SUB-REGIONAL COMMON ASSESSMENT OF BARBADOS AND THE OECS

THE UN DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM FOR THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN JANUARY 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TERMS OF REFERENCE

AN OVERVIEW OF THE OECS: COMMON DEVELOPMENT TRENDS AND CHALLENGES

Nature of Assessment 1 Introduction 1 General Economic Trends 2 Privatization 3 Social Programmes 5 Children 7 Women 7 Poverty Reduction 7 Human Resource Development 9 Drugs, Crime and Violence 10 Governance 11 Environmental Issues 12 Development Strategy 13

A COMPARATIVE OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE OECS AND BARBADOS 15

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA: GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Introduction 17 Services 18 Other Areas 19 Agriculture 19 Industry 19 Economic Infrastructure 20 Trade 20 Privatization 20 Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods 21 Sectoral Issues 21 Health 21 Health Care 22 Child Health 23 Education 23 Child Education 24 Multi-Sectoral Issues 25 Child Rights and Development 25 Children and Families at Risk 25 Child Protection 26 i Human Resource Development 26 Advancement/Empowerment of Women 27 Status of Women 28 Law Reform 28 Population and Reproductive Health 29 Reproductive Health 29 Governance 29 Legislative System 30 The Executive System 30 Judicial System 31 Human Rights Policy 31 Legal Aid Services 32 The Environment 32 Conclusion 32 Summary 33

BARBADOS: GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Overview 35 Economic Review 37 Economic Structure of GDP 37 Construction 38 International Business Services 39 Tourism 39 Manufacturing 41 Agriculture 41 Employment, Unemployment and Inflation 42 Trade and Payments 43 Social Review 45 Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods 45 Health Status 45 Health Care Provision 46 Population and Reproductive Health 47 Maternal and Child Health 48 Education 49 Child Rights and Development 52 Children at Risk 52 Child Protection 53 Human Resource Development 53 Advancement and Empowerment of Women 54 Status of Women 54 Violence against Women 55 Law Reform 55 Drugs and Crime 55 Drugs 55

ii Crime 56 Governance 56 Legislative System 56 Executive System 57 Judicial System 57 Human Rights Policy 58 The Environment 58 The Environmental Engineering Division (EED) 59 The Solid Waste and Sewage Project Unit 59 The Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) 59 Conclusion 60

DOMINICA: GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Introduction 61 Agriculture 62 Industry 63 Services 64 Other Areas 65 Economic Infrastructure 65 Trade 65 Privatization 65 Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods 66 Sectoral Issues 68 Health 68 Health Care 69 Child Health 69 Education 70 Child Education 71 Multisectoral Issues 72 Child Rights and Development 72 Children and Families at Risk 72 Child Protection 73 Human Resource Development 74 Advancement/Empowerment of Women 75 Status of women 75 Violence against women 76 Law Reform 76 Population and Reproductive Health 76 Reproductive Health 77 Governance 77 Legislative System 77 The Executive System 78 Judicial System 79 Human Rights Policy 79 iii Legal Aid Services 79 The Environment 79 Conclusion 80 Summary 82

GRENADA: GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Introduction 84 Agriculture 84 Industry 86 Services 86 Other Areas 87 Trade 87 Poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods 88 Sectoral Issues 90 Health 90 Health Care 90 Child Health 91 Education 91 Child Education 92 Multi-sectoral Issues 92 Child Rights and Development 92 Children and Families at Risk 92 Child Protection 93 Human Resource Development 94 Advancement/Empowerment of Women 95 Status of women 95 Violence against women 96 Law Reform 96 Population and Reproductive Health 96 Reproductive Health 96 Governance 97 Legislative System 97 The Executive System 98 Judicial System 98 Human Rights Policy 98 Legal Aid Services 99 The Environment 99 Conclusion 99 Summary 100

iv ST. KITTS AND NEVIS: GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Introduction 102 Agriculture 102 Industry 103 Services 104 Other Areas 104 Economic Infrastructure 104 Trade 104 Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods 105 Sectoral Trends 105 Health 105 Health Care 105 Child Health 106 Education 106 Child Education 107 Multisectoral Issues 107 Child Rights and Development 107 Children and Families at Risk 107 Child Protection 108 Human Resource Development 108 Advancement/Empowerment of Women 108 Status of Women 109 Violence against women 109 Law Reform 109 Population and Reproductive Health 110 Reproductive Health 110 Governance 110 Legislative System 110 The Executive System 111 Judicial System 111 Human Rights Policy 111 Legal Aid Services 111 The Environment 112 Conclusion 112 Summary 114

SAINT LUCIA : GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Introduction 116 Agriculture 117 Industry 118 Services 119 Other Areas 120 v Trade 120 Privatization 120 Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods 121 Sectoral Issues 122 Health 122 Child Health 123 Education 124 Child Education 124 Multisectoral Issues 124 Child Rights and Development 125 Children and Families at Risk 125 Child Protection 126 Human Resource Development 126 Advancement/Empowerment of Women 127 Status of Women 128 Violence against women 128 Law Reform 128 Population and Reproductive Health 129 Reproductive Health 129 Governance 129 Legislative System 129 The Executive System 130 Judicial System 130 Human Rights Policy 131 Legal Aid Services 131 The Environment 131 Conclusion 132 Summary 133

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES: GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Introduction 135 Agriculture 135 Industry 137 Services 138 Other Areas 138 Economic Infrastructure 138 Trade 138 Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods 138 Sectoral Issues 139 Health 139 Health Care 140 Child Health 141 Education 141 vi Child Education 142 Multisectoral Issues 142 Child Rights and Development 142 Children and Families at risk 142 Child Protection 143 Human Resource Development 143 Advancement/Empowerment of Women 144 Status of women 145 Violence against women 145 Law Reform 145 Population and Reproductive Health 146 Reproductive Health 146 Governance 146 Legislative System 147 The Executive System 147 Judicial System 148 Human Rights Policy 148 Legal Aid Services 149 The Environment 149 Conclusion 150 Summary 151

Tables 153 Core UN Indicators for Barbados 166 References 171 Acronyms and Abbreviations 174

vii METHODOLOGY OF SUB-REGIONAL COMMON ASSESSMENT

The task was to provide a summary profile of the major macro-economic developments, and the situation related to poverty and sustainable livelihoods, and to examine specific sectoral and multi-sectoral issues that are related to the UN Development System’s major priorities. This compilation of profiles, referred to as a Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS (SRCA) is expected to establish priorities for UN technical assistance and programme interventions in collaboration with national, regional and international agencies. This analysis will contribute, therefore, to the design and formulation of a UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for Barbados and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries.

Following reviews by the UN development system in the Eastern Caribbean1, consultants were assigned was to develop the SRCA from existing data in official national, regional and international reports. Given the need for consistency in the information gathered and presented, it was decided to draw the core data from a limited number of sources and to use other studies and reports to complement the core data sources.

It was also a requirement that SRCA profiles provide a synopsis of the actual developments in the various issue areas, the challenges facing the governments, the priority problem areas and if possible the indicators for assessing country specific conditions.

A chief problem was the variability of data and the time lag in the compilation of basis annual statistics for OECS countries, with the exception of financial data issued by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. Since 1996, ECCB has taken over responsibility for this task from the OECS Secretariat Economic Division in Antigua. In addition, the Caribbean Development Bank prepares basis economic trends for the OECS for its annual report. PAHO produces Health Conditions in the Caribbean biannually and other UN agencies have responsibility for generating information relevant to their respective programme areas. While relying on the information in the UNDP annual Human Development Report, it was necessary to draw on a combination of other sources and to attempt where possible to reconcile the different statistics for the same indicators in the various reports. The UN development system therefore will need to explore further how best to systematize and regularize the data that is required to inform policy-making.

1 Representatives of the United Nations Funds, Programmes and Agencies for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean: Anne Forrester, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System’s Operational Activities for Development and Resident Representative UNDP/Barbados; Len Ishmael, Director, ECLAC/ Trinidad & Tobago; Joseph Johnson Sub-Regional Representative, FAO/Barbados; Willi Momm, Director, ILO/Trinidad & Tobago; Philip Cross, Representative, ITU/Barbados; Veta Brown, Caribbean Program Coordinator, PAHO/Barbados; Michael Platzer, Representative, UNDCP/Barbados; Colleen Winter- Brathwaite, Representative, UNESCO/Barbados; Hadi Toron, Director, UNIC/Trinidad & Tobago; Ndolamb Ngokwey, Area Representative, UNICEF/Barbados; Joycelin Massiah, Regional Programme Adviser, UNIFEM/Barbados; Oyebade Ajayi , Country Director, UNFPA/Jamaica; Herbert Niles, Representative, UPU/Saint Lucia

II The report begins with a general overview of the developments in the OECS as a whole. A comparison is drawn between Barbados and the OECS since that country is not yet a member of the OECS but is contemplating admission to this body in the near future. While there are similarities in areas of focus among OECS countries, it is well to note that implementation and institutional approaches deviate considerably due to capacity constraints, levels of GDP, cultural imperatives and other variables.

By way of illustration poverty assessments have only recently been done for five countries, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The profiles of poverty for the other countries are generally based on stated Government challenges and priorities. National consultations on poverty eradication, which Barbados and the OECS are mandated to coordinate with UN assistance, will complement the poverty assessment surveys.

While governance is identified as an important issue for most countries, there has been no major development in advancing the process. Among the reasons are the financial implications of implementing extensive public sector reforms. Another is inertia. UN assistance can play a useful role in helping to speed up the implementation of relevant activities, which most governments have agreed to in principle.

In the area of environmental management and protection, there is a great deal of cooperation among agencies in developing and implementing specific programmes. Most viable are those that are being executed on a regional basis, particularly with regard to natural hazards mitigation and disaster reduction. UN support will aim to design a poverty framework that can bring enhanced synergy to these initiatives in the future.

