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The New Democratic Party (NDP) will introduce a “Back to basics approach” in the delivery of health care in SVG.

Access to proper health care remains a fundamental right of every citizen and the NDP is committed to facilitating the delivery of this right.

An NDP administration will refocus its attention on the basic principles of decentralizing the primary health care delivery system. To this end District clinics would be refurbished and equipped to meet the immediate needs of every community, at source. The rural hospitals at Georgetown, Chateaubelair and Union Island which have been reduced to shells would be resuscitated.

In order to adequately meet the needs of our nationals as well as visitors to our shores, a new general hospital would be built and equipped. The specific site is within the zone of the major population centres.

NDP will maximize the use of the modern medical facility at Georgetown, despite its location away from the main population centre.

NDP will examine different models with a view to implementation of modern management techniques within the health care sector.

NDP will implement its already developed plan for National Health Insurance.

The NDP will ensure that by prudent management and accountability throughout the system, the availability of basic medication will always receive priority treatment. In addition, by putting emphasis on preventive medicine, a significant reduction in the need for hospitalization and lifetime medication will be achieved.

Apart from the easing of congestion at MCMH, the new state of the art hospital will free up the building in Kingstown to be used as other government offices and departments. It is to be noted that government has been renting many buildings in the city for office space.

The NDP has set out major Development Projects to create meaningful, long term employment for Vincentians:

1. A major international construction group will partner with the NDP to finally get the Argyle Airport into a state of readiness.
2. A major international development group will build a 1000 unit integrated residential and hotel resort complex on St. Vincent.
3. An important international banking group will use SVG as its base to establish a new chain of retail banks throughout the Caribbean.
4. A major international construction group, specializing in infrastructure projects, will establish a regional head office in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
5. A global player in the trust and corporate services sector will be involved in overhauling our financial services.
6. A global player in private aircraft services will set up a state-of-the-art aircraft registry.
7. The NDP is working with some of the world’s most experienced international tax specialists to establish tax treaties that generate further investments into our country.
8. The NDP will works towards each household in SVG having a minimum of one person with meaningful employment.

Government’s first responsibility is to protect its citizens by building a strong, safe community. In order to do this the NDP in collaboration with stakeholders and the entire nation would seek to:

1. Implement the Spiritual, Social Redemption Charter as the prime mechanism to deal with issues pertaining to our emphasis on the prevention of crime.
2. Increase Police manpower to focus on beat and other patrols.
3. Establish a visible police presence in communities, especially those with high crime rates.
4. Reduce police response times.
5. Establish of a Crime Prevention Department within the Ministry
6. Introduce the Crime Stoppers Program.
7. Introduce tougher sentences for sexual offenders.
8. Provide the Coast Guard with the requisite manpower and technical resources to ensure the safety of our territorial waters.
9. Supply chase and pursue vessels to empower the Coast Guard to do its job efficiently.
10. Create an Independent Fire Service with substations island wide inclusive of the Campden Park Industrial estate.
11. Improve officer training.
12. Establish a specific Police Women’s Department.
13. Support Random drug testing in our prisons.
14. Provide adequate training for Prison Officers.
15. Strengthen our Forensic Lab.
16. Establish an ntelligence and Counter Intelligence Unit with special focus on our Airports and Seaports to counteract terrorism and drug trafficking.
17. Create a first response department with emphasis on responding and handling reports of Domestic Violence and Violence against women.

While in opposition the NDP has pursued a number of initiatives so that we can begin immediately to implement a development strategy for St. Vincent and the Grenadines when we get into government. To this end we have had discussions with several interested investors and can now state that:

1. A major international construction group will partner with the NDP to finally get the Argyle Airport into a state of readiness.
2. A major international development group will build a 1,000 unit integrated residential and hotel resort complex on St. Vincent.
3. An important international banking group will use SVG as its base to establish a new chain of retail banks throughout the Caribbean.
4. A major international construction group, specializing in infrastructure  projects, will establish a regional head office in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
5. A global player in the trust and corporate services sector will be involved in overhauling our financial services.
6. A global player in private aircraft services will set up a state-of-the-art aircraft registry.
7. A significant seaport improvement initiative is planned for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, again, partnering with a major international construction firm.
8. Final negotiations are taking place for very significant investments into our technology sector.
9. The NDP is working with some of the world’s most experienced international tax specialists to establish tax treaties that generate further investment into our country.
10. The NDP will restructure our agriculture sector to benefit from the demand at high prices for cocoa. We will also utilize our joint venture infrastructure in the UK for further agriculture diversification.

The NDP will introduce The National Gender Equity Directorate of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This intends to achieve the following:

1. To work towards the removal of any obstacles to Gender equality and equity.
2. To integrate gender analysis into national development and government policy.
3. To encourage the integration of gender sensitive programs and activities into non-governmental organizations and the public sectors via education and training.

Education is the key to the development of our nation. We will place a high value on education and its transformation. This will be done by:

1. Ensuring that the content and process of education are geared to UNESCO guidelines.
2. Ensuring that all children can afford to go to school by providing resources to assist all children in need.
3. Ensuring that all children have access to learning resources such as text books, computers and other relevant learning materials.
4. Developing a special education component in the Ministry of Education to deal with gifted students and those who may have learning disabilities.
5. Revising the school feeding programme to include a policy that includes emphasis on the nutritional content of the feeding program and ensures the use of more local produce.
6. Establishing a national curriculum framework on numeracy and literacy.
7. Promoting Education as a life-long process and ensuring that learning opportunities are available to all.
8. Curbing the school drop out rate by embarking on curriculum reform to ensure that the curriculum is broad based and that there are extra-curricular activities to meet students’ development needs.
9. Providing meaningful and sustainable mechanisms for the participation of youth in groups such as the National Youth Council, Youth Ambassadors and community Youth Groups so as to solicit their opinions in the development of public policies and the design of programs for young people.
10. Pursuing excellence in higher education and its development, providing the means for more Vincentians to obtain a degree at home, thus ensuring a university graduate in every home by 2020.

The NDP has a “ZERO TOLERANCE” policy on Corruption.

Anyone found to be involved in corruption will be dealt with swiftly and to the fullest extent of the Law.

The NDP will create and pass intergrity legislation.

The NDP recognizes that notwithstanding our small size geographically and demographically we can still, through our human resources, make a meaningful contribution to the peace and stability of the world and demonstrably by upholding and promoting participatory democracy and respect for human rights.

1. Support regional economic integration in CARICOM, OECS and any other regional grouping that preserves our traditional democratic principles.
2. Implement our foreign policy after parliamentary debate and where appropriate consultation with interest groups.
3. Ensure that our bilateral and multilateral arrangements will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny, debate and authorization.
4. Actively participate in the economic partnership agreements with the EU in order to secure the benefits associated with the trade in goods and services.
5. Broaden and deepen diplomatic relations with existing countries and seek diplomatic ties with other countries on the basis of respect for human rights and the recognition of participatory democracy.
6. Support and encourage the peaceful resolution of international conflicts and diligently participate in the fight against terrorism and money laundering.
7. Reform our country’s mission abroad consistent with national policy requirements with special regard to deepening trade in goods and services and attracting foreign investments.
8. Continue to demonstrate respect for international law as a responsible state and demand that other countries do likewise.
9. Remain steadfast to the ideals and principles of the Regional Integration Movement (CARICOM).
10. Remain committed to the rule of law in International Relations and to the United Nations (UN).