During a live radio interview on Hot 97.1 SVG, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Kishore Shallow intervened to directly address questions regarding national crime and visitor safety, stepping past an explicit attempt by a tourism authority official to deflect the topic.
The exchange occurred when show host Chris posed a question asking whether recent public reports concerning “crimes and guns” would have any negative impact on the island’s expanding tourism product.
Before Minister Shallow responded, Alex Barnwell, an SVG Tourism Authority representative present in the studio, stepped in to deflect the query and shield the Minister from the controversial topic.
Deflecting the question, Barnwell stated that issues surrounding crime were “more fitted for the Commissioner of Police to address”. He argued that the official mandate of the tourism ministry and authority is strictly focused on managing tourism sites, developing the product, and ensuring visitors have an enjoyable experience.
Declining to pass on the question, Shallow explicitly bypassed Barnwell’s diplomatic stance to address the host’s inquiry head-on.
“Let me tell you Chris—I mean (Kobe) here is a diplomat; I am, and you know when I come here, I keep it real,” Shallow remarked, acknowledging that he had seen articles and public discussions raising concerns about St. Vincent and the Grenadines following a recent incident.
In his direct response, Shallow strongly pushed back against negative portrayals of the island’s security environment:
Rejection of “Unsafe” Label: Shallow stated unequivocally that he would not accept any characterization of SVG as being unsafe, calling such claims “far removed from the truth”.
Safety Record & Hospitality: He maintained that SVG remains an “extremely safe destination”, highlighting the natural warmth and hospitality of Vincentians and noting that visitors generally feel comfortable and at home.
Global Context: The Minister observed that no country in the world is entirely free of crime, stating, “We are not saying we are perfect, but we are saying that we are ensuring that we work with all our stakeholders, police included, to ensure that our country remains safe not only for our visitors, but for citizens”.
Shallow assured the public that the government is taking proactive steps to protect the tourism sector and broader community. He revealed that authorities have established a dedicated committee aimed at proactively managing safety in close coordination with law enforcement and tourism stakeholders.