Profiles originally prepared for the UN System of Barbados and the OECS Dr. Edward Greene Dr. Christine Barrow and Mr. Darwin Clarke

Revised and Updated by Stacey Cumberbatch Kim Clarke Prof. Andrew S. Downes, I.S.E.R, UWI Cave Hill November 1999

III AN OVERVIEW OF THE OECS: COMMON DEVELOPMENT TRENDS AND CHALLENGES

Nature of the Assessment

This Common Assessment of the Eastern Caribbean Sub-Region reviews and analyzes the natural development situation in Barbados and the OECS (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines). The reviews focus on such issues as economic growth and structure, social development (health, education, poverty), the status of children, the role of women in the development process, governance and the environment. Key issues in these areas are identified within the past decade. The extent to which these countries have been able to follow-up or introduce various UN Conventions is also discussed. This analysis is supported by a Common Indicators Framework, which provides data on various economic and social variables. One of the major problems associated with this review is the lack of (recent) data on a number of economic and social variables. There is an urgent need to develop the statistical reporting system in the region so that a better assessment of social and economic change can be undertaken.

Introduction

The relatively small sizes and economic vulnerability of the OECS countries have been commented upon in several studies and official reports. In many cases, however, these small states have demonstrated their capability to survive and at times to outperform larger states that are more resource endowed. Among the main reasons attributed to the relative good economic performance of these states has been the role of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), in maintaining the stability of the currency of the sub-region, and the relative goodwill that has been sustained in the evolution and implementation of sub- regional and international policies under the umbrella of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The exceptional independence of the ECCB, and fiscal discipline that the monetary union has imposed on member governments, have limited the number of policy errors that could otherwise have led to extended periods of fiscal imbalances as in other parts of the Caribbean. Despite these positive features of development, the individual country assessments show that the emerging economic, social and political patterns among OECS countries are variable.

The public sector in the OECS countries accounts for approximately 35 per cent of GDP with public sector spending declining from 45 per cent in the early 1970s to less than 30 per cent by the mid-1990s (World Bank, 1996). Public sector deficits which averaged more than 25 per cent of GDP in the 1980s, were reduced to 6 per cent in the 1990s. However, low levels of public savings and governmental fiscal balances in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Grenada, have necessitated urgent public sector reforms. In St. Kitts

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 1 and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a relatively high ratio of public savings and low levels of national debt combined with a policy of private sector development and micro management of the public sector, have contributed to good overall records of growth (World Bank, CGCED, 1996).

General Economic Trends

The OECS countries comprise a number of small, open economies that depend on tourism, agriculture, remittances and external assistance to earn foreign exchange. These countries experienced a period of slow economic growth of less than 3 per cent between 1993-98 after impressive rates of between 6-9 per cent (1989-93). The strong growth rates in the 1980s and the early 1990's were due primarily to the concessional aid flows used to finance public investments in infrastructure, preferential markets which provided favorable market prices for banana exports, rapid expansion of tourism, and the ability of some of the countries, notably St. Kitts and Nevis, to gain access to some niche markets such as garment manufacturing. The Caribbean Basin Initiative and other special bilateral trade provisions with the USA, facilitated this era of rapid growth.

The Global Conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island States, in looking at the vulnerability of these territories, observed that the slow rate of economic growth is placing serious and increasing pressure on the capacity of the countries to provide basic services to their people, and placing a high burden on women in particular as heads of households. The vulnerability of the sub-region is threefold. Firstly, the reliance on a few export-driven cash crops (banana, sugar, nutmegs) means that a slight change in the terms of trade and commercial agreements can have a dramatic impact on the economy. Secondly, subsistence agriculture is limited and the local production of foodstuff generally does not match the internal demand, as shown by the high food import bill for households and the region as a whole. This makes food security dependent upon external conditions. The limited size of the economies does not allow economies of scale and competitiveness on the world market. Finally, the yearly exposure to natural disasters poses a great challenge for the maintenance and expansion of social and economic infrastructure.

Concessional aid in 1994-96 was approximately 4 per cent, down from its 9 per cent average in the 1980s. In Dominica, concessional aid financed up to 85 per cent of the public investment programme. Large balance-of-payments deficits, averaging 20 per cent of GDP in the 1980s, supported high growth rates which in turn were sustainable because of concessional flows or direct investments. New international trade arrangements such as the GATT, and the effects of increasing trade barriers from the European Common Market (ECM) and NAFTA pose further threats to key export commodities. For example, banana exports declined by 20 per cent between 1990 and 1992 and the loss of European preferences for bananas from the OECS countries is now a major cause for concern.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 2 The agricultural sector is anticipated to continue to play a vital role in the national economies. Hence the concern in the current development plans of most OECS countries with the diversification of agricultural production systems from the traditional crops (bananas, sugar, spices) to food crops. These plans have established the need for greater food security programmes. The OECS are all food deficit countries. This results in declining foreign exchange earnings from traditional crops and increasing food import costs. There is a need to ascertain how feasible it is to embark on a shift in agricultural policy and what special support is required to implement the recommended course of action. An important aspect of a viable food security programme for the OECS is strengthening the overall performance of the agricultural sector including fisheries and forestry. The devastating effects of the Pink Mealy Bug on agricultural production systems among OECS countries, also require special attention.

In addition to intra-agricultural diversification, the Governments of the OECS have sought to encourage tourism development, informatics and off-shore financial services as part of their diversification efforts. By providing financial incentives and social infrastructural facilities, the Governments expect that local and foreign private investors would be enticed to develop these non-traditional productive activities. In several cases, the lack of a well-developed social infrastructure (roads, ports, etc.) has hampered the development of individual countries.

The changes in international economic relations are responsible for some of the rethinking in the economic policies of the OECS countries, collectively and individually. The sharing of certain common institutions under the umbrella of the OECS Secretariat, has been largely responsible for moderate economic stability at the regional level. The monitoring role of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, for example, has resulted in fiscal stability despite the variability in the economic performance of the respective countries. Member countries are not allowed to monetize their debt through the ECCB. Hence their fiscal policy centers on debt management. In Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, low levels of public savings and the effects of hurricanes in 1994 and 1995, have necessitated major fiscal adjustment programmes. Since all the OECS countries are targeting the same industries or sectors in their diversification programme, there is need to collaborate in an integrated approach to economic development.

Privatization

Most OECS countries have accelerated their privatization programmes as part of their public sector reform initiatives. The major concern is to improve expenditure controls, streamline their management and to ensure greater efficiency in Government operations. In many cases, notably Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, steps have been taken to improve the accounting practices, the capacity of the statutory

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 3 boards to generate the necessary savings to meet debt obligations and generally to improve the management of the public debt.

In many cases, privatization has not led to the type of increased competition that tends to reduce the cost of services. The anticipated benefits of making the OECS countries more attractive to foreign investors have occurred. For example, there is a high degree of privatization in the telecommunications sector. Caribbean Governments have now agreed to place greater importance on the role of telecommunications in their socio-economic development (e.g focus on information services). The telecommunications sector is characterized by a private monopoly which provides services in the vast majority of Caribbean territories. The cost of telecommunication services is high in the region and it is felt that this is an impediment to increased foreign investment, especially for investors with usage of the telecommunications network, therefore restricting access to services such as the Internet.

With telecommunications being treated as a trade in services within the GATT framework, OECS countries, along with other Caribbean countries have made offers to the World Trade Organization, setting timetables for the liberalization of the sector. These offers, however, take effect within the next 12-15 years, although the WTO “Agreement on Basic Telecommunications” came into effect in January 1998. In addition, some countries have agreed to the associated Reference Paper. These actions are the first steps towards the liberalization of the telecommunications sector in the Caribbean. Liberalization is expected to bring competition, hence lower prices for telecommunications services.

All members of the WTO whether or not they signed the Agreement on Basic Telecommunication Services are bound by its conditions and they will not be able to discriminate against WTO members operating in agreement with the Agreement. In this new environment, OECS Governments will need to develop telecommunications policies and put in place the necessary mechanisms for liberalizing the sector.

It will then be up to governments to regulate the telecommunications sector, especially in the technical, legal and financial areas. Both the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the WTO are providing assistance to governments to achieve their objectives.

OECS Governments have recognized the importance of telecommunications to their socio-economic development and have taken the necessary steps to introduce changes that will take into account the modern telecommunications environment and will redound to their benefit.

Five members of the OECS (Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) have obtained a loan from the World Bank and together

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 4 with their own resources have established the Telecommunication Reform Unit within the OECS Secretariat which will oversee the liberalization of the sector, the development of suitable policies, the establishment of regulatory mechanisms and the introduction of competition. The other members of the OECS are expected to be fully incorporated in the project at a later date.

The Maritime Sector is also receiving attention through the ITU and others. Plans are now underway for the introduction of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) throughout the region.

Telecommunication also plays an important role in disaster management and this will continue. The ITU provides regular support to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) by supporting its activities in the region.

Social Programmes

The health profiles of the OECS countries have moved from a situation where high mortality rates, due especially to communicable childhood diseases and low immunization rates, were some of the major concerns for the health sectors. In its place, the health profile is increasingly becoming one where diseases related to lifestyles- HIV/AIDS, obesity, and other chronic non-communicable diseases (hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease) are the major health threats to the population. Governments of the OECS are beginning to face the problem of increasing HIV/AIDS infections, especially among females and young children. Although the recorded cases of HIV/AIDS infections are relatively low in comparison to the rest of the region, the numbers are increasing, predominantly in females and children. This emerging trend indicates that transmission through heterosexual contact and perinatal transmission have increased.

The prevalence of obesity is also increasing within the OECS. This lifestyle disease no longer exhibits itself primarily in the elderly, but also in many young children. The cause of this phenomenon is not necessarily the consumption of too much food, but rather the consumption of greater amounts of “junk food” and fatty foods. Similarly, the elderly in the OECS are plagued with lifestyle diseases, which are chronic and non-communicable.

There is an obvious link between the lifestyle diseases now prevalent throughout the OECS and the poverty profiles in these countries. Poverty assessment undertaken in the Windward Islands indicate that between 25.1 per cent (Saint Lucia) and 37.5 per cent (St Vincent) of the population lived below the poverty line in the late 1990s, while between 17 per cent (Grenada) and 30.6 per cent (St Vincent and the Grenadines) of households were in a state of poverty. The incidence of poverty tended to be high among the rural population, young females and the elderly. The low human capital base is a major factor affecting poverty in the region. The poor are more susceptible to the lifestyle diseases because of their

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 5 poor eating habits and low nutritional food content. The challenge to the Governments therefore is to incorporate the strategies of Health Promotion (as agreed to in the 1993 Caribbean Charter of Health Promotion) across the policies and programmes of all sectors. This is particularly important within the social sectors and more so in their framework for poverty alleviation. An increase in food security for the population is also necessary to combat obesity.

