing the criminal networks in the United States that are trafficking in these drugs.  I think they will continue to publicly expose them when available.  So that’s thing number one. Thing number two, we have – the United States has an excellent relationship with our counterparts in Mexico.  We are both working very close to go after the networks in Mexico, to increase our cooperation on both sides of our southwest border, your northern border.  And we are working together internationally to share our experiences with working together with other countries around the world.  I’m very proud of our relationship with our Mexican counterparts, and we’re going to continue to call on them as they call on us to work together to do more to stop – to stop this global trafficking of synthetic drugs. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary Robison.  The next question will go to Adyr Corral from El Sol de Mexico.  Adyr, please unmute yourself.  Go ahead.  Adyr, can you hear us?   Okay, unfortunately we’re going to have to move on.  I see we have a submitted question in our Q&amp;A from Brendan O’Boyle from Reuters in Mexico City: “Thank you, Ambassador.  Within the coalition, where is there concern about fentanyl’s short-term spread geographically?  In Mexico, some experts have sounded alarm about fentanyl spreading in drug supply domestically, though data is scarce.  Have coalition partners in Mexico recognized domestic spread?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  I’m sorry, can you repeat that question again? MODERATOR:  Sure, sir.  “Thank you, Ambassador.  Within the coalition, where is there concern about fentanyl’s short-term spread geographically?  In Mexico, some experts have sounded the alarm about fentanyl spreading in the drug supply domestically, though data is scarce.  Have coalition partners in Mexico recognized domestic spread?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  The short answer is I believe the Government of Mexico has recognized the short-term spread of synthetic opioids.  We are – and – but there’s a very good relationship between our Office of National Drug Control Policy and the secretary for Health in Mexico.  They are working very closely together on campaigns to raise awareness about synthetic opioids and what can be done to avoid falling into – into that addiction.  So we feel like we have a burgeoning story to tell, a better story to tell as we go forward on our cooperation on the messaging against the domestic – in Mexico, the domestic spread of the – and growth of the use of synthetic opioids. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  I’m told we’ve resolved the microphone issues with Adyr Corral, so we’ll go back to Adyr Corral from El Sol de Mexico.  Please unmute yourself. QUESTION:  Hi.  You can hear me? ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Yes. MODERATOR:  We can hear you. QUESTION:  Ah, thank you very much.  Sorry for the problems.  I would like to ask the assistant secretary for a comment on the initiative to designate the fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction in Congress.  How about that, Assistant Secretary? ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you, great question.  We have currently – the Department of Justice, DEA, FBI, Department of State – we feel like we have the authorities necessary to go after the networks that are trafficking in these drugs.  At the moment, we don’t see that classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction will give us any more authority than we already have to try to stop its trafficking.  So we feel pretty comfortable that we’re in a good place in terms of having the tools necessary to go after the drug and to go after the networks that are trafficking the drugs.  QUESTION:  Thank you very much.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  The next question was submitted in advance from Juan Silva from W Radio in Colombia:  “How do you assess the current situation in Colombia in terms of the fight against drugs?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, as the correspondent, as Juan will know, we have a very long, very strong, very deep relationship with Colombia and Colombia’s security forces that has developed over a number of years.  We feel like we are – we have developed into great partners.  Colombia has become a net exporter of security globally, and that is in large part due to the very strong relationship that has developed with the United States.   Today we continue in that effort.  There are areas where we are hoping to start working – new areas where we are starting to – we want to begin working with the Petro government, and we are in constant conversation with Petro and his team to figure out how we can best help them bring greater security and safety to communities in Colombia, and by doing so, help shut down the networks that are trafficking drugs north to the United States.  Thanks.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.   Our next question we received from Eduard Ribas from EFE:  “What responsibility does China have on the trafficking of fentanyl precursors?  How can this coalition be successful without Chinese participation?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, I would say the – we know good things happen when China is involved in conversations like this.  You will recall in 2019 the Chinese Government scheduled fentanyl and made it much harder to get out of the country directly and be shipped directly to other countries.  And when they did that, the trafficking of fentanyl itself in the United States from China went to almost zero.  So we think that there’s a lot more that can be done by the PRC in terms of greater monitoring and labeling and information-sharing on the precursor chemicals that are leaving the PRC, and they – we invited them to join the coalition.  We expect at some point that they will take us up on our invitation because they want to be responsible, a responsible country in this effort.  And we all know that they play – that there are companies in China that play an important role in the distribution of the precursor chemicals that go into making these drugs.  Over.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We have time for about two more questions.  One was submitted in advance from a journalist in Guyana regarding CARICOM, Denis Chabrol from Demarara Waves Online News:  “How badly are Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations affected by synthetic drugs?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you.  Again, this is a – that’s a great question.  I would say although we haven’t seen significant production in the Caribbean, it’s important to note that criminal chemists can easily synthesize fentanyl almost anywhere.  The Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats will provide a foundation for developing and implementing effective, practical solutions to prevent the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs.  It will help detect emerging drug threats, and we hope it will help respond to the – to their public health impacts.  Over. MODERATOR:  Thank you.  I see in the chat the journalist had added:  “What do we expect from CARICOM and what assistance the U.S. can provide?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, actually, I would turn it around.  The question should be:  What more can CARICOM countries do?  And I think, again, when we talk about things like exchanging information, when we talk about things like making sure that they are getting access, making sure their communities are getting access to the antidotes for overdoses, making sure that they are reporting to the international organizations that are collecting information that everybody else can use – those are the things that that we would hope we could get from countries that are involved in the global coalition.  And the United States and the international community will continue to help with training and equipping those police forces and prosecutors that are working on this issue.  Over. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We had a question from Martin Villena from Andina News Agency in Peru:  “Concerning the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, does its launch also mean strengthening even more relations with countries such as Peru and Colombia, which face the issue and the related problems concerning cocaine productions in their territories?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, we’re always working to strengthening – strengthening the relationship with our good friends in Peru and Colombia.  But in fact, again, we will – what the establishment of this coalition is looking to do is to have our friends from Peru and Colombia share their experiences with other countries around the world and help other countries who don’t have the expertise that our countries do, help them address the issues in their countries.  We have great relationships with our partners in Peru and Colombia; I don’t expect that will change.  But we will – in the establishment of this coalition, we will be asking them to do more to help on a global level.  Over.   MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We received a question from Carrie Kahn with NPR:  “How do proposals from some Republicans in the United States urging military intervention to stop fentanyl trafficking in Mexico affect your plans to enlist global partners?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, I would say we’re going to let Congress – the Senate and the House – develop and debate their own ideas.  We are going to – I am focused on working with our civilian security partners globally, making sure that they have the training, the equipment, the strategies; making sure they have access to the expertise necessary to focus on what is our responsibility, which is providing civilian security to our communities, both in the United States and around and world. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  I believe we’ve gone through all the questions that we had today, so that will conclude today’s briefing.  I wanted to thank you for joining us today, as well as all of the journalists on the line for their questions.  If you have any follow-up questions about today’s briefing, you may contact the Miami Media Hub at MiamiHub@state.gov.  An English recording and transcript will be available for this briefing, as well as transcripts in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.  Thank you so much and have a good day. ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thanks.  Thanks, everybody. 
