Preliminary assessment report shows drop in poverty level

A preliminary report showing a drop in poverty and indigence here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been welcomed by members of this country’s administration.{{more}}

At a consultation last Thursday held at Frenches House, members of the Poverty Assessment Team, along with independent Consultants, updated members of the public on the findings of a survey which was conducted in 2007 and 2008.

According to the report, poverty fell from 37.5 to 30.2 percent, while indigence tumbled from 25.7 percent to 2.9 percent over the last 12 years when the last assessment took place.

The draft report, compiled by the Dr. Frank Henry led Kairi Consultants of Trinidad and Tobago, contains, among other information, a summary of living conditions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, poverty and living conditions and recommendations for the improvement in the standard of living here. Incidentally, Kairi consultants were the same team of consultants who conducted the assessment in 1995.

Mike Browne, head of the ministry, charged with over- seeing the assessment (Ministry of National Mobilization and Social Development) said that the preliminary draft was a heartening one, and he looked forward to the final report when it is released.

Addressing the consultation, Brown said that his ministry has already started making the necessary steps to follow whatever recommendations were made to further reduce the current figures.

“We will have to give extra focus on the indigence (the poorest of the poor). We are already putting things in place to come up with interventions to accelerate the downward trend.”

Also commenting on the preliminary report was Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. The Prime Minister, speaking at a number of engagements this week, said that his administration had delivered on one of its election promises and will continue to deliver.

“One of the issues on which we were elected was poverty reduction and the Education Revolution, and we have had remarkable successes in both.”

The PM said that although the government’s efforts at poverty reduction has met some success, the reduction of general poverty will take longer, given the workings of the economic systems and as the Education Revolution begins to take effect.(JJ)