March 15, 2016: The following is statement made by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, Jacinta Bailey-Sobers on March 14, 2016 at the UNDP high level Poverty Consultation at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Port of Spain. PS Bailey-Sobers delivered this address on behalf of the Minister of Social Development and Family Services, the Honourable Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn who was unable to attend the event:
SALUTATIONS
- Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago;
- Cabinet Colleagues;
- Mr. Richard Blewitt, United nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative, Trinidad and Tobago;
- Mrs. Sandra Jones, Head of the Public Service and Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Prime Minister;
- Permanent Secretaries
- Other representatives from the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services and the UNDP
A pleasant good morning Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is my honour and privilege to welcome all of you on behalf of the Honourable Cherrie- Ann Crichlow Minister of Social Development and Family Services who is unable to join us this morning as she is unwell today. This very important Consultation among high level decision makers and leaders of Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago entitled: “No One left behind – Fostering Collaboration to Combat Poverty”.
As Minister with responsibility for Social Development and Family Services, it is with a deep sense of eagerness that I submit to you ladies and gentlemen: There is a very real opportunity for social transformation in Trinidad and Tobago.
I say this with confidence and following my assessment of a presentation made by Mr. Justin Ram, Senior Economist of the Caribbean Development Bank, who during the 2015 Forum on the Future of the Caribbean, indicated that there is need to “change our rhythm” at both the local and regional levels, in how we pursue sustainable development and I dare say, Social Development in Trinidad and Tobago.
It is for this reason that I see this collaborative approach to combat poverty as a critical platform to bring together – at every level – some of the best minds in our country to dialogue on workable approaches and coordinated strategies towards poverty eradication. I wish to thank Mr. Blewitt and the UNDP for partnering with the Ministry at this very opportune time in our country.
Ladies and gentlemen, Trinidad and Tobago is ranked as a high middle income country. However, poverty and inequality remain pervasive challenges, which are further exacerbated by the current downturn in the economy. While as a country we have pursued various approaches to poverty reduction since the World Summit on Social Development in 1995, there is need for a clearly articulated national strategy and enhancement in our attitudes and methodologies.
Poverty reduction strategies have been communicated through Budget Speeches, Manifestoes, Cabinet Minutes, Medium Term Policy Frameworks, as well as the Vision 2020 Development Plan, which integrated and localized Government’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals - MDGs.
As Government leaders, our insistence on high level commitment to sustainable development cannot be over emphasized. In fact, we are now incorporating our commitment to the post 2015 agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as we develop our country’s 2030 Development Framework, as the new direction for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, towards the reduction of poverty, vulnerability and inequality by 2030.
My Ministry actually sought to champion this initiative with the UNDP particularly because we have recognized that although poverty reduction strategies have been implemented through the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Planning and Development, with the support of external partners in the European Union and the UN System via the United Nations Development Assistance Framework; there has been very little co-ordination and monitoring not to mention evaluation of these programmes and strategies.
Ladies and gentlemen, this has to change, we at the highest levels of government, have to change our rhythm to look inwardly and collectively to direct and manage this necessary change, as a pathway to sustainable national development.
Trinidad and Tobago has experienced increased annual expenditure on the social sector from 8% in 1998 to 28% of total expenditure in fiscal 2008-2009. According to our publication, the Social Sector Investment Programme 2016, over $187 Billion have been allocated for social sector expenditure during the 2011-2015 period. This demonstrates Government’s commitment to assisting the most vulnerable in our society. Over the past 15 years Trinidad and Tobago has provided a broad cross section of social services, programmes and initiatives targeting poverty and vulnerability which are implemented across the social sector Ministries as well as by civil society entities, including private sector through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
The Annual Report on Performance (using the National Performance Framework 2012-2015 poverty reduction goals and targets) has attempted to track progress towards poverty reduction from 2010 to 2015, seeking reports from various poverty reduction programme units but have failed to capture adequately in their reports, the impact of these programmes on poverty reduction in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
It is interesting that despite the increased expenditure on social programmes and the expanded range of programmes, poverty rates have increased by approximately 50% since 2005, from 16.7% to 24.5% (Analysis of 2014 Standard of Living Conditions data).
This is cause for concern ladies and gentlemen, especially since we are in the beginning of the throes of a recession and the fall out is expected to negatively impact the lower socio economic groups and may expand the at risk population, as well as create new ones.