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines HomeReportsOffice to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons2023 Trafficking in Persons Report&#8230;Saint Vincent and the Grenadines				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines																																					Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons																																																																																																				 In this section										/																							ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES (Tier 2)																																													ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES (Tier 2)																															PRIORITIZED RECOMMENDATIONS:																																																																																		PROSECUTION																																																																																		PROTECTION																																																																																		PREVENTION																																																																																		TRAFFICKING PROFILE:																																																																																																								ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES (Tier 2)				The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.  The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore St. Vincent and the Grenadines remained on Tier 2.  These efforts included amending the anti-trafficking law to remove the option for a fine in lieu of imprisonment; increasing the number of and funding for police patrols in tourist areas and at large public gatherings, where trafficking was more likely to occur; and increasing public awareness efforts, including targeting new at-risk populations.  However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas.  Authorities have not prosecuted a trafficking case since 2015 and have never convicted a trafficker.  Victim identification and services remained weak, and the government did not provide adequate resources for anti-trafficking efforts.																																					PRIORITIZED RECOMMENDATIONS:						    																																															Vigorously prosecute and enable successful convictions of traffickers and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms.Increase investigations of suspected sex and labor trafficking cases, particularly cases involving children.Increase government funding and resources across all relevant agencies to combat trafficking.Improve the quality and specialization of victim services.Consistently screen domestic and foreign at-risk populations, including former IDPs, economically disadvantaged children, individuals in commercial sex, migrants, and Cuban medical workers for trafficking indicators and refer victims to care.Increase training for police, prosecutors, and the judiciary on improved evidence collection in trafficking cases, ensuring presented evidence meets applicable legal standards.Increase the capacity of labor inspectors to identify and refer victims of labor trafficking to care, including children.Continue to raise awareness about labor trafficking and sex trafficking and the need for public cooperation in law enforcement investigations in traditional and social media.																																												PROSECUTION						    																																															The government slightly increased minimal law enforcement efforts.  The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2011 criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and had prescribed punishments of up to 15 years&#8217; imprisonment, a fine of 250,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars ($92,590), or both.  These penalties were sufficiently stringent, but, by allowing for a fine in lieu of imprisonment, the penalties for sex trafficking offenses were not commensurate with those for other serious crimes.  However, in March 2023, the government amended the anti-trafficking law to remove the option for a fine in lieu of imprisonment, which made the penalties for sex trafficking commensurate with those for other serious crimes.The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit (ATIPU) investigated three cases – all for sex trafficking – compared with investigating three cases – one sex trafficking case, one labor trafficking case, and one for unspecific forms of trafficking in 2021, and one case of labor trafficking in 2020.  One of these investigations resulted in the arrest and subsequent discharge of a man who attempted to recruit young Vincentian women and girls with false offers to work as babysitters, housekeepers, and gardeners.  Authorities did not prosecute any alleged traffickers under the anti-trafficking act during the reporting period, with the last prosecution in 2015.  The government has never convicted a trafficker.  The government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees complicit in trafficking offenses.The lack of prosecutions and convictions and the dismissal of past trafficking cases over several years indicated shortcomings in the government’s ability to acquire sufficient evidence to bring cases to trial.  Authorities indicated police needed additional personnel and resources to investigate and collect evidence effectively in trafficking cases.  The ATIPU had two staff members, and authorities noted the ATIPU needed at least three more.  Observers reported the government increased the number of and funding for patrols in tourist areas and large public events where trafficking was more likely to occur during the reporting period.  The ATIPU received computers and office equipment, which the ATIPU previously reported it needed to combat human trafficking more effectively.The ATIPU conducted surveillance at the airport and seaports of entry, marinas, bars, nightclubs, entertainment spots, restaurants, beaches, and social events to identify possible trafficking crimes.  The ATIPU trained police recruits on human trafficking basics; investigative methods; and victim identification, care, and protection; and police investigators on trafficking investigative methods.																																												PROTECTION						    																																															The government maintained minimal victim protection efforts.  Authorities screened potential victims but did not formally identify any victims for the second year, compared with screening eight potential trafficking victims in 2020; the government last identified a confirmed victim in 2019.  The government reported it disseminated a formal screening and referral procedure for potential trafficking victims to immigration and labor departments, law enforcement, social services, and NGOs; the ATIPU was responsible for formal victim identification.The ATIPU could refer confirmed victims to a crisis center the government funded and operated in collaboration with NGOs for victims of domestic violence and trafficking; the center offered shelter, social care, and medical, psychological, and financial assistance, but the government did not report any trafficking victims receiving these services.  The government could also provide legal assistance and assistance for family members as needed.  The government reported adult victims could leave the shelter at will.  Some observers, in previous reporting periods, noted the government’s victim referral process kept potential victims in law enforcement custody instead of moving them to the crisis center.  The government did not provide a dedicated shelter facility for male victims.  During the reporting period, the government provided funding to the Ministry of National Security, which oversaw the ATIPU, but did not report the specific amount provided for trafficking victim services, as it was allocated through the overall budgets of different ministries.  