The force is controlled by and responsive to the Government, but police continued to commit some human rights abuses. St. Vincent has a market-based economy. Much of the labor force is engaged in agriculture, in particular, banana production. Bananas are the leading export and a major source of foreign exchange earnings. The tourism sector is growing.
Human rights are generally well respected.
The principal human rights problems continued to include occasional instances of excessive use of force by police, the Government's failure to punish adequately those responsible for such abuses, poor prison conditions, and an overburdened court system. Violence against women and abuse of children were also problems. There were no reports of political or other extrajudicial killings. There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. The Constitution prohibits torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.