Governments of the OECS invested an average of 10 per cent of GDP (1991-95) in the social sectors. Average public expenditure was 4.3 per cent of GDP for education and 3.3 per cent for health. This compares favourably with expenditures for OECD and upper- middle income countries where the averages for education are 3.2 per cent and 2.5 per cent of GDP respectively and 3.8 per cent and 1.8 per cent for health. Social programmes for the vulnerable groups, including children, are maintained with external support and the involvement of NGOs. While many of the health and educational programmes in the sub- region are committed to regional policies, there is increasing awareness of the need to strengthen further, and make the regional agencies more efficient. Greater sharing of services in health, for example, is being promoted as one way to make health care more efficient and equitable (IDB/PAHO, 1996). The OECS Basic Education Reform Project is intended to assist countries to streamline their systems, placing emphasis on strengthening pre-school and primary education as well as literacy programmes. It is intended to improve the basic educational skills of the respective countries and complement the skills training programmes to which many of the Educational Plans for the current period refer.

One major gender bias in education detected among these states is the higher level of female participation in schools, especially secondary schools. In fact, females are outperforming males at all educational levels and are increasing their share in the labour force averaging between 40-45 per cent in the 1990-95 period compared with 32-35 per cent in 1980. They are, however, in lower paid jobs and the number of female-headed households has been increasing steadily in the period between 1980 and 1996. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 40 per cent of all households are headed by females. The number is as high as 55 per cent among poor households. In addition, unemployment is higher among females than among males.

Unemployment rates have continued to be high for the OECS, averaging 12 per cent, which is lower than for the CARICOM region as a whole. Nevertheless there is variation among countries, ranging from 17.0 per cent in Grenada in 1997 to 23.1 per cent in Dominica for the same period. Much of the unemployment is related to macro-economic conditions which have resulted in the lack of jobs. There are other contributing factors, such as a mismatch in skills to jobs, a consequence of inadequate planning for human resource development. Social programmes in the OECS, especially notable in the cases of Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, are placing more and more emphasis on skills training and job creation.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 6 Children

Child health, measured by neonatal deaths, low birth weights and infant mortality rates, has improved in recent years throughout the Caribbean. Most of the serious childhood diseases have been eradicated due to widespread immunization programmes. Nevertheless, children are extremely susceptible to poverty in the Caribbean. Poverty studies in Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines showed that the youth accounted for higher percentages of the population in poverty than the elderly. This poverty adversely affects children in the school age population, affecting their nutritional levels and their educational performance. Children, especially males, are also at risk from their “get-rich-quick” schemes when they reject the formal education system as a means of social mobility. The increasing involvement in the use of illegal drugs and the illegal trade are serious challenges to the youth of the OECS.

Women

The poverty studies conducted in the OECS showed that women are more susceptible to poverty than men. The status of women in the households and communities has been primarily one of headship. The headship role of the women however has not been extended to the political arena or the labour force in a large extent. Only Dominica boasts of having had a female Prime Minister, while the other countries have some women parliamentary representatives.

Unemployment of women in the OECS tends to be higher than that for males. In Grenada for example, the rate is almost twice that for males. Regrettably, this is the trend in the region. Violence against women is also a serious threat to the women of these islands. Unfortunately, there may be insufficient data to indicate the true picture of violence of women. The forms this violence takes are, however, well known, ranging from physical abuse to molestation.

Poverty Reduction

There is a general lack of household data on which to base concrete recommendations for social policy. Poverty assessments done by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) on behalf of the Governments of Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenada have shown that, although unemployment rates are generally the same for the poor as the non-poor, the duration of unemployment is longer for the poor. While the non-poor often suffer from involuntary or transitional unemployment, the poor face the more pervasive problem of structural unemployment because of lack of skills, or low educational attainment, medical problems and forms of discrimination, based on race and geographic

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 7 location in marginalized areas. The poor are highly dependent on the public sector and suffer most from the inequities that arise if the quality of health care and education in the public sector, decline. When compared with the norm for their respective countries, the poor also have high rates of malnutrition, less education, less access to preventive care, potable water and sewage, and often live in unsanitary, overcrowded urban areas. The Caribbean Ministerial meeting on poverty eradication, coordinated by UNECLAC, resulted in a Directional Plan for Poverty Eradication. It identified broad-based goals and strategies for protecting the vulnerable groups, increasing their access to productive employment and sustainable livelihood, increasing their access to good health care and basic education, and integrating social and economic strategies to achieve greater equity.

Within this context the main characteristics of poor households which are relevant for targeting and social safety net policies were identified:

_ The elderly whose lifetime savings and pension benefits are eroded by micro economic changes and those without incomes and family support systems;

_ Children living in poor households and vulnerable to poor nutrition which affect their educational performance and future job prospects;

_ Women, especially in the context of the high incidence of poverty among poor female headed households which is particularly marked in the urban areas in Saint Lucia;

_ Unemployed youth who also lack skills and are becoming increasingly vulnerable to risky life styles with gangs, drugs and criminal behavior;

_ Unskilled workers, unable to support their families and increasingly drifting into the informal sector, with low and often unpredictable economic returns;

_ Small-farmers in the rural areas who are most affected by the downturn in the banana industry.

The follow-up to the ministerial meetings includes National Consultations which will provide a basis for the identification of specific national priorities and the elaboration of national poverty eradication plans.

In most OECS countries, public assistance provided to the poor and indigent groups is relatively marginal. It is predicated on the assumption that the major burden for such support rests with the family and the community rather than the state.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 8 Using the commonly available foods in the region, a study by the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute calculated the minimum cost food basket - comprising 27 items and providing 2,400 calories per day. If food expenditure takes 60 per cent of the total expenditure of the poor households, the weekly regional per capita minimum subsistence is estimated at EC$40-65 per day or US$15-25. Based on these estimates, approximately 35 per cent of all households in the sub-region would be classified as poor.

Poverty assessment for households indicate the following results; Dominica (1994) - 27.6 per cent below the poverty line; Grenada (1998) -17 per cent below the poverty line; Saint Lucia (1995) -18.7 per cent below the poverty line and St Vincent (1996) -30.6 per cent below the poverty line.

In this context, poverty reduction strategies for most OECS countries hinge on programmes designed to generate employment opportunities and income. The enhancement of the human capital of individual countries would also be important in the reduction of poverty in the region.

Human Resource Development

Based on the Human Development Indicators (UNDP, 1999), the countries of the OECS continue to be highly ranked falling within the high and medium HDI categories. This is a general indication of the commitment of Governments to the development of the human resources of their respective states. Yet several studies have shown that there has been a decline in real expenditures on health and education over the past decade, physical structures have deteriorated, and trained personnel tend to migrate to the larger countries within the Caribbean or to leave the region altogether. The relative high levels of Government investment in health and education have resulted in comparatively good health status and educational levels for the majority of the population. However, several studies have signaled that these favorable trends are being threatened, mainly because of the inability of Governments to spend at levels required to sustain health and educational services in view of their rising costs. The tendency toward cost recovery and the increasing numbers of poor and vulnerable households, makes it necessary for Governments in the OECS as elsewhere, to place greater emphasis on ensuring access to primary care and basic education. The involvement of the private sector and NGOs is being promoted in most country strategies to strengthen human resource development programmes.

The available data on evaluation in the OECS indicate that while primary level education is universal, with enrollment rates over 90 per cent, secondary school enrollment rates are much lower. In many cases a capacity constraint exists so that a small per cent of the labour force receive secondary and tertiary level education. With the need to diversify into new technological areas of production, the challenge for the governments of the OECS

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 9 is to invest more resources in secondary and post-secondary education relevant to development needs.

Financing human resource development is equally important to programme designing and implementing. To this end, the Social Development Summit in Copenhagen where there was a global commitment to the 20/20 compact is essential. This compact establishes:

25 per cent of GDP as adequate total government expenditure (TGE); n40 per cent of TGE as adequate for allocation to the social sector expenditure (SSE); 50 per cent of SSE as adequate for human development priorities.

In so doing, 20 per cent of the total government expenditure is allocated to human development priorities (UNICEF 1998, p.28). Human development priorities include providing primary health care, basic education, adequate nutritional support (UNICEF 1998, p.29), and sustainable income-generating activities. Improving, or providing these services necessitate adequate provision of expenditure. The fact is that the UNICEF’s definition of basic social services does not include elements like secondary education, or secondary and tertiary health care. However, the majority of Governments of the OECS, include these as basic social services to which the public are entitled. The 20/20 compact is designed to ensure that the poorest of the poor are included in government planning and spending, thus the basic provisions in a number of social areas are identified as human development priorities. The challenge to these Governments therefore, is to provide the basic services, while at the same time continuing the additional services, such as secondary education, which they perceive as basic. Given the high levels of poverty in the OECS countries, 25 to 38 per cent of the population, these additional services provided by the Governments are vital, since without them, poverty would be much higher than the recorded figures.

Drugs, Crime and Violence

Globalisation carries with it not only new economic challenges but also negative cultural influences and exposure to new social problems. The free flow of money, goods and people facilitates transnational criminal activities and has also led to new temptations. The Caribbean has been particularly vulnerable to drug trafficking, partly because of their geographical location and their unmonitored coast lines.

Hence, a serious challenge for the small island states of the Eastern Caribbean is how they will be able to deal with increased crime, violence and drug abuse. A drug epidemic or an outbreak of crime in islands may look insignificant in numbers but has much greater effects on these small and close knit societies.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 10 The anti-social behaviour as a consequence of the drug trade and the influx of the proceeds of crime undermine sound economic development, social cohesion and even political structures. The weak interdiction forces and the delicate judicial systems are hardly a match for the well organized, well financed and highly sophisticated international criminal groups. The establishment of an alienated youth culture challenging or rejecting legitimate authorities has proven to be an ideal recruitment ground for criminal gangs. Corruption, disregard for the law and increasing consumption of drugs among the island populations, have tainted the social fabric of these small societies.

The emergence of crime in the Eastern Caribbean has also led to overcrowded prisons with limited provisions for counselling or rehabilitation services. Therefore, rates of recidivism are high. Few facilities exist for juvenile offenders. Although penal reform on most of the islands is underway, little has yet been done to implement such measures.