The government reported victims could speak to social services or an NGO that completed ATIPU anti-trafficking training instead of law enforcement prior to deciding whether to file a police report.  Provisions in the anti-trafficking act called for victim protection before, during, and after a trial, such as keeping the names of victims and their families confidential, witness protection programs, and facilities for victims to testify via video; however, the government did not use these provisions for any trafficking victims during the reporting period.The anti-trafficking act provided foreign victims with the possibility of temporary and permanent residence permits and protected victims from immediate deportation; authorities did not link victim benefits to cooperation with law enforcement.  Authorities did not grant temporary or permanent residency to any victims during the reporting period.  The government allowed foreign victims who remained in the country to work but did not make use of this provision during the reporting period.  The government reported it screened all individuals before deportation; outside observers noted the country’s border controls included an exit interview with an immigration officer.  The government did not report any compensation paid to trafficking victims; it also did not report any situations where victims required government assistance with repatriation, which could be offered after a safety assessment.  Authorities did not report specifically screening Cuban medical workers for trafficking indicators beyond general entry and exit screening or implementing measures to ensure workers kept their wages apart from general monitoring of foreign workers.  The government trained members of a humanitarian NGO on victim identification and care.																																												PREVENTION						    																																															The government slightly increased efforts to prevent trafficking.  The national task force, led by the prime minister, coordinated the anti-trafficking efforts of its members, including government agencies and an NGO.  The government did not report how often the national task force met during the reporting period.  The government reported continuing to provide financial, material, technical, and human resources for the country’s anti-trafficking NAP for the period 2021-2025 out of the general budget of the Ministry of National Security but did not report if its budget was sufficient.  Observers noted the country had to prioritize funding generally for recovery from the pandemic and a 2021 volcanic eruption, both of which caused severe economic disruption, as well as other needs apart from anti-trafficking efforts.The ATIPU operated three 24-hour English-speaking hotlines, including a dedicated trafficking hotline, an emergency number, and a police operator, and monitored an email address for reporting suspected trafficking cases; authorities reported they initiated criminal investigations from calls to the hotlines in the reporting period but did not report whether the investigations were of trafficking crimes.  The government submitted an annual anti-trafficking report to Parliament; the report was not readily available to the public.  The government carried out new awareness campaigns for journalists and public information service employees, as well as for summer camps, preschools, and youth clubs, which observers noted contained at-risk populations not previously reached.  The government also raised awareness via a country-wide radio program, an article published on social media and in newspapers for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, a walk against human trafficking, the distribution of brochures for the ATIPU’s tenth anniversary, new banners at the cruise port, and banners, posters, stickers, and brochures at the international airport and other popular sites in partnership with an NGO.  The government did not report training its diplomats but did so in 2021; in previous reporting periods, the government reported it provided such training on a biennial basis to coincide with the return of accredited diplomats for consultations in Kingstown.The government routinely conducted planned and unannounced labor inspections of hotels, farms, stores, bars, security workplaces, and domestic work locations, although their stated lack of personnel and funding may have prevented more complete coverage of work sites with the most vulnerable workers.  Labor department officials reported conducting an unspecified number of periodic inspections for the second year.  The 1940 Recruiting of Workers Act remained in force and banned recruitment fees; observers noted the government regulated overseas labor programs for its citizens by serving as an intermediary.  The government reported having bilateral agreements with several countries regarding oversees recruitment and employment and using resources in its embassies overseas to prevent trafficking.  The government did not train labor inspectors specifically on child labor, although the government reported labor inspectors screened for indicators of child labor and trafficking, and police received training to investigate child labor crimes.  The government did not make efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts.																																												TRAFFICKING PROFILE:						    																																															As reported over the past five years, human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  In April 2021, the La Soufriere volcanic eruption and a subsequent hurricane destroyed a third of the country’s arable land, made almost all arable land inaccessible, leading to massive crop failures and cutting off the main source of revenue and employment, and displaced a sixth of its population, making this group newly vulnerable to trafficking.  Adults may exploit their children in sex trafficking to generate income, while others may exploit child sex trafficking victims.  Foreign workers employed by small, foreign-owned companies may be vulnerable to labor trafficking.  The government invited Cuban medical workers in the country to assist in the pandemic healthcare response in a previous reporting period and signed a bilateral agreement with Cuba governing the work and living arrangements for the medical professionals.  The government reported in a previous reporting period that the Cuban medical workers retained their passports.  Cuban nationals working in St. Vincent and the Grenadines may have been forced to work by the Cuban government.  International air travel in the Eastern Caribbean, the main mode of transportation in pre-pandemic reporting periods for foreign trafficking victims in the region, collapsed during the pandemic.  When limited air travel resumed, the main routes were to the United States, not a traditional source market for foreign trafficking victims in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.																																				    							View report by:																				Afghanistan											Albania											Algeria											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Aruba											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											The Bahamas											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bhutan											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Central African Republic											Chad											Chile											China											Colombia											Comoros											Costa Rica											Cote d&#8217;Ivoire											Croatia											Cuba											Curaçao											Cyprus											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Czech Republic											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France											Gabon											The Gambia											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Guatemala											Guinea											Guinea-Bissau											Guyana											Haiti											Honduras											Hong Kong											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iran											Iraq											Ireland											Israel, West Bank and Gaza											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kosovo											Kuwait											Kyrgyzstan											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Macau											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia, Federated States of											Moldova											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nepal											Netherlands											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Korea											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Russia											Rwanda											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Sint Maarten											Slovakia											Slovenia											Solomon Islands											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Sudan											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Syria											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											Timor-Leste											Togo											Tonga											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Turkey											Turkmenistan											Uganda											Ukraine											United Arab Emirates											United Kingdom											United States											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vanuatu											Venezuela											Vietnam											Yemen											Zambia											