Technical Assistance in the Development of Community Safety Plans for St. Lucia CFYR Partner Communities

Lucia, an English-speaking country in the Eastern Caribbean, achieved its independence on February 22, 1979. The country's population was 167,366 in 2011 and increased to 172,623 by 2014. The population between 10 and 24 years old accounted for 26.3% of the total population in 2012. Birth rates are increasing, and death rates are declining, with the percentage of persons above 55 years expanding. Over 40% of the population resides in the north of the island, particularly in Castries. The country's economy was heavily reliant on the export of bananas until the late 1990s, when earnings from tourism surpassed revenue from bananas. This shift occurred due to lost preferential treatment for Caribbean banana exporting countries, such as St. Lucia, and the impact of severe weather systems, lack of technology, and crop diseases on the banana industry. Despite efforts to restore the industry, the earnings gained under protected trade did not return. The shift to tourism has resulted in mixed outcomes for different sectors and regions. Farmers, who previously profited from the banana industry, have had to find alternative means of supporting their families. The industry has also brought about employment diffusion and improved living standards for participants. However, the decline in the banana industry has intensified internal migration, with those now unemployed moving to areas such as Castries, Soufrière, Gros Islet, and Vieux Fort in search of work. St. Lucia has been struggling to achieve growth, with an average growth rate of less than 1% (0.9%) over the decade ending 2015, according to the Caribbean Development Bank. The country's production output was weak, and data on total expenditure demonstrated that not enough revenue was being collected. Recurrent expenditure constitutes the bulk of total spending, with wages and salaries comprising a significant share of recurrent expenditure. The Government of St. Lucia's spending has been strained due to debt servicing. Public debt as a percentage of GDP was 65% in 2011, 71.1% in 2012, 74.5% in 2014, and 75.4% in 2015. In response, the Government introduced a series of economic policies and strategies, including the introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) in 2012, which represented a move away from income-based taxation towards consumption-based taxation. However, these policies and strategies have not resulted in the economic and social benefits anticipated. The rate of unemployment was approximately 21.2% in 2011, increasing to over 24.4% in 2014 and then declining slightly to approximately 22.1% in 2016. The Prime Minister's budget address in June 2017 emphasized that efforts to decrease the unemployment rate would largely revolve around construction and infrastructure development supportive of the tourism sector. The rate of youth unemployment was approximately 43.1% in June 2017. Poverty is one outgrowth of the high rate of unemployment in St. Lucia, with only two country poverty assessments conducted in the country, one in 1995 and the other not specified. The Community, Family and Youth Resilience (CFYR) Program, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to address the challenges faced by St. Lucia. The program focuses on improving education outcomes, reducing domestic and sexual violence, and reducing unemployment, particularly among at-risk groups. The CFYR Program also aims to improve community safety and security by addressing the root causes of crime and violence. The CFYR Program has identified several key areas of focus, including improving education outcomes, particularly among at-risk groups. This includes addressing stigma, discrimination, and parenting practices that may hinder education outcomes. The program also aims to reduce the rate of domestic and sexual violence by addressing the root causes of these issues, such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to education and economic opportunities. The CFYR Program has also identified the need to reduce unemployment, particularly among at-risk groups. This includes providing training and employment opportunities in areas such as construction and infrastructure development, which are supportive of the tourism sector. The program also aims to improve community safety and security by addressing the root causes of crime and violence, such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to education and economic opportunities. The CFYR Program has developed a comprehensive plan to address the challenges faced by St. Lucia. This plan includes a series of interventions aimed at improving education outcomes, reducing domestic and sexual violence, and reducing unemployment. The program also aims to improve community safety and security by addressing the root causes of crime and violence. The CFYR Program has identified several key stakeholders, including the Government of St. Lucia, community leaders, and local organizations, who will be involved in the implementation of the program. The CFYR Program has also developed a series of indicators to measure the success of the program. These indicators include improvements in education outcomes, reductions in domestic and sexual violence, and reductions