While the drug cartels are motivated by greed and power, many of those who are manipulated into trafficking do so for economic reasons. The fragile industrial base of most of the islands has tempted many to consider entering the cycle of illicit crop production and trafficking. In a few islands, large sectors of the informal economy are sustained by marijuana production and drug trafficking. Not all who use drugs are addicts. Nonetheless there is an increasing number of persons who can no longer hold down jobs, have given up family responsibilities and are no longer functioning citizens.

In the framework of the Barbados Plan of Action (1996), the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) is collaborating with the Caribbean jurisdictions, donor countries and regional and international organizations, to protect against these threats and to promote healthy sustainable economic and social development in the islands of the Caribbean based on the principles of "good governance”.

Governance

The political and governance systems of the islands of the OECS are all based on the British tradition of democracy. There are minor differences in the legislative systems depending on whether the system is bicameral or unicameral. With the exception of the Commonwealth of Dominica, the executive systems of these islands have the Queen as the head of state with representation vested in the Governor General. Dominica on the other hand adopted a republican form of government in 1989 causing a change in the head of state to a President. A Prime Minister, who represents the person commanding the support of the majority of the elected members, leads each country.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 11 The OECS has been characterized by a sustained period of stable Government. Except for the Grenada crisis in 1983, which resulted in civil strife, the OECS countries have been committed to the democratic process evidenced by the regularity of constitutionally held elections and the orderly transfer of Government. The sharing of a common appellate judicial system and other forms of regional associations requiring cooperation in trade, foreign policy, common examinations and higher educational institutions, notably the University of the West Indies, reinforce this formal process. However, there is an increasing pressure for the establishment of new mechanisms to facilitate greater participation of civil society in governance (e.g a social partnership arrangement).

There is general agreement arising out of the Report of the West India Commission (1992) concerning the requirements for strengthening and deepening participatory Government. These include civic education in the new values that will affect civil society as a whole and the institutions that compete for power, restructuring of the Parliament and judicial system so as to reduce the gap between the formal system of laws and weak application; tightening the controls by civil society to minimize the impunity of corruption among Government officials; improving the channels for constructive dialogue among the plurality of interests, the establishment or strengthening of local government systems, and integrating the marginalized in the national dialogue on the rationalization of resources and deregulation.

Most of the OECS countries are in the process of reforming the public service. Emphasis is being placed on decentralization of functions, increased accountability of agencies for their performance and performance evaluation with incentives and penalties intended to delineate career paths. The establishment of a management culture in the public service requires regulatory frameworks and transparency, together with adequate remuneration. Dominica, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have begun the process of restructuring and re-grading. The process remains incomplete, partly because of the relatively high cost of the transition and partly because of inertia. In addition, studies are being undertaken to revamp the structure of local Government in Dominica and Saint Lucia. These reforms would hopefully lead to greater popular participation in governmental decision-making.

Environmental Issues

Policies on environmental control are being undertaken at the sub-regional level. The OECS Waste Management Project jointly funded by the European Investment Bank, USAID, CIDA and the German Society for Technical Cooperation complements the National Environmental Action Plans. However a large proportion of donor activities (75 per cent) is for investments in infrastructure and physical facilities. Less than 20 per cent goes to formal training, of which a negligible proportion goes to public education. This

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 12 short-coming is only partially covered in the technical support programmes provided to OECS countries by the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) in Saint Lucia, and a UNDP/PAHO project on Training in Environmental Health being implemented by the University of the West Indies Center for Environmental Health (UWICED).

The OECS Natural Resource Management Unit (NRMU) organizes and manages the majority of work done in the environment and environment-related areas of the OECS countries. It manages the OECS Waste Management Project, which is addressing the problems of waste management encountered among the islands. The degradation of the marine and coastal environments, and the forested areas of the OECS, which is unfortunately done by the poverty-stricken in an effort to better their lives, is another problem faced by the countries. The banana industry is one of the main contributors to the environmental decay, primarily through water pollution by agro-chemicals. Dominica has responded positively to their problem of deforestation by enacting the Forestry and Wildlife Act to protect not only the trees, but also the various species of animals that rely on these trees for habitat. Each island has a National Environmental Action Plan that identifies priority areas and solutions to these problems. Natural hazards in the form of hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, earthquakes and floods all threaten the environments of the OECS countries. Sadly, these threats cannot be avoided and thus do not fall directly under the auspices of the NRMU.

CDERA has been established to respond to disasters occurring within the region. Each country has an Emergency response agency, which collaborates with CDERA. Emergency disaster plans are supported by public information programmes, which seek to encourage persons to avoid situations, which increase the risk and cost of disaster.

Development Strategy

The main challenges facing the OECS countries are as follows:

I. Fiscal Management: generating public savings to finance public sector capital investment, controlling public sector expenditure, improving debt management and broadening public sector reform to enhance effectiveness and efficiency. II. Economic Diversification: reducing the reliance on mono-sectoral production, encouraging capital market development and removing barriers to entrepreneurial development. III. Unemployment, poverty and human resource development: promoting sustainable economic growth, provision of a social safety net, human capital development (education and training) and general educational reform and promoting services for the youth, disabled and disadvantaged.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 13 IV. Enhancement of Competitiveness: introducing productivity schemes, adopting international standards of production, introducing information technology in public and private sector organizations, develop negotiating skills. V. Environment Management: contain degradation of the coastal zone, invest in sewage systems and waste management facilities, introduce systems and regulations to mitigate the effects of natural disasters.

In order to meet these challenges the governments of the OECS are in the process of formulating a development strategy for the next decade. The strategy calls for a regional approach to development with the private sector leading the development process. Emphasis is being placed on foreign direct investment to meet the financial needs of the development process. Institutional, legal and administrative reform would be implemented to ensure that the “enabling environment” is conducive to entrepreneurial development.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 14 A COMPARATIVE OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE OECS AND BARBADOS

Barbados and the OECS face the same problems associated with small size and economic vulnerability. The level of economic development in Barbados however exceeds that of the OECS. Barbados has a more diversified economy than the OECS with the agriculture, light manufacturing and services sectors playing important roles in the growth process and in the generation of employment and foreign exchange earnings. Barbados has ‘graduated’ from the set of countries receiving concessionary loans from the international financial institutions. It is generally regarded as a ‘middle income’ country with high values of the human development index. Indeed for 1998 and 1999, Barbados topped the list of developing countries measured by the UNDP’s human development index (Human Development Report, UNDP 1998,1999).

As in the case of the OECS, Barbados has to face up to the vagaries of the international economy. The gradual removal of trade preferences is expected to adversely affect the agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Barbados and the OECS have designed their development strategies to focus on tourism and non-tourism services sectors as areas of future growth and foreign exchange generation. The private sector is expected to lead the growth and development process in the two sets of countries. During its structural adjustment programme in the 1991-92 period, Barbados undertook the privatization of several public enterprises.

Barbados has performed well in the area of social development compared with the OECS. Recent levels of poverty are much lower in Barbados than in the OECS; health and educational facilities are well developed in Barbados. Social programmes have been put in place to alleviate the degree of poverty in the country and a Ministry of Social Transformation has been established to oversee the poverty eradication process. As in the OECS, non-communicable diseases associated with the lifestyles of the population are problematic in Barbados. Universal primary level education is common to both Barbados and the OECS. Secondary and tertiary level education is more developed in Barbados than in the OECS. This is reflected in the quality of the human resource base of Barbados.

The governance system in Barbados is similar to that in the OECS. In recent years, however, Barbados has developed a Social Partnership involving the Government, private sector and the trade union movement. This Partnership discusses and resolves matters of national, social and economic importance. It has become a model of national governance, which other countries are seeking to emulate.

Barbados is subject to the same environmental vulnerabilities as the OECS. The Government of Barbados has sought to address the issue by the establishment of a Ministry and the implementation of various environmental projects.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 15 The development challenges facing Barbados are largely similar to those in the OECS. Discussions have taken place to adopt an integrated regional approach to these challenges in the context of a Barbados-OECS initiative.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 16 ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA : GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN

Introduction

Antigua and Barbuda's economy has been steadily weakening over the past 10 years. It dramatically slowed during 1998 due mainly to the effects of hurricane Georges in September. Real GDP has grown by 3.9 per cent in 1998 as compared to 5.6 per cent in 1997. The slow growth of GDP has largely been a consequence of the downturn in activity in the tourism sector and a reduced rate of both public and private investment. An excessive reliance on imports is reflected in the ratio of imports of goods and non- factor services to current GDP, which averaged 110.2 per cent between 1990-94 and 111.9 per cent in 1995.

Tourism is the main source of foreign exchange earnings. However, the 1998 tourist industry suffered a severe shock due to the passage of the hurricane in September. This resulted in the closure of 14 hotels, forcing the value-added in the hotel and restaurant sector to fall by 2.2 per cent in contrast to growth of 5.7 per cent in 1997. All the other sectors except air transport, water and forestry recorded positive growth rates in 1998.

The construction sector’s contribution to real GDP increased from 11.3 per cent in 1990 to 12.75 per cent in 1998; manufacturing fell from 3.4 per cent to 2.5 per cent; and agriculture declined marginally from 4.2 per cent to 3.6 per cent over the 1990-1998 period. Of the other sectors, transport and communications accounted for 21.4 per cent, trade 9.6 per cent, banks and insurance 12.6 per cent, housing 7.4 per cent, electricity and water 3.4 per cent, mining and quarrying 1.9 per cent and other services (excluding Government services) 6.6 per cent in 1998.

Antigua and Barbuda's deficit on current account of the balance-of-payments as a percentage of GDP is estimated to be 12.1 per cent in 1997 and 1998. In 1994 there was a general downturn in private investment flows. However, in 1998 there was a significant inflow of official capital as a result of the rescheduling of some of the country’s external loans. The commercial banks recorded a net outflow of capital in 1998 to the level of EC$4.6 million as opposed to a net capital inflow of EC$103.3 million in 1997.