Zimbabwe																										On This Page				search													>																										ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES (Tier 2)																PRIORITIZED RECOMMENDATIONS:																																																	PROSECUTION																																																	PROTECTION																																																	PREVENTION																																																	TRAFFICKING PROFILE:																																																							Tags																					Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																																Human Trafficking																															Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons																								Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines HomeReportsOffice of International Religious Freedom2022 Report on International Religious Freedom&#8230;Saint Vincent and the Grenadines				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines																																					Office of International Religious Freedom																																																																																							Download Report																																																																																	 In this section										/																							Executive Summary 																																													Executive Summary 																															Section I. Religious Demography																																																																																		Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom																																																									Legal Framework																																																																											Government Practices																																																																																	Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom																																																																																		Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement																																																																																																								Executive Summary 				The constitution provides for freedom of religion, including the freedom of individuals to change their religion.  Religious organizations may register as nonprofit religious institutions with the government or register as corporations, the latter option requiring an application to parliament.During the year, the government registered two new religious groups and met regularly with representatives of existing registered religious groups to, among other issues, reinforce the importance of respecting religious freedom while enforcing necessary public health measures.  The government continued to provide exemptions from COVID-19 vaccinations on a case-by-case basis to educators based on religious belief.  A Rastafarian leader expressed concern that other public sector employers terminated Rastafarian public sector workers for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.Rastafarians said they were increasingly accepted in society, and overall, the country’s citizens were becoming more tolerant of their way of life, including their use of cannabis.The U.S. Ambassador and other U.S. embassy officials continued to underscore with government officials, including with Prime Minster Ralph Gonsalves, the need to respect all religious groups and protect religious freedom as a fundamental right.  Embassy officials also met with individuals from the Christian, Muslim, and Rastafarian communities and nongovernmental organizations to discuss governmental and societal support for religious freedom, including respect for religious minorities.  The embassy used social media and its website to promote messages regarding the importance of religious freedom and respect for religious diversity in the country and across the Eastern Caribbean.																														Section I.													 Religious Demography												    																																															The U.S. government estimates the total population at 167,000 (midyear 2022).  According to the 2012 government census, the most recent, 82.3 percent of the population identifies as Christian, among them Pentecostals composing 27.6 percent, Anglicans 13.9 percent, Seventh-day Adventists 11.6 percent (including Thusia Seventh-day Adventists), Baptists 8.9 percent, Methodists 8.7 percent, and Roman Catholics 6.3 percent.  There are also followers of the Assemblies of Yahweh and of Life by Faith Ministries.  Individuals with no religious affiliation account for 7.5 percent; those listed as “no religion stated” constitute 4.7 percent; and those listed as “other religion” constitute 4.3 percent.  Rastafarians account for 1.1 percent.  Groups that together constitute less than 1 percent of the population include Muslims and Hindus, the latter primarily of East Indian origin.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reports it has 715 members (0.7 percent of the population), a slight decrease from the previous year.  There are also small Jewish and Baha’i Faith communities.																																					Section II.													 Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																																Legal Framework										The constitution affirms the country “is founded on the belief in the supremacy of God.”  The constitution provides for freedom of conscience, including freedom of thought and of religion and the freedom of an individual to change his or her religion or belief.  In addition, individuals have the freedom to practice their religion, either alone or in community with others, both in public and in private.  The criminal code criminalizes “blasphemous” or “profane” speech “in any public place,” punishable by a three-month prison term, but these provisions are not enforced.The constitution permits freedom of association, and there are no regulations regarding freedom to organize and worship.  Religious organizations may, but are not required to, register as nonprofit religious institutions with the Ministry of Education, National Reconciliation, Ecclesiastical Affairs, and Information to qualify for tax exemptions.  Religious organizations may also register as corporations, requiring an application to the same ministry and the issuance of a certificate of incorporation by parliament.The constitution grants religious groups the right to establish schools and provide religious instruction to those wishing to receive it.  Students in public schools receive nondenominational religious instruction based on Christianity.  Christian prayers are recited at school assemblies, although attendance and participation are not mandatory.  Students wishing to opt out of Christian prayer or religious education classes are excused from participation.  Religious observance exemptions are allowed under the constitution’s nondiscrimination clause.  These include exemptions from vaccinations for staff and students on religious grounds.  The law permits homeschooling.Possession and use of two ounces or fewer of marijuana is decriminalized, including for religious rites.The country is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.																																				Government Practices										According to government officials, there were 147 religious groups, with approximately 500 registered religious nonprofit organizations representing various denominations.  Because registration requires financial reporting that some groups found onerous, many religious organizations did not register.  Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, government officials reported receiving an average of 12 applications per year, primarily from already registered organizations establishing new branches or changing their organizational structures.  During the year, the government registered only two new religious groups due to the country’s ongoing recovery from COVID-19, and government officials met regularly with representatives of existing registered religious groups to discuss respect for religious freedom while enforcing and observing required public health measures.Public sector employees, including those associated with certain religious groups, whom public sector employers had dismissed in accordance with a 2021 public health law mandating COVID-19 vaccination for some categories of public sector workers, continued to protest the law, both as individuals and through the country&#8217;s public sector unions.  The government continued to provide exemptions on a case-by-case basis to educators based on religious belief.  Data for other public sector employees was not available because the government did not keep these records.  The exemptions included followers of Life by Faith Ministries, Nyabinghi Order (a Rastafarian group), Thusia Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the Assemblies of Yahweh.  A Rastafarian leader, however, expressed concern that other public sector employers terminated Rastafarian employees for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations.  The Rastafarian employees said they believed they were exempt from the requirement based on their religious beliefs.According to government officials, during the year, the Ministry of Education, National Reconciliation, Ecclesiastical Affairs, and Information again approved religious exemptions from the vaccination requirement for school enrollment, a requirement that Rastafarians and Thusia Seventh-day Adventists opposed.  