Does an Enabling Policy Environment Exist to Manage the Cross-Sectoral "Monkey Problems" of St. Kitts?

-African BsTRAcT -African green monkeys ( Chlorocebus sabaeus) ) are an established introduced species in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, and the source of human-wildlife conflict. The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has responsibility to manage problems caused by the monkeys, which include real and perceived social, economic, and ecological impacts, the most notable being agricultural damage to crops. These problems are widespread across the island and affect many community members in diverse ways. This study asked if the governmental policy environment enabled or impeded intersectoral management of monkeys. No formal policy addressed all harms or benefits the monkeys engender across multiple places and sectors, nor enabled an all-of-government approach. Government actions were guided by unwritten policies operating under the authorities of agriculture, conservation, or public health legislation and international agreements. No policies addressed harms while concurrently preserving the benefits the monkeys afford, such as their promotion and use in tourism. Private sector policies addressed animal welfare and exportation of animals used in biomedical research. Cross-sectoral governance was achieved through informal mechanisms. No metrics were found to evaluate effectiveness, acceptability or feasibility of government efforts. The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has the intentions and components that could support an integrated One Health, healthy public policy approach to its monkey problems, but all actions to concurrently protect the health of monkeys, people, incomes and ecosystems were achieved through informal means which present certain implementation and assessment challenges. Written policies could increase transparency of decision making, aid in policy evaluation and ensure sustainability of action through variation in personnel and other organizational change.