High levels of external debt have been a constraint to economic growth. From US$373.9 million, representing 49.7 per cent of GDP, in 1994, it is projected to increase to US$468.1 million by the year 2000, representing 72.0 per cent of GDP. Debt servicing

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 17 has not been fulfilled as a result of inadequate fiscal savings, which has undermined Government's ability to meet external debt obligations. The Government has, however, managed to lower its outstanding total external debt from EC$706.4 million in 1990 to EC$644.9 million in 1998.

The size of the debt, now about half of the GDP, proves unsustainable as a consequence of the short repayment period on the loans obligated at a high commercial interest rate. This situation, along with the extremely weak fiscal position of the Government has led to rapid accumulation of arrears. The fiscal deficit rose from EC$50.6 million in 1997 (i.e. 3.2 per cent of GDP) to EC$67.9 million in 1998 (i.e. 4.0 per cent of GDP).

Services

Tourism plays a dominant role in the Antigua and Barbuda economy both in terms of employment and foreign exchange earnings. Real annual growth in tourism averaged 7 per cent per annum in the 1985-89 period increasing to 8.24 per cent during 1990-94, primarily due to bumper growth in 1993 and 1994. Between 1995 and 1998 growth in the tourism sector was sluggish with a significant decline in 1995. Average annual increases in total visitor arrivals fell from 14.5 per cent in 1985-89 to 4.4 per cent in 1990-94 and contracted by 9.4 per cent in 1995. There was some recovery between 1996 and 1997. Over the same period growth in stay-over visitors declined from 6.4 per cent to 6.1 per cent and contracted by 18.5 per cent in 1995. There was some recovery of 5.1 per cent between 1995 and 1997. Cruise ship passengers declined from 25.9 per cent (1985-89) to 2.8 per cent (1990-94) then contracting by 3.5 per cent in 1995. There was a recovery over the period 1995-1998. Yachting visitors dropped from 25.9 per cent (1985- 89) to 11.4 per cent (1990-94) and contracted by 5.6 per cent, in 1995. The U.S. market accounted for 50.1 per cent of total visitors in the 1985-89 period but only 34.7 per cent in 1995, being slightly exceeded by the European market with 37.8 per cent. In recent years, private sector investment in tourism has been lagging. Government recognizes that there are a number of critical needs to be addressed. These include improving the infrastructure, maintaining competitiveness, manpower development, mitigation of negative environmental impacts, and establishing a policy framework in order to stimulate private sector investment. Offshore financial services are a small sub-sector but shows promise for development as a major contributor to foreign exchange earnings. To this end, the Government is giving priority to establishing a regulatory framework, which is appropriate.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 18 Other Areas

Agriculture

Agriculture plays a minor role in the economy. Agriculture’s contribution to GDP stood at 3.6 per cent in 1998 while value-added in the sector grew by 4.2 per cent in 1998 as compared with 4.8 per cent in 1997. Agricultural crop production, which is mostly directed to the domestic market, was affected by the extremely dry conditions of El Nino experienced during the second half of 1997. As a result, production of the crop sub-sector declined in 1997 compared with 1996. The livestock sub-sector, however, was not seriously affected by the dry weather. Fish landings increased significantly during the year as the sub-sector continued to recover from damages caused by the hurricanes in 1995 and 1998.

Approximately 60 per cent of the land resource is owned by the Government and the main form of land tenure system involves yearly rental, leasehold arrangements and private lease and this is considered one of the main constraints and disincentives to the development of agriculture. A total of 279.8 acres of land was under cultivation in 1998.

The agricultural exports are sea-island cotton lint to Japan, fruit and vegetables to other Caribbean countries and hot peppers, vegetables/root crops (sweet potato, yams) to the United Kingdom and Canada. This trade generates approximately US$28 million annually. This figure is expected to increase within the next 2-3 years.

In order to restrict the leakage of foreign exchange and to increase food production, the Government has embarked on a number of agriculture-related activities such as agricultural research, extension and transfer of technology, private sector investment and the establishment of linkages between the tourism and agricultural sector. Main policy actions include implementation of land use policies, creation of linkages between tourism and other sectors and financial institutional reform for encouraging investment in the agricultural sector.

Industry

Manufacturing, like agriculture, is not a major sector in the economy though output increased during 1998 mainly due to a higher production of beverages. Value- added was estimated to have grown by 5.5 per cent in 1998 at a rate which was marginally below that of 6.0 per cent in the previous year.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 19 Economic Infrastructure

Public sector investments in economic infrastructure were consistently low over the 1990-94 period. This was primarily due to the significant deterioration in public sector savings and the inability of Antigua and Barbuda to access external finance because of very high debt arrears. Nevertheless, Government recognizes that higher levels of investment in infrastructure are required to stimulate private sector led growth and sustain development. Accordingly, the medium-term strategy involves improving the road network and power generating capacity. In 1998 capital expenditure was $71.2 million (i.e. 4.2 per cent of GDP). Most of the expenditure was largely associated with the fisheries complex and road rehabilitation.

Trade

Antigua and Barbuda is a services-based economy with little emphasis on merchandise exports. While the trade deficit is projected to increase from US$130.8 million in 1996 to US$244.5 million in 2000, a positive services account balance increasing from US$113.8 million to US$233.5 million is anticipated. Government's emphasis on policies to enhance tourism and offshore financial service reflects the critical importance of the services sector for the country's economic development.

The continued dependence on tourism and offshore financing services has meant that the policy priorities in most of the other social and economic sectors have been tailored to respond and/or support these activities. The decline in the services sector in recent years has had a severe impact on the sustainability of human resources resulting in increasing levels of estimated poverty, slippage’s in education and health status and increasing environmental degradation.

Privatization

Antigua and Barbuda has always encouraged the role of the private sector in economic activity especially in tourism and offshore financial services. The privatization Programme aims at improving fiscal savings and is intricately linked to the public sector reforms. The Plan (1996-97) makes provision for the reduction by 8-10 per cent in public sector wages and salaries, by 7.5 per cent in vocational training schemes and membership in regional institutions, and by 50 per cent, in telephone bills and overseas travel. Restrictions have been placed on domestic borrowing by the Central Government, and borrowing from the Central Bank has, in principle, been limited to those projects whose returns exceed the costs of debt service. One of the main targets of Government's excessive borrowing has been the Medical Benefits Scheme. Priority has been given to clearing Government arrears to this scheme over a 4-year period.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 20 The implications of privatization for employment and human resource development in the short and medium term need to be analyzed in order to provide guidelines for skills training and redeployment of resources.

Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods

Based on the head count index (Table 4, p. 156), 12 per cent of the population fell below the poverty line in the early 1990s, which makes Antigua and Barbuda one of the better-placed countries insofar as poverty reduction strategies are concerned. In the absence of systematic household surveys it is difficult to conclude with any degree of certainty the nature and distribution of poverty in recent years. However, current indications are that with the general economic downturn over the past 3 years, levels of unemployment at approximately 5 per cent (1997), and increasing rates of under- employment in the tourism industry, poverty is likely to also increase, unless arrested by job-creation ventures.

While relatively adequate provision exists for the employed population to receive benefits through the national insurance and contributory pension schemes, public assistance for the poor, elderly and other deprived groups is less than satisfactory. The Antigua Medical Benefits Scheme is one example of a long standing Programme that guarantees adequate medical protection to participants. The Government however has indicated in its current development plan 1996-2000, proposals for safety net programmes, among which are the intensification of school feeding, adult literacy, and partnership with the private sector and NGOs in upgrading educational, recreational and community oriented facilities.

Sectoral Issues

Health

The people of Antigua and Barbuda enjoy good health. The infant mortality rate (IMR) has been considerably reduced to 17.1 per cent in 1997 where life expectancy is 74.3 years of age for that same period. Infant and child health is much improved (Table 6, p. 158). Comprehensive immunization coverage is provided for infants under one year of age with immunization against measles being 93 per cent as at 1997. Communicable diseases have declined. No case of typhoid, diphtheria, or cholera has been reported in recent years and in 1992 there was only 1 case of measles. Dengue and tetanus are intermittently reported. Non-communicable diseases affecting mainly the elderly population are the leading causes of death. These include cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases and malignant tumors. High obesity rates among women over 40 are linked to increasing rates of hypertension. Obesity is increasingly being identified as a

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 21 major nutritional problem affecting both the young and the old, as it is a contributing factor to common chronic non-communicable diseases, which are a major cause of death in the region. According to a survey recently carried out by the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute, 60 per cent of women and 25 per cent of men over the age of 40 are obese. The cause of the problem of obesity is not the lack of resources, but rather the lack of nutritional awareness of the importance of a balanced diet and, therefore, any intervention to promote healthy lifestyles amongst adults and children, should include Nutrition Education as a top priority. The obesity observed in adults starts from childhood. In 1985, Antigua and Barbuda recorded its first case of HIV/AIDS and by 1996 a total of 13 persons was found to be affected. An increasing proportion of women and children carry the virus. A 1995 Report conducted by the Caribbean Epidemiological Center (CAREC) shows that the absolute number of AIDS cases among women has increased 1.7 times. Adolescent girls are identified as being especially vulnerable. As a result, prenatal transmission of HIV has emerged as a public health problem in the sub- region. Of concern also are the increasing rates of violence and traffic accidents.

Health Care

Health care in Antigua and Barbuda is primarily the responsibility of the public sector, although private care is also available. Government operates 6 health care centers, which function as headquarters for 17 satellite clinics. A comprehensive primary health care service is available in the clinics and patients are referred for secondary care to the central hospital, the Holberton Hospital. The 210-bed hospital has been extended to include infant care, radiology and outpatient casualty departments. There are also a psychiatric hospital and the Geriatric Finnes Institute. A small, 9-bed, private hospital also exists. Combining private and public provisions provides 7.6 physicians and 11.2 hospital beds per 10,000 of the population by 1998, a reasonably good comparison with other Caribbean countries (Table 6, p. 158). Government contribution to health is 5.9 per cent of total expenditure (1995) and 3.7 per cent of GDP in 1997.

It should be noted that the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has started a major capital works Programme to include a new hospital, the Mount St John’s which is scheduled to be completed in 2001, along with new and refurbished health centers.