Government officials also said the ministry interpreted the constitution’s nondiscrimination clauses to include protecting the right of Rastafarians and Thusia Seventh-day Adventists to wear dreadlocks in schools.																																					Section III.													 Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																															Rastafarians continued to say they were accepted in society, and overall, the country’s citizens were becoming more tolerant of their way of life – especially regarding their traditional cultivation of cannabis.  As a result of the decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, observers said there was widespread and increasing use of cannabis on the country’s main island, which they believed suggested broader societal acceptance of its use.  One leading community member described non-Rastafarian Vincentians as “tolerant” of their cultural and religious practices.&nbsp;																																					Section IV.													 U.S. Government Policy and Engagement												    																																															The Ambassador and other embassy officials continued to underscore with government officials, including Prime Minister Gonsalves, Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves, Leader of the Opposition Godwin Friday, and others, the need to continue respecting all religious groups and to protect religious freedom as a fundamental right.Embassy officials also discussed governmental and societal support for religious freedom, including respect for religious minorities, in meetings with members of Christian, Muslim, and Rastafarian groups and with nongovernmental organizations.The embassy used Twitter, Facebook, and its website to promote messages regarding the importance of religious freedom and respect for religious diversity across the Eastern Caribbean.  The embassy promoted National Religious Freedom Day in January as well as Chinese Lunar New Year, Holi, Easter, and Ramadan on the embassy’s Facebook and Twitter pages.  To mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the embassy messaged that “the shadows of 80 years ago still lurk today,” and it underscored the United States’ shared “responsibility to safeguard the values of freedom, tolerance, respect, and transparency.”																																				    							View report by:																				Afghanistan											Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											Bahamas, The											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bhutan											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Central African Republic											Chad											Chile											China (Includes Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet, and Xinjiang)											Colombia											Comoros											Costa Rica											Cote d’Ivoire											Croatia											Cuba											Cyprus											Czech Republic											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France											Gabon											Gambia, The											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guinea-Bissau											Guyana											Haiti											Honduras											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iran											Iraq											Ireland											Israel, West Bank and Gaza											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kiribati											Kosovo											Kuwait											Kyrgyzstan											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Liechtenstein											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Monaco											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nauru											Nepal											Netherlands											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Korea											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Russia											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											San Marino											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Solomon Islands											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Sudan											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Syria											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											Timor-Leste											Togo											Tonga											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Turkey (Türkiye)											Turkmenistan											Tuvalu											Uganda											Ukraine											United Arab Emirates											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vanuatu											Venezuela											Vietnam											Vietnam											Yemen											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										Executive Summary 																Section I. Religious Demography																																																	Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom																																							Legal Framework																																																						Government Practices																																																			Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom																																																	Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement																																																							Tags																					Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Office of International Religious Freedom																																Religious Freedom																															Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Saint Vincent and the Grenadines				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																								Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies																																																																																																																		f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																											f. Status and Treatment of Internally Displaced Persons																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																																												Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government																																																																																		Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																																																																																		Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																											Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a multiparty, parliamentary democracy. The prime minister is the head of the government. King Charles III is the head of state; most royal functions are exercised by a governor-general named by the prime minister. In 2020, Ralph Gonsalves was elected to a fifth consecutive term as prime minister. Regional and local observers assessed the election as generally free and fair.The Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force is the only security force in the country and is responsible for maintaining internal security. Its units include the Coast Guard, Special Services Unit, Rapid Response Unit, Drug Squad, and Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit. The police force reports to the minister of national security, a portfolio currently held by the prime minister. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. There were no reports that members of the security forces committed abuses.Significant human rights issues included the criminalization of libel and the criminalization of consensual same-sex conduct between men, but the laws were not enforced during the year.The government had mechanisms in place to identify and punish officials who commit human rights abuses or engage in corrupt acts.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The law prohibits such practices, and there were no reports the government employed them.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						Prison conditions were less than adequate, although they varied depending on the facility.Abusive Physical Conditions:  As of September, the prison population was 385.  The two facilities for male prisoners were near capacity throughout the year.  Limited prison capacity prevented authorities from separating juvenile offenders, with offenders between the ages of 16 and 21 held with adult prisoners.  Prisoners younger than age 16 were held in a separate facility.  Women prisoners were held in a makeshift facility while construction of a women’s prison was underway.Limited physical space and inadequate training for prison officials hindered accommodations for prisoners with disabilities.Administration:  Authorities investigated credible allegations of mistreatment.Independent Monitoring:  The government permitted monitoring by independent nongovernmental observers.  No representatives of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) visited or monitored the prisons during the year.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court.  The government generally observed these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						The law requires a judicial authority to issue arrest warrants.  The bail system was generally effective.  Authorities generally gave detainees prompt access to a lawyer.  