Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - 69.34
51
An archipelago in stagnation
Saint Vincent is a nation that has struggled with chronic slow growth. Saint Vincent has not seen a GDP growth rate of more than two percent annually since before the 2008 financial crisis. Poverty and unemployment remain high. The country has made little progress on key issues. Saint Vincent in general is a nation progressing on island time. Saint Vincent is average among Caribbean island nations, seeing few issues not seen across the region and failing to elevate itself above similar nations in any respects either. It sees neither the failures of Grenada nor the successes of Barbados and has altogether failed to progress or distinguish itself.
Human Rights - 70
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has functionally abolished the death penalty; the last execution was carried out in 1995. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines saw poor prison conditions. Saint Vincentian prisons were overcrowded throughout the year, and female prisoners were held in a makeshift facility while a female prison was under construction. Homosexuality is illegal but this statute goes unenforced and a repeal is pending. Abortion is legal to preserve the physical, mental, and financial health of couple as well as in cases of rape, incest, and fetal impairment.
Democracy - 85
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a commonwealth democracy, limiting its score to 95. The governor-general is appointed by the Queen and the prime minister is appointed by the governor-general but is usually the leader of the majority coalition. 15/21 assembly seats are directly elected, while four of the remaining six are appointed by the prime minister and the other two are appointed by the opposition leader. Elections are generally free and fair, though it is notably difficult to register to vote. 24,000 voters were removed from voter rolls for the 2015 election. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is under a two-party system wherein the United Labor Party (ULP) and New Democratic Party (NDP) dominate elections but party formation and participation are not restricted. The ULP has been in power since 2001 with a decreasing majority each election cycle. LGBT Saint Vincentians are disenfranchised.
Freedom - 86
Defamation is a criminal offense but defamation laws are used more frequently in civil suits by the government against dissenters. The government controls almost all locally-owned media in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Independent media is allowed to operate but it is not profitable, and thus little foreign media operates in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Possession of up to two grams of cannabis was recently decriminalized in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines but possession of larger amounts or distribution remains illegal. All other drugs are illegal in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Saint Vincentian gun law is unspecified but there are few guns in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Economy - 62
Health - 71
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has a life expectancy of 73 years and an infant mortality rate of 1.3%. 23.7% of Saint Vincentians are obese and 5.6% are malnourished. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has a strong semi-universal healthcare system, providing free care for the elderly, disabled, pregnant, and children as well as heavily subsidized care for the impoverished and unemployed. 84% of Saint Vincentians have access to clean, running water. Siant Vincent and the Grenadines has minor problems with HIV/AIDS.
Corruption - 61
The Saint Vincentian citizenship-by-investment program is generally regarded as more stringent than most others but is still rife with abuse. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines does not have a specific anti-corruption taskforce, and corruption prosecutions are rare as a result. Public services must be bribed into action.
Competency - 58
The government is failing to provide for the people. The country’s healthcare system is not fully universal. The government is failing to manage corruption, as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lacks a dedicated anti-corruption taskforce. The government is failing to repeal or use unenforced laws, as a pending repeal to a homosexuality ban has been largely stagnant.
Future - 52
The Saint Vincentian economy has been struggling in recent years, seeing over a decade of slow growth. The country in general has been largely stagnant on most issues.
Actions Abroad - 44
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines does not maintain a military of any kind. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a tax haven. The Saint Vincentian citizenship-by-investment program has drawn ire from foreign governments but is not as rife with abuse as some programs. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines recognizes Taiwan’s independence from China, but their relationship is largely based on foreign investment and trade. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines received a ten point penalty for its tax haven status.
5.4% of Saint Vincentians live under the international poverty line and 50% live under the national poverty line. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has an unemployment rate of 20.25%. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has a very high economic disparity. Saint Vincent boasts a strong semi-universal healthcare system. Healthcare is free for children, the elderly, disabled, and pregnant women. Healthcare is also heavily subsidized for the unemployed and the impoverished. Healthcare is of generally high quality throughout the country. The Saint Vincentian economy shrunk 2.7% in 2020 and grew 0.5% in 2019.