Greatly contributing to the health status of the population are the Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) which has been in operation since 1976 and Antigua and Barbuda's participation in the OECS drug scheme. The Medical Benefits Scheme is a response to the rising cost of care for an increasing number of persons suffering from chronic diseases and the inability of the state to support public programmes especially following the abolition of income tax in 1976. Beneficiaries are entitled to free drugs, outpatient and inpatient care in Antigua and Barbuda and to an airline ticket for treatment at the University of the West Indies Hospital in Jamaica when such treatment is unavailable and

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 22 deemed necessary. As part of its Reform Programme, the Government proposed to introduce user fees for health care at the public hospitals. Consideration is being given to the appropriate arrangements that would not exclude services to the poor.

Child Health

The health prospects of babies and young children have improved markedly in recent years. The level of neonatal deaths has fallen to 15.7 per 1000 births and low birth weight (LBW) affects only 4.88 per cent of all births. As indicated, the IMR is low and the impact of widespread immunization programmes is reflected in the complete eradication of most serious childhood diseases. Cases of hospitalization among children were mainly due to bronchial asthma, gastroenteritis and neonatal jaundice, though levels were low. The nutritional status of children has improved with only little mild to moderate case but no severe cases of nutritional deficiencies has been recorded in the 1990s. However, overweight and obesity are increasing among children and are attributed to an increased consumption of “junk food” and a lack of physical exercise. To deal with the problem, Government is giving priority to nutritional education programmes for parents and children.

Education

Education represents 14.3 per cent of total Government expenditure (as shown in Table 7, p. 159). The Government has taken responsibility for the provision of free primary and secondary education, although private schools continued. In 1994/96, private schools accounted for 32 per cent of enrollment at primary and 20 per cent at secondary level where the pupil-teacher ratio stands at 18:1 (Table 7). Sixth form education is provided at the Antigua and Barbuda State College, which also offers undergraduate courses in collaboration with the University of the West Indies. Vocational and technical courses are available at 5 Government centers and also at the specialized training programmes in public secondary schools. Adult literacy levels are quite high at 89 per cent (1997) and this is not considered a major problem for Government attention, though there is an NGO programme for those in need.

Overall, financial constraints and the extensive repair and refurbishment of schools necessitated by Hurricane Luis devastation in September 1995 have, however, severely affected any major expansion in educational programmes. Nevertheless, only one of the 30 Government primary schools and 3 of the 9 secondary schools remain closed. The Government has, therefore, been able to turn attention to other educational priorities.

Early childhood education remains restricted, with 40 per cent enrollment of children aged 2-4. Most pre-schools are private and fee-paying and do not therefore cater

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 23 to children from the lower income brackets. However, a National Education Plan formulated in 1995-96 established the requirements for more effective and equitable early childhood care and education programmes.

Teacher training, including workshops for teachers at pre-schools, is one of the main provisions in the Education Plan. An estimated 33.1 per cent of the teachers at primary level and 26.8 per cent at the secondary level are untrained. Inadequate promotion policy and facilities added to occupational stress are mainly responsible for declining teacher performance. These deficiencies are linked to the notable decline in the performance of students at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations.

Overall, a very limited number of children ever reach the exam room: figures for students entering CXC examinations (1992-1995) in Antigua and Barbuda for example, show that these represent only 18 per cent of the 16-18 age cohort. The causes of such widespread failure have been traced to inadequate teaching strategies and methods, which currently focus excessively on exam preparation with the associated rote learning approach, coupled with high percentages of unqualified teachers and lack of materials.

School construction and refurbishing, school meals and textbook projects have been included in Government educational policy. The provision of facilities and trained personnel for technical and vocational education, for career guidance and counselling and for children with special needs have also been given priority. The Ministry of Education has established an adult education Programme, The Golden Opportunity Programme, which provides a second chance for those who have dropped out of school. Teenage mothers are a special target group in this venture and parental and community involvement is encouraged. Most of these policies will have a direct impact on those from poor households provided effective mechanisms are established for targeting the appropriate groups and for monitoring the outcomes.

Child Education

Governmental provisions for education are good at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. There is concern, however, at the under-achievement of pupils, especially boys. The gender bias is evident even at the primary levels where, of the top 63 places, only 20 (31.7 per cent) were taken by boys. A link, though unproven, has been made between male under-achievement, the feminization of the teaching profession and the absence of male role models. In Antigua and Barbuda, 85 per cent of teachers in primary schools and 66.3 per cent in secondary school are women. Overall achievement rates at CXC are low though those for English A and Mathematics compare favorably with other Caribbean countries (Table 8, p. 160). The drop out rate from schools and teenage pregnancy are also causing concern.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 24 Multi-Sectoral Issues

Child Rights and Development

Children and Families at Risk

Available evidence indicates that few children live in absolute poverty, and in cases where parental care is unavailable, extended family members - especially grandparents continue to fill the void. Under the Poor Relief Ordinance (1961), a Board of Guardians is appointed to provide relief for poor children. In 1995, only 68 children were among its clients. Information and statistics on abused, neglected and abandoned children are not recorded apart from those kept by the police department that sees only a minority of cases. Many such cases do not come to public attention. There is, nevertheless, cause for concern and the Citizen's Welfare Division has made efforts to encourage community support in identifying and monitoring cases of abused and neglected children. It is reported that there are no abandoned children in Antigua and Barbuda, although there are those who run away from home for a day or night.

Institutional care is available for children at risk. The Boys Training School provides for boys aged 9-18 years of age, who are either in need of care and protection or who have committed a criminal offence and are too young for imprisonment. Mixing age groups in the same institution, however, is problematic as the older ones often influence the younger, less delinquent boys. The Sunshine Home for Girls provides short-stay accommodation for delinquent and problematic girls aged 12-18 years of age. In 1995, only 10 girls were enrolled. The Good Shepherd Home for Girls is run by the Roman Catholic Church and takes in younger children, aged 5-12 years who have been neglected, abandoned or abused. A serious problem for these homes is the lack of resources, particularly trained staff who can provide counselling for their charges. However, the Child and Family Guidance Center has been in operation at the main hospital in Antigua and Barbuda since 1987. There is also no systematic information concerning the extent and types of disability among children, though some service is provided through the Red Cross School and the Resource Center for the Handicapped.

There is no separate juvenile court and no legal aid scheme for young offenders. Cases of juvenile delinquency have fluctuated from between 6 and 68 annually during the 1990s, with 43 cases reported in 1994. Virtually all of these were young men with their main offence being "breaking and entering". Drug offenses are under-reported with only 1 case identified for 1990-1994. The incidence of marijuana usage has risen in the last decade and crack cocaine usage since the late 1980s. A recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs linked drug use to domestic violence, child neglect and crime and reported drug use in secondary schools.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 25 The Education Act of 1973 stipulates age 16 as the minimum age for employment in Antigua and Barbuda and child labor is virtually non-existent. Children are used to help out in agriculture, but this occurs mainly after school and during the vacations. There is no evidence of street children or child prostitution.

There is an obvious need for research and accurate reporting on the situation of children at risk, especially in terms of child abuse and drug use among juveniles. A stricter enforcement of the provisions of the law in the protection of children and special arrangements and facilities for juvenile offenders are also important. Education and training in counselling and increased levels of community awareness are required to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

Child Protection

Antigua and Barbuda ratified the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in October 1993. Little has been done since then in terms of legal reform to bring the laws of the country in line with the Convention. Existing legislation includes the Births and Deaths (Registration) Act, 34/86 which requires notice of births within 30 days and the Status of Children Act, 36/86 which gives a child born out of wedlock the right to have the father's name registered. However, there is no provision by law for childcare for the children of working parents.

Human Resource Development

The 20/20 compact for social development, developed by the United Nations is a very important element of human resource development. Focussing on social development and the human development priorities of the poor, adherence to the compact acts as a guarantee that the poorest of the poor are being catered for in Government planning. The compact comprises of (i) total government expenditure as a percentage of GNP, (ii) government expenditure on the social sectors as a percentage of total government expenditure, and (iii) the percentage of government social expenditure that is spent in human development priorities (UNICEF 1998, p. 27). Antigua and Barbuda falls short of two of the dimensions of the 20/20 compact. First, it falls short in its allocation of the recommended 40 percent of the public expenditure towards the social allocation ratio. Second, it fails to allocate 20 percent of total government expenditure towards human development priorities. However, the country does manage to allocate in excess of the 50 percent of social expenditure to social priorities (see Table 13, p. 165). The importance of the human development priority ratio is that the services falling in this category are those used heavily by the poor.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 26 Human resource development must take into account the most vulnerable groups in society, especially when these persons fall within the economically active cohort, and can contribute to the development of the society. Addressing the needs of these groups within the 20/20 compact would go a long way towards utilizing all available human resources.

While it is commendable that the Government of Antigua and Barbuda takes responsibility for the provision of free primary and secondary education, the issue of under-achievement, especially for males in the schools needs to be addressed. The limited percentages of the 16-18 ages cohort receiving certified accreditation in CXC examinations does not augur well for the human development possibilities of the country. Given the increasing privatization within the country, the human capital must be equipped to meet the needs of the private sector. The marginalization of the males must be given priority attention within the education system.

The service trade within which Antigua and Barbuda is heavily involved is becoming increasingly technological and computerized. The education sector must therefore be able to match the changing needs of these sectors.

The Medical Benefits Scheme implemented in Antigua and Barbuda is a good example of a human resource development in health. However, the increasing nutritional problem of obesity among the population can severely limit the capacity of the population to perform adequately. Since this disease often starts from childhood, the school feeding Programme proposed by the Government, in conjunction with nutrition education, are positive steps towards building a healthy workforce.

Antigua and Barbuda’s heavy emphasis on tourism and offshore financial services can open the country to numerous drug-related problems. One way to minimize the effects of the drug trade on the youth of the country, especially the males, is to restructure the education system in order to keep the male student in school, and offer them alternatives to the get-rich quick schemes which tend to be appealing.

Advancement/Empowerment of Women

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda ratified the 1979 UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and, in 1980, established a Women's Desk. This was upgraded in 1988 to a Directorate of Women's Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister. Affiliated to the Directorate are approximately 60 non-Governmental organizations, many of which are church groups. An umbrella group, the Coordinating Council for Women, was established in 1975. Though its activities waned, it has been revived since the 1994 election. In 1991, Cabinet approved a National Policy for Women in Development. It proposed legal reforms for

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 27 maternity leave and for sexual offenses against women and measures to increase the participation of women in national decision making and to improve health and family life.