For indigent detainees accused of a capital offense, the state provides a lawyer.  For other crimes, the state does not provide a lawyer, and defendants without the financial means to hire a lawyer must represent themselves.Although lengthy delays prior to preliminary inquiries were noted, government authorities and civil society reported compliance with Court of Appeal guidelines that require a preliminary hearing to be held within nine months of detention.Pretrial Detention:  Some inmates experienced periods of lengthy pretrial detention, caused in part by long judicial backlogs exacerbated by COVID-19.  The length of such detention did not exceed maximum sentences for alleged crimes.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The law provides for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.																Trial Procedures						The law provides for the right to a fair and public trial, and the judiciary generally enforced this right.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.						Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies						There is an independent, impartial judiciary in civil matters where one may bring lawsuits seeking damages for human rights violations.  Individuals may appeal domestic courts’ decisions to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the United Kingdom.																										f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The law prohibits such actions, and there were no reports that the government failed to respect these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The law provides for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right.  An independent media, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for members of media.Libel/Slander Laws:  One opposition-linked civil society organization claimed that it sometimes self-censored criticism of the government to avoid facing libel charges under the 2016 Cybercrime Act, which establishes significant criminal penalties – including imprisonment – for libel by electronic communication.  The law on libel was not enforced during the year.																Internet Freedom						The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports that the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The law provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. Members of political opposition-run civil society organizations, however, reported that fellow opposition members were hesitant to participate in antigovernment protests due to fear of retaliation. Although opposition representatives contended that registration requirements for protests violated their right to protest, opposition protests took place throughout the reporting period even without registration.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these related rights.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										There were no significant groups of refugees or economic migrants in the country. The government did not have any engagement with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.Access to Asylum: The law does not provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has not established a system for protecting refugees. The government addresses each case individually.																																				f. Status and Treatment of Internally Displaced Persons										Several thousand persons remained internally displaced after volcanic eruptions in April 2021 made up to one-third of the country uninhabitable. The government promoted their safe, orderly, and dignified return or resettlement, including by working with international partners to provide temporary and new, permanent housing.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																																															The law provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																																				Elections and Political Participation										Recent Elections: In 2020, the United Labour Party secured nine of the 15 elected seats in the unicameral House of Assembly, which also includes eight appointed members. The New Democratic Party won a majority of the popular vote but secured only six elected seats.Participation of Women and Members of Minority Groups: No laws limit the participation of women or members of minority groups in the political process, and they did participate.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government												    																																															The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but the government did not always implement the law effectively.																																					Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																																															Several domestic human rights organizations, including the domestic Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association (SVGHRA), generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases.  The government held various meetings with civil society that included the SVGHRA.  The association was generally regarded as independent and effective.																																					Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence: Rape, including spousal rape, is illegal. Sentences for rape begin at 10 years’ imprisonment. Authorities referred allegations of rape or physical or sexual abuse of women to police, who were generally responsive to these complaints.The government occasionally offered sexual abuse awareness training, but civil society representatives argued such efforts were insufficient to address the root problems that perpetuated an environment of insensitivity to sexual abuse victims. Police and human rights groups reported that perpetrators commonly made payoffs to victims of rape or sexual assault in exchange for victims not pressing charges.Civil society groups reported that domestic violence against women remained a serious and pervasive problem that had increased due to the pandemic. There were some prosecutions of perpetrators during the year. The Division of Gender Affairs in the Ministry of National Mobilization offered programs to assist women and children. In the past, the ministry maintained a crisis center for survivors of domestic violence, but the center was closed for renovations throughout the year.Sexual Harassment: The law does not specifically prohibit sexual harassment; authorities could prosecute such behavior under other laws. Sexual harassment was reportedly widespread, particularly in the workplace. Local human rights groups and women’s organizations considered enforcement in the workplace ineffective, citing a lack of sensitivity by government officials, particularly towards economically vulnerable populations.Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.Contraception was widely available, including for the purpose of family planning. There were no legal or social barriers to accessing contraception, but some religious beliefs and cultural barriers limited its usage.The government provided access to sexual and reproductive health services, including emergency contraception, for survivors of sexual violence through the Ministry of National Mobilization, Family, Gender Affairs, Youth, Housing, and Informal Human Settlement.Discrimination: Women enjoy the same legal rights to family, nationality, and inheritance as men. Women receive an equitable share of property following separation or divorce. The law requires equal pay for equal work, and authorities generally enforced it. The Equal Pay Act of 1994 prohibits some forms of discrimination based on sex. Women were legally restricted from working in some industries, including mining, construction, factory work, and energy.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										The law prohibits racial discrimination but does not specifically mention ethnicity. The country does not have a racially or ethnically diverse population. Approximately 71 percent of the population is Black and 23 percent is mixed, primarily of African descent; 3 percent is indigenous.																																				Children										Birth Registration: Citizenship is derived by birth within the country’s territory or by descent via either parent. Birth registration was provided on a nondiscriminatory basis. It usually took place within a few days of birth.Child Abuse: The law provides a legal framework, including within domestic violence laws, for the protection of children. The Family Services Division of the Ministry of Social Development monitored and protected the welfare of children. The division referred all reports of child abuse to police for action and assisted in cases where children applied for protection orders with the Family Court. The police commissioner reported that officers received training in several areas, including child abuse and investigation of sexual offenses.Child abuse cases were reported. Unlawful sexual intercourse with children younger than age 15 remained a problem, with some cases possibly linked to transactional sex. Government and NGO interlocutors indicated that child abuse remained a significant problem. NGOs reported there was an increase in sexual abuse of children, particularly girls. In some instances, children either remained in or were sent back to their abuser’s homes because they had no alternative. There also were reports of boys being sexually exploited by men. One civil society organization noted the law does not specifically prohibit same-sex statutory rape. Civil society representatives reported that the sentences of abusers were often lenient, citing a case of an individual sentenced to two years in prison after sexually abusing a child, age four.