As advised by the Ministry of Planning and Development, in 2016, the country has returned to adopting the Vision 2020 poverty reduction strategy until a revised version, for Vision 2030, is prepared. Having adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in September 2016, Trinidad and Tobago is expected to work towards Goal 1. :
"Eradicate poverty in all its forms everywhere", and specifically target sub section 1.2 which reads: "By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions".
The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services (MSDFS), through its Poverty Reduction and Eradication Research and Policy Unit (PRERPU) has therefore placed top priority on our Poverty Reduction Plans from 2016 and onwards to reflect these targets, as well as local targets.
In this regard, the Ministry will facilitate a multi-disciplinary, inter-sectoral process to articulate a national strategy that will allow for the rationalization, improved targeting and monitoring and evaluation of the country’s poverty reduction programmes.
More importantly ladies and gentlemen, as we embark on these national dialogues; these conversations – the first starting today, our approach will be utilized as a platform to bring together the various stakeholders to share information and identify roles and responsibilities toward poverty eradication. The sessions will also address the social sector priorities identified by the GORTT, in the Government’s national policy, including:
1. Better targeting of social programmes;
2. Independent and scientific monitoring and evaluation procedures;
3. Focus on prevention and early recovery in social programmes;
4. Focus on the needs of the elderly, children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups; and
5. Incorporation of civil society organizations.
Permit me ladies and gentlemen, the opportunity to highlight what the poverty at the macro level in Trinidad and Tobago involve. {And I am guided by combined advice from both my Ministry and the UNDP). These are:
1. Improvement in targeting and management of poverty reduction programmes,
2. Addressing broader socio-economic challenges that contribute to inequality and social exclusion, among others, that hinder improved well-being for the population.
3. Articulating a National Poverty Reduction Strategy;
4. Adopting a monitoring and evaluation policy that will churn out impact assessments and continuous monitoring and evaluation of programmes towards that goal;
5. Protecting Social Sector investments against the effects of economic downturns as seen with the 2008 global financial crisis and current oil prices as these would impact directly on government spending and on social programmes.
6. Adopting a culture of evidence based policy development with the aim of improving efficiency in the targeting and management of social programmes. To this end, our social services delivery machinery needs to ensure that the poor and indigent are reached.
7. The introduction of developmental and remediation programmes to prevent an increase in the numbers of working poor and reduce vulnerability and inequality.
I can go on and on ladies and gentlemen, but all indications point to the need for radical change.
I am personally very optimistic that as we face this exciting challenge, we can devise sustainable solutions that address the root causes of poverty that will facilitate and promote a key platform for sustainable national development.
The truth is that global economic conditions are not and may never become favorable to our region. However, in the face of this reality, what we have approaching us is an increased number of persons who will become vulnerable or will now be living in poverty. There is therefore need to raise public awareness for more collaboration, inclusion and participation by the national community.
This is the basis for our partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and we expect that no one will be left behind.
This initial dialogue with high level officials of government-Cabinet Ministers and Permanent Secretaries, is expected to build consensus and agreement on a national definition of poverty and the indicators which will be used to measure multidimensional and income poverty, including child poverty, with the overall development of a National Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Following this meeting, three proposed consultations will take place at the national level to target:
- Technical staff of the various Ministries that administer social programmes;
- Members of civil society, and
- Members of the private sector.
Additionally, I wish to advise you that the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services will convene and lead a team to develop a Social Mitigation Plan to cushion the impact of the economic downturn on the vulnerable and indigent groups in Trinidad and Tobago. We anticipate full participation from our key stakeholders.
We will also collaborate with the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Gender and Child Development Division of the Office of the Prime Minister, to undertake a Child Poverty and Disparities Study, using the 2011 census, the Multi Indicator Clusters Survey and the Standard of Living Conditions 2-14 data sets.
As I close ladies and gentlemen, while the responsibility for poverty reduction is under my purview, I wish to emphasize that poverty is everybody’s business. If we are to be successful as a country in reducing poverty to the extent of its eradication, then we all have to be on board with the willingness to change our approach…to change our rhythm.
Genuine human development requires a universal approach – a working together of the 3 Hs - Heads, Hearts and Hands as together, we will work to formulate processes for greater collaboration and partnerships on social sector initiatives and bring forward new and re-invigorated approaches to sustainable development.
I thank you and may God bless Trinidad and Tobago.
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For further information please contact:
The Corporate Communications and Education Unit
Ministry of Social Development and Family Services
868-623.2608 EXT 5402