Status of Women

Women hold no formal positions of power within the Government (Table 9, p. 161). There is no female Minister of Government, although since the 1994 elections, 5 women were appointed to Parliament, including one as Speaker of the House, and 4 as senators. Only 2 women ran, unsuccessfully, as independent candidates in the 1994 election. Data as of 5 February 1998 shows that women hold 11.1% of the total seats in Parliament. In the legal system, 15 of the 23 lawyers in private practice are women. The police force is male dominated with women holding only 13.2 per cent of the posts.

Women constitute 45.5 per cent of total employed persons. They represent 60 per cent of the civil service work force, although men control the top posts in the service. Women are predominant in the service sectors, especially as sales assistants, clerks and in the hotel industry and, in the teaching service they outnumber men.

Women head nearly 50 per cent of households in Antigua and Barbuda (Table 10, p. 162). In the majority of cases the woman is solely responsible for the economic support of these households which are among the poorest. Marriage rates have traditionally been low throughout the life cycle and this, in turn, explain the low rates of divorce.

Under reporting makes an estimation of the extent of the problem of violence against women difficult to determine. Reported cases indicate a decline in rape and indecent assault from 36 cases in 1991 to 15 in 1993, though over the same period cases of battery against women increased from 35 to 62. An important advance in this regard is the drafting of the Sexual Offenses Bill, 1993. The legislation provides for in camera trials and other measures to protect the identity of the parties involved.

Law Reform

The laws of Antigua and Barbuda are relatively well advanced in terms of the protection of women. The Labour Code, 1975, does not, however, address the right to maternity leave, though this is provided for in civil service regulations.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 28 Population and Reproductive Health

The population of Antigua and Barbuda is relatively small with 66,000 in 1997. Overall density is low, although this varies from a high of 158.12 persons per square mile in the capital city to a low of 20 per square mile in Barbuda. Though population size is fairly stable, both fertility and mortality rates have increased in recent years. The crude birth rate rose from 14.1 in 1989 to 20.72 in 1998, this rate being above the average of between 14 and 15 for the decade of the 80's. The crude death rate in 1989 was 5.30 and the average for the 1980s was between 4 and 5. The 1998 figure was 6.61. The IMR at 14.5 in 1994, however, is a significant reduction from the rate of 34.7 in 1980, though the rate continues to fluctuate, falling to 14.5 in 1997. Antigua and Barbuda's aging population is indicated by the reduction in youth dependency in comparison with the increased proportion of the elderly.

Reproductive Health

In 1993/4, 184 births, representing 14.5 per cent of total births, were to mothers aged 19 and under (Table 12, p. 164). This represents a significant decline from the 1987 level of 23 per cent. The UNFPA Peer Counselling and Youth Health Services Project has been implemented. Knowledge of attitudes toward and levels of use of contraception in the female population are good, though there is some concern at the young age of initiation into sexual activity. Abortion is illegal and information on induced or spontaneous abortion is unavailable. Prenatal services are freely available at all Government clinics and at the private Adelin Clinic and coverage is estimated at 95 per cent. Trained medical personnel attend a high proportion of births and maternal mortality is very low, with only one case reported between 1991 and 1994. Of concern to women's general and reproductive health, is the high level of obesity, though much of this occurs in women past their childbearing years. A 1981 survey reported that 60 per cent of women over 40 were obese, compared with 25 per cent of men.

Governance

Antigua and Barbuda’s political system is based on the British traditions of democracy in which popular elections are regularly undertaken. Accordingly, general elections are constitutionally due every 5 years but may be held earlier at the discretion of the head of Government.

Universal adult suffrage was introduced in 1951 and is enshrined in the country’s constitution since its independence in 1981. Exercise of the franchise is restricted to nationals and British Commonwealth citizens’ 18 years and over who are resident in the country and have registered accordingly.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 29 There are 2 major parties participating in the political process namely, the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ALP) and the People's Liberation Movement (PLM). Of the 10 general elections held since 1951, the BLP has won 9. Although the country comprises of 2 islands, the system of Government is unitary.

One of the main obstacles to sustainable governance has been the series of accusations of corruption in Government and the rivalries between 1991-93 to succeed then Prime Minister Vere Bird, who was leader of the BLP for 30 years. A Constitutional Review Commission has been established to review the governance structures and systems, including the relationship between Antigua and Barbuda.

Legislative System

The legislative system consists of a bicameral Parliament that, subject to the provisions of the constitution, is the only law-making body. The lower chamber, The House of Representatives, is composed of 17 popularly elected members (including one representative for Barbuda) and is vested the authority to constitute the executive arm of Government. The upper chamber, The Senate, comprises 17 members of whom 11, including one from Barbuda, are appointed by the governing party, 4 by the opposition party, one by the Head of State and one by the Barbuda Council. The House of Representatives constitutionally holds legislative supremacy over the Senate since bills passed by the former may become law if the latter fails to endorse them.

The Barbuda Council is the only functional local Government authority for which provision is made in the Constitution. Local Government laws permits the establishment of Village Councils, but these are inactive as a result of suspension of operations by the Government.

The Executive System

The Governor General is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister and holds office at "the monarch's pleasure" with no fixed term of occupancy. The Prime Minister, normally the leader of the majority party in Parliament, is appointed by the Governor General. Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries drawn from elected members and the Senate are appointed by the Prime Minister and preside over the State's Executive functions. The Prime Minister determines the size of the Cabinet. Appointments to the civil service are made by a Services Commission, which theoretically exercises its functions independently of the political directorate. However, appointment to senior level posts involves the Prime Minister either by way of consultation or direct power of appointment. Decision-making is centralized with power ultimately vested in the Ministers of Cabinet and the Civil Servants have administrative responsibilities for implementing ministerial decisions.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 30 In the 1995 Budget presentation, Antigua and Barbuda outlined that the steps proposed for public sector reform were being implemented in phases and are in keeping with the recommendations of the CARICAD Report (1995). This includes programme budgeting which places emphasis on the accountability procedures being transparent. The proposed structuring of the line Ministries also make provision for decentralization of planning and management, and a results-oriented approach based on performance targets.

Judicial System

Antigua and Barbuda's Judicial System comprises the British Privy Council, a Court of Appeal, a High Court of Justice and the Magistrates Courts.

As is the case in all Commonwealth Caribbean Countries, the British Privy Council has been retained from the pre-independence period as the final Court of Appeal in all civil and criminal matters. Antigua and Barbuda shares a Supreme Court with the other five independent members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The Supreme Court is made up of a Court of Appeal and a High Court of Justice.

The Court of Appeal, comprising the Chief Justice and 3 Justices, decides on civil appeals from Magistrates courts, and both civil and criminal appeals from the High Court.

The High Court comprises 9 Puisne Judges, with 2 based in the country. Court is held before 1 Judge at least once a month in civil and criminal matters. Civil matters are heard without jury and criminal cases are tried by jury. Magistrates’ courts consist of a Chief Magistrate and up to 4 others as appointed. Their jurisdiction covers civil and criminal matters without jury.

Human Rights Policy

A declaration of individual rights and freedoms is entrenched in the Antigua and Barbuda Constitution. These rights include, life, personal liberty and security, freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly, privacy, freedom from unlawful search, freedom of movement, protection from discrimination, and protection for the criminally accused such as fair trial, trial by jury and the right to appeal.

Antigua and Barbuda is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 31 Legal Aid Services

Antigua and Barbuda does not have a formalized Legal Aid Service. Provision is made for legal representation in murder cases.

The Environment

The Historical, Conservation and Environment Commission (HCEC) was established in 1990 to advise the Government on environmental policy. The two most important concerns have been waste disposal and coastal zone management. They include the inadequate treatment of sewage package plants serving many of the islands hotels, methods of disposal for night soil, septic tank sludge and clinical hospital waste. To remedy this situation the Government has established the National Solid Waste Management Authority, as part of the wider OECS project, scheduled to start in 1997.

However, these efforts remain ineffectual, due too weak inter-agency collaboration, lack of enforcement of building codes and of a physical development plan to guide land use patterns. They have resulted in illegal sand mining, indiscriminate waste disposal and construction of buildings in areas which are prone to disasters or which may threaten the quality of the environment. A national physical development plan is being prepared with the assistance of UNDP. Government proposes to enact umbrella legislation and to grant a more formal role to the HCEC in the assessment of projects so as to ensure greater environmental conservation.

Conclusion

The high dependence on the tourism sector makes Antigua and Barbuda vulnerable to external shocks. Some degree of production diversification is needed. The Government also needs to bring its fiscal position under control in an effort to reduce the extent of foreign debt. While unemployment is relatively low, there is still some concern about the pockets of poverty existing in the country. While health conditions are reasonable, the problem of growing incidence of chronic diseases can put a strain on the limited health budget. In addition, problems of human resource development need to be addressed in order for the country to be competitive in the international environment. As in other OECS countries, the impact of economic activities on the physical environment needs to be monitored.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 32 SUMMARY ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

GOVERNMENT-STATED ISSUES PRIORITIES ASSESSMENT OF NEED(S) STRATEGIES

Macro-economic Declining Tourism growth leads to Emphasis on tourism and offshore Examine possibility for incentives to Inter-agency support for revival of declining economic growth financial services increase the contribution of economic growth to be initiative by agriculture and industry the Government Persistent balance of payments deficit

High levels of external debt

Privatization Improvements in fiscal savings to Wages and salaries restraint Monitor effects on labour force and Reorient training and in-service complement public sector reform examine the new skills required. training programmes to match Restrictions placed on Central projected labour force requirements. Government borrowing

Poverty Unemployment and under- Safety net programmes, school Poverty Assessment (by CDB) to Poverty eradication plan based on employment will increase levels of feeding; adult literacy. identify nature of poverty national consultations to be poverty coordinated by UNDP. Social investment fund to stimulate micro-enterprise job creation linked to skills training. Health Care Increasing cost of care; inability to Heath reform places emphasis on Establish the financial option for Strengthen the medical benefits sustain free public service decentralization, primary health care achieving efficiency and equity. scheme and expand it; making and user fees greater provision for the poor

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 33 Education Large numbers of untrained teachers Free primary and secondary Concentration on vocational and Skills training aimed at increasing education technical education appropriate human resource Children at Risk Accurate reporting on the situation Stricter enforcement of provisions of Education training and counselling Need for continuous monitoring of of children at risk and regulations the law to protect children at risk. services. the situation of children at risk to Status of Women Establish facilities for child care to Target assistance to safety net, Fifty per cent of female-headed relieve the household burdens and nutritional, SIF programmes to households mostly located in lower- increase opportunities for both female heads of households Governance Public sector reform Emphasis on programme budgeting Speeding up the implementation to Reorganization of ministerial assist with need; fiscal recovery structure to respond to challenges of Environment Waste disposal and coastal zone The management of solid waste Establishing and enforcing Improve inter-agency collaboration management (OECS national Solid Waste environmental codes for physical for developing and implementing the Management Authority) development and land use patterns National Environmental Plan. to sustain the quality of the environment. Pay attention to sewerage and sanitation within poorer Establishing social marketing communities. programmes aimed at educating and increasing awareness of environmental practices

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 34 BARBADOS: GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Overview

The economy of Barbados has been relatively well managed, particularly in the pre-1989 period, when growth of 3.2 per cent per annum was sustained between 1985- 1989. During this period, the country also experienced balance of payments and exchange rate stability. Overall economic stability contributed to manageable price levels over the period 1985-1989, with the 1986 inflation rate of 1.3 per cent at that point representing the lowest attained in over 19 years.