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age for marriage is 18. Parental consent is required for underage marriage.Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibits the commercial exploitation of children, including the posting and circulation of child pornography on the internet. The government enforced these laws and reminded citizens of the penalties – up to 20 years’ imprisonment – for violating them. The law prohibits girls younger than age 15 and boys younger than 16 from engaging in consensual sexual relations, and the government enforced the law. The law prohibits opposite-sex statutory rape, with special provisions for persons younger than age 13.																																				Antisemitism										There was no organized Jewish community, and there were no reports of antisemitic acts.																																				Trafficking in Persons										See the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization: Anal sex is illegal for men under a statute carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment; a separate “indecency law” prohibits other forms of same-sex conduct, with a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. These laws were not enforced.As of November 4, a local court case challenging laws prohibiting certain forms of same-sex conduct was moving to the scheduling phase.Violence against LGBTQI+ Persons: There were no reports of violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) individuals.Discrimination: No laws prohibit discrimination against a person based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Some local civil society organizations reported that while hostility against this group had declined, members of the LGBTQI+ community continued to face abuse and discrimination as well as verbal harassment.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition: There is no legislation providing for legal gender recognition in the country.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices Specifically Targeting LGBTQI+ Individuals: There were no reports of involuntary or coercive medical or psychological practices specifically targeting LGBTQI+ individuals.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association or Peaceful Assembly: There were no reports of restrictions of freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly regarding LGBTQI+ matters.																																				Persons with Disabilities										No significant reports of violence, harassment, intimidation, or abuses against persons with disabilities by government officials or employees were received during the year. The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, mental, and intellectual disabilities, and the government generally enforced these prohibitions. The law does not mandate access to buildings for persons with disabilities, and access to buildings generally was difficult. NGOs reported subtle discrimination in hiring practices throughout the economy. The government reported that programs to improve recruitment and hiring of persons with disabilities such as the Youth Employment Scheme and the Secondary Education Training Program were no longer operational.																																				Other Societal Violence or Discrimination										Anecdotal evidence suggested there was some societal discrimination against persons with HIV or AIDS, especially in employment. The government provided food packages to some persons with HIV or AIDS, but civil society representatives reported that eligible participants had to preregister at health centers, which some individuals were reluctant to do due to fear of public identification and discrimination.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law provides for the right of workers to form and join unions of their choice, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes. The law does not require employers to recognize a particular union as an exclusive bargaining agent. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination and dismissal for engaging in union activities. Although the law does not require reinstatement of workers fired for union activity, a court may order reinstatement.One union accused the government of using a colonial-era public order law to limit its right to protest. Union leaders contended some public servants were arrested and suspended from work without charge until their matters were resolved in court. This resulted in persons experiencing hardships after their cases were dismissed, since their salaries and pensions were not restored by the government. Observers said this was intended to stifle protest.The government recognizes the right to freedom of association, with restrictions. The International Labor Organization (ILO) noted with concern the discretionary authority of the government over trade union registration and the government’s unfettered authority to investigate the financial accounts of trade unions.The government generally respected the right to collective bargaining in the private sector. Authorities formed arbitration panels, which included tripartite representation from government, businesses, and unions, on an ad hoc basis when labor disputes occurred.Workers providing essential services – defined as the provision of electricity, water, hospital, and police services – are prohibited from striking unless they provide at least 14 days’ notice to authorities. Some of these sectors were not covered under the ILO’s description of essential services.The government did not always enforce labor laws effectively. Penalties were undefined and thus were not consistently commensurate with penalties for other violations involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor. The government did not effectively enforce the law. Penalties against forced labor carry punishments commensurate with those for analogous crimes, such as kidnapping. The ILO expressed concern that membership in an illegal organization could result in prison labor.While there were no forced labor investigations during the year, civil society representatives reported that a small number of persons, including children, remained vulnerable to forced labor in underground economic activities in the drug trade and prostitution.Also see the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										See the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/ .																																				d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation										Laws and regulations related to employment and occupation prohibit discrimination based on sex, age, or disability. While the constitution also generally covers discrimination based on race, national origin, and political opinion, no specific statutes prohibit employment discrimination on these grounds. There are legal restrictions against employing women in certain occupations, including mining, construction, factory work, and the provision of energy and water. The Equal Pay Act provides for the prevention of discrimination based on the gender of the employee, in the rates of remuneration for males and females in paid employment, and for all incidental matters.The law does not prohibit sexual harassment in employment or protect workers affected by it. Whether the law covers discrimination due to sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV-positive status was untested in court. The government did not effectively enforce laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Penalties were not commensurate with laws related to civil rights, such as election interference.																																				e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws: Minimum wages varied by sector and type of work and were below the poverty line. The law prescribes hours of work for specific categories, such as industrial employees (40 hours per week), professionals (44 hours per week), and agricultural workers (30 to 40 hours per week). The law provides that workers receive time-and-a-half pay for hours worked above the standard workweek. There was a prohibition against excessive or compulsory overtime, which authorities did not enforce effectively.Occupational Safety and Health: Occupational safety and health (OSH) standards are generally appropriate for the main industries, agriculture, fisheries, and tourism. OSH experts did not actively identify instances of unsafe conditions. Workers have the right to remove themselves from unsafe work environments without jeopardizing their employment.