TT, Latin America fight poverty

The Ministry of Social Development hosted the opening ceremony of the 13th Annual Conference of the Social Network of Latin America and the Caribbean at the Hilton Hotel yesterday.

The conference is a way to recognise problems in poverty and to exchange experiences and expertise to help decrease poverty and places with special emphasis on positively impacting the lives of the vulnerable citizens in the region. The theme for this year’s conference is “Decentralisation of Social Services Delivery: Implications and Challenges for Developing Countries.”

Anthony Roberts, Minister of Social Development in his opening address said, “The Govern-ment knows that decentralisation is essential for successful governance and for citizen empowerment.” The Government has therefore established 15 Regional Social and Human Development Councils. These councils are encouraged to form themselves into a network to facilitate people’s participation at the community level. He further added that recent development reports indicate that over a billion persons globally are still living in conditions that are not fit for human existence.

“ This conference would have achieved its objective if only we would have recommitted ourselves to the eradication of poverty,” Roberts said.

Roberts added that despite efforts made by regional governments to increase social spending, which rose from ten percent gross domestic product (GDP) to almost 14 percent GDP in 2002, there is still considerable poverty in the region. Because of this, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is committed to eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.

Roberts stated that hosting the conference in Trinidad and Tobago can enlighten the English-speaking Caribbean on the possibilities that exist to erase poverty as well as creating an opportunity for our Latin counterparts to be further enlightened on the social conditions of the Caribbean.

To uproot poverty in Trinidad and Tobago, Roberts said certain policies and solutions have been and are being put in place.

He said a survey of living conditions has been taken and the analysis of the survey is being undertaken at this time. The Survey is to get a measurement of where the Government has reached in their drive to eliminate poverty.

He also highlighted the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCTP) which is in the form of a debit card which was launched two weeks ago.

Roberts said that the cards are to be used for purchasing particular food items and recipients can only have the card for two years, during such time they are to develop their capacity to provide for themselves and their families.

CCTP aims to promote skills training which would facilitate gainful employment, thereby allowing participants to gradually move off the Programme.

When Newsday spoke to the Minister after his address he said that the card will eventually be updated to facilitate other needs (eg medical needs). Roberts said that card holders will be able to access medication from the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme.

Carol Ann Mc Kenzie, Communications Specialist also added that cardholders must be aware that, “the card is to assist in their monthly expenditure for basic food items.”

The card is meant to offset grocery expenses not to cover the entire cost, which is why 49 items are selected. She added that persons need to keep in mind that the card caters for the most vulnerable families and not for persons who do not need the card.