Former Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has lashed out at the current administration’s newly appointed inflation task force, characterizing it as a “sham” that lacks a sense of urgency and fails to address the immediate suffering of the Vincentian people.
Gonsalves argued that the government waited four weeks after the onset of international conflicts—which have already caused shipping costs to triple—to simply form a committee rather than implementing direct relief measures.
Contradictory Actions and “War on the Poor” Gonsalves asserted that the task force is a facade because the government’s actual policies are actively harming the poor.
He pointed to the firing of daily paid workers, including approximately 550 workers from the housing program, and the seizure of lands from vulnerable citizens as evidence of a “war on the poor”. He further criticized the administration for closing two Golden Years activity centers and failing to provide any updates on salary increases for 2026, describing the current state of the country as one of “economic paralysis”.
Immediate Relief Proposals Instead of a task force, Gonsalves proposed several immediate interventions to cushion the blow of rising prices:
- Subsidizing rice, which he identified as a critical staple for poor families.
- Restoring the $500 monthly supplemental income for nurses, nursing assistants, and nursing aids, which the current government reportedly stopped.
- Providing fuel subsidies specifically for minibus operators, noting that 90% of these vehicles use diesel and the operators will be “hard hit” by rising pump prices.
- Distributing “love boxes” and care packages to ensure food security for the most indigent.
A Lack of Leadership and Vision Gonsalves questioned why Prime Minister Friday appears to have no ideas of his own, suggesting that a task force is often used as a delay tactic when a leader is “starting with a blank sheet”.
He noted that global factors, such as the tripling of shipping costs and rising prices for fuel and fertilizer, were predictable from the start of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, yet the government remained silent for a month.
A “PR Document” to Mimic Neighbors During the discussion, it was suggested that the task force might simply be an attempt to mimic other Caribbean nations that have already launched inflation initiatives.
Gonsalves agreed with callers who felt the government was merely trying to avoid looking idle while the country faces a “whirlwind” of elevated prices that will likely worsen in the coming months.
He concluded that the national budget should be a moral document, and current government actions regarding property tax revaluations and safety net tightening are morally and economically untenable in the current climate.