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The law provides for the safety, health, and welfare of persons at work. The Labor Department is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the law. The government did not effectively enforce OSH laws. Penalties for violations were not commensurate with those for analogous crimes, such as negligence. The law also appears to exempt public-sector employees as well as those working on public-sector projects from the law.Major OSH issues included industrial safety, specifically exposure to harmful substances and compliance with safety protocols. Inspectors conducted unannounced inspections but were not authorized to levy sanctions. The largest difficulty was government capacity. The ILO reported that no training had been provided to labor inspectors since 2011 and that most officers who had been trained were no longer employed by the Department of Labor. The number of inspectors was insufficient to enforce compliance. The frequency of inspections decreased at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and reportedly had not changed since then.The Department of Labor does not have the legal authority to impose fines for violations, but it conducted follow-up inspections to assess if the shortfalls had been addressed; no employers were fined or cited for violations. Judicial officials have the authority to prosecute violations of workplace law and impose fines. Workers who receive less than the minimum wage may file a claim with labor inspectors, who investigate and, if warranted, refer the matter to arbitration. The Labor Department received complaints from workers concerning violations of working conditions but did not provide details regarding the frequency or severity of these violations.Informal Sector: The government does not collect data on the informal sector. Workers apparently are not covered by wage, hour, or OSH laws or inspections.																																				    							View report by:																				Afghanistan											Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bhutan											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Central African Republic											Chad											Chile											China (Includes Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet)											Colombia											Comoros											Costa Rica											Cote d&#8217;Ivoire											Croatia											Cuba											Cyprus											Czech Republic											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France											Gabon											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guinea-Bissau											Guyana											Haiti											Honduras											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iran											Iraq											Ireland											Israel, West Bank and Gaza											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kiribati											Kosovo											Kuwait											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Liechtenstein											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Monaco											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nauru											Nepal											Netherlands											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Korea											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Russia											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											San Marino											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Solomon Islands											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Sudan											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Syria											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											The Bahamas											The Gambia											Timor-Leste											Togo											Tonga											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Turkey (Türkiye)											Turkmenistan											Tuvalu											Uganda											Ukraine											United Arab Emirates											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vanuatu											Venezuela											Vietnam											Yemen											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																							a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																						b. Disappearance																																																						c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																				Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																				Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																												Political Prisoners and Detainees																																												Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies																																																																																				f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																						c. Freedom of Religion																																																						d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																						e. Protection of Refugees																																																						f. Status and Treatment of Internally Displaced Persons																																																			Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																				Elections and Political Participation																																																			Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government																																																	Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																																																	Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																						Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- INCLE-CBSI Activities – Summative Evaluation (Summary) 
- U.S. Relations With Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Bureau of Western Hemisphere AffairsMore information about Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is available on the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.U.S.-SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES RELATIONSThe United States established diplomatic relations with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines following its independence from the United Kingdom in 1979. The United States supports the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ efforts to expand its economic base and to provide a higher standard of living for its citizens. Both governments are concerned with combating narcotics, both local production and transshipment. The two countries have signed a maritime law enforcement agreement, an extradition treaty, and a mutual legal assistance treaty. U.S. Assistance to Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesU.S. assistance to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is channeled through multilateral agencies such as the World Bank as well as local implementers. The U.S. Peace Corps has volunteers in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines who work on education. The U.S. military provides assistance through training, exercises, and construction and humanitarian civic assistance projects. The United States also provides training, technical assistance, and equipment to Vincentian law enforcement and criminal justice institutions through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).  The United States and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are partners under the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis (PACC 2030), which seeks to improve energy security and build climate resilience in the Caribbean. Bilateral Economic RelationsSaint Vincent and the Grenadines participates in the U.S. Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), which aims to facilitate the economic development and export diversification of Caribbean Basin economies by providing countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for most goods. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines&#8217; Membership in International OrganizationsSaint Vincent and the Grenadines and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Organization of American States, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Bilateral RepresentationPrincipal U.S. embassy officials are listed in the Department’s Key Officers List.Saint Vincent and the Grenadines maintains an embassy in the United States at 1629 K Street NW, Suite 704, Washington, DC 20006 (tel. 202-364-6730). More information about Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here: CIA World Factbook Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Page U.S. EmbassyUSAID Saint Vincent and the Grenadines History of U.S. Relations With Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesLibrary of Congress – Country StudiesU.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade StatisticsTravel InformationCaribbean Basin Security InitiativeState Caribbean Landing Page
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines National Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateOn behalf of the United States of America, I wish to congratulate Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on its 43rd year of independence.Saint Vincent and the Grenadines remains a valued partner to the United States as we work together on some of the most important issues of our time, including through the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis (PACC 2030) and our bilateral efforts aimed at countering illicit trafficking. Our collaboration on regional security illustrates our shared interest in the safety and stability of the Caribbean region.I look forward to deepening our strong partnership, and I wish the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines a prosperous year ahead.