Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has raised alarm over what he described as an “epidemic” of livestock theft sweeping across St. Vincent and the Grenadines, warning that organized groups are targeting vulnerable small farmers and rural property owners.
Speaking during a recent national radio broadcast, Gonsalves highlighted a growing pattern of animal rustling—specifically targeting sheep, goats, and cattle—and revealed that the crime wave has struck near his own property.
Gonsalves reported that organized groups of thieves are actively moving from community to community, traveling both near and far to steal livestock from citizens who are struggling to make a living.
He emphasized that these thefts inflict devastating financial losses on small-scale farmers and working-class families who rely on livestock as a primary asset or safety net.
Sharing a direct personal account, Gonsalves revealed that the livestock theft crisis reached the area immediately surrounding his own residence.
Stolen Cattle: Gonsalves explained that on a parcel of land situated just above his property where cattle graze, a local livestock owner approached him to report that two bull cattle had been stolen from him in the previous week.
Security Interception: The former Prime Minister noted that the situation prompted action from his personal security detail, with one of his security officers intercepting three individuals spotted on the property who were suspected of attempting to steal additional animals.
Gonsalves framed the surge in praedial larceny within a broader breakdown of social order and economic stability. He pointed to a growing condition of “normlessness” a sociological state characterized by a widespread disregard for established societal norms, laws, and respect for private property.
He asserted that the dramatic rise in livestock theft, combined with general economic hardship and the dismantling of targeted social safety programs, has left citizens feeling unprotected and deeply on edge. Critiquing the administration’s handling of law and order, Gonsalves argued that wild, erratic rhetoric from national security officials offers no practical protection to rural farmers who are losing their livelihoods to persistent criminal activity.