Economic decline from 1989 was mainly attributed to continued poor performance of the agriculture and manufacturing sectors and serious domestic and external imbalances. Recessionary conditions in the industrial countries and the Gulf War also contributed to this poor performance. In 1989 the balance of payments recorded an overall deficit of Bds$71.5 million, with continued deficits in 1990 and 1991. The general level of consumer prices also increased, with price increases in 1991 largely reflective of higher consumption tax rates, rising interest rates and higher user charges for public services as the Government moved to stabilize the economy.

Over the period 1990-1992, Barbados’ economy contracted by 4.3 per cent annually and despite the internal and external imbalances, Barbados maintained its fixed exchange rate regime of Bds$2 to US$1. The restoration of internal and external balances was sought through a mix of tight fiscal and monetary policies, together with modifications to existing commercial policies. These constituted the major thrust of macroeconomic management over the period 1990-1995. This was in an effort to reverse this economic decline, stabilize the key macroeconomic variables and achieve some measure of structural transformation of the productive sectors. These adjustment measures were initiated in October of 1991, with the support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) funded programme. The IMF facility included a Stand-By- Agreement of US$28.4 million and US$29.7 million from the Fund’s Compensatory and Contingency Financing Facility. The majority of the stabilization effort however, came from a massive curb on aggregate demand, resulting in a much-improved macroeconomic situation in the post-adjustment period.

Barbados returned to a positive growth path in 1993 following these structural adjustment measures. Real GDP grew by 1.5 per cent in 1993 accelerating to 3.9 per cent in 1994. This economic recovery was led by the manufacturing sector which achieved stronger than anticipated growth especially in the export markets in 1994 and 1995, averaging 7.35 per cent per annum for that two-year period. The food processing, beverages and chemical industries were the major contributors to the improved

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 35 performance. In 1995, drought-induced decline in sugar production and modest growth in tourism output were the factors most responsible for the slower growth rate of 2.9 per cent. The improved economic stability over the period 1992-1995 was also reflected in significant declines in inflation, to 1.9 per cent in 1995 and balance of payments surpluses between 1992-1995. (Table 1 shows the key economic features of the Barbadian economy).

Table 1 Key Economic Features of the Barbadian Economy, 1993-1998

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

GDP (constant 1974 prices, Bds $M) 803.9 834.6 858.9 893.9 917.4 961.8

Growth in real GDP (%) 1.5 3.8 2.9 4.1 2.5 4.8

GDP per capita (current prices, Bds$) 10,600 11,100 11900 12,800 13,500 14,700

Consumer Inflation (%) 1.1 0.7 1.9 2.4 7.7 -0.79

Unemployment Rate (%) 24.3 21.8 19.6 15.8 14.5 12.3

Merchandise exports (fob) (Bds $M) 375.1 379.5 463.9 582.9 666.9 499.4

Merchandise imports (c.i.f.) (Bds $M) 1029 1229.3 1541 1667.2 1994.1 2019.3

Trade balance -653.4 -458.6 -419.5 -368.2 -1327.7 -1519.9

Current account balance (Bds$M) 140.5 134.7 226.1 153.1 (0.8) (17.6)

Foreign public debt (Bds $M) 704.6 714.4 717.7 754.1 700.2 688.0

Overall Fiscal balance (Bds $M) -68.8 -36.4 -29.5 -128.5 -39.0 -39.5

Net International Reserves ($M) 245.7 412.0 436.9 598.7 642.5 568.1

Source: Barbados Economic and Social Report 1998, Central Bank of Barbados Annual Statistical Digest, 1998; Annual Report 1998.

The economy experienced growth of 4.8 per cent during 1998 for the fifth consecutive year. The economy was expected to grow by an estimated 2.2 per cent in 1999. This growth is compared to an average growth of 3.3 per cent for the period 1993- 1998. Despite this slowdown in expansion, the unemployment rate contracted by 10.6 per cent, being the lowest level in 2 decades. There was a decline in real GDP growth in

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 36 1999, mainly due to the mediocre performance of the traded sectors, which fell by an estimated 1.2 per cent during the period January-June. Output in sugar production expanded, but there were poor performances in the non-sugar agriculture and tourism. These fell by 7.6 per cent and 3.3 per cent respectively. Growth in the manufacturing sector was also slow for the first 6 months of 1999. However the non-traded sectors grew by an estimated 3.8 per cent, which was a little lower than the average growth rate of 3.9 per cent experienced over the period 1993-1998. Economic Review

Economic Structure of GDP

Gross Domestic Product at market prices grew in 1998 by an estimated 8.4 per cent to Bds$4,776.9 million. Total consumption expenditure grew at a rate of 7.2 per cent to an estimated $3,951.8 million. This growth was half the rate for the year 1997, when consumption expenditure increased by 15.1 per cent to $3,685.2 million. Government expenditure accounted for $974.6 million of the total consumption, up by 4.6 per cent, $43.1 million more than that for 1997. There was growth in personal expenditure by 8.1 per cent to $2,977.2 million in 1998 compared to $2,735.7 million for 1997. Gross capital formation rose by 12.8 per cent to $918.9 million in 1998 compared to a $104.1 increase in 1997.

Gross Domestic Product at factor cost amounted to $3,924.8 million for the year 1998, an increase of $306.2 million or 8.8 per cent more than that for 1997. The growth in nominal GDP is reflective of the buoyant activity in real terms and the continued growth of the economy over the period 1993-1998. The major contributors to this growth were the General Services (13.9 per cent); Finance Insurance and Business Services (13.2 per cent); Construction (13.0 per cent); Wholesale and Retail Trade (12.2 per cent) and Transport, Storage and Communication (12.1 per cent). (Table 2 shows the estimates of real GDP and Real Growth Rates).

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 37 Table 2 Estimates of Real GDP and Real Growth Rates, 1994-1998 (Base: 1974 = 100) 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 % % % % % $M change $M change $M change $M change $M change Sugar 22.2 6.2 16.6 -25.2 25.2 52.4 27.6 9.3 20.5 -25.7

Non-sugar Agriculture 31.1 -5.5 36.8 18.3 37.3 1.5 34.4 -7.6 33.3 -3.3

Tourism 129 9.6 130.3 1 132.5 1.7 135.1 2 143.9 6.5

Manufacturing 78.8 6.8 84.7 7.5 85.1 0.5 88.8 4.3 92 3.5

Electricity, Gas & Water 28.6 4 30.4 6.3 31 2 31.9 2.9 34.2 7.1 Construction 53.9 0.4 57.4 6.5 60.3 5.1 64.5 6.4 73.9 14.7

Wholesale & Retail Trade 159.7 5.1 164.9 3.3 174.1 5.6 182 4.5 193.9 6.5 Mining & Quarrying 6.9 9.5 7.4 7.2 7.4 0 7.4 0.3 9.7 30.6

Transport, Storage & Communications 67.9 2.9 70.1 3.2 72.5 3.4 75 4.1 78.2 4.2 Business & General Services 144.5 2.4 147.2 1.9 154.5 5 155.9 3 162 4 Government Services 112 0 113.1 1 114 0.8 114.8 0.5 116 1

GDP 834.6 3.8 858.9 2.9 893.9 4.1 917.4 2.5 961.8 4.8

Source: Barbados Economic and Social Report 1998

Per capita GDP was estimated at Bds$14,700 (US$7,350) in 1998, an increase of $1,100 or 8.2 per cent compared to an increase of $800 in 1997. This level of per capita GDP puts Barbados among the countries considered as upper middle income.

Construction

The construction sector grew by 14.7 per cent during 1998; this was almost twice the rate for the same period in 1997. The activity in this sector was mainly due to increased public sector works. Output increased by 40.1 per cent in quarrying and other construction-related sub-sectors.

Growth was experienced for the first 6 months of 1999 by 4.8 per cent however this was much lower than the 19.3 per cent growth experienced during the same period

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 38 in 1998. The slow increase was reflected in the shortage of skilled labor which caused the Government to delay the implementation of some of its capital works projects and the scaling down of some building and refurbishment aspects of their EDUTECH 2000 project. There was also increased activity in the airport redevelopment programme and the on-going refurbishment to Barbados’ hotel plant continued. The Vocational Training Board instituted a programme in order to address this skill shortage.

International Business Services

The number of International Business Companies (IBC) that were licensed to operate in Barbados during 1995 totalled 348 as compared to 315 for 1994. The total increase from 1,171 in 1993 to 1,834 in 1995 amounted to 56.6 per cent. In 1997 the number of licensed companies stood at 372 compared to 437 for 1996. At the end of 1997 there was a total of 2632 licenses issued.

The International Business and Financial Services sector in Barbados registered steady growth for 1998 and continued to make significant advances in promoting Barbados as a competitive low tax jurisdiction.

An estimated 329 new licenses for offshore companies were issued during the first 6 months of 1999. This number was 25 per cent less than the same period in 1998. One hundred and fifty-eight of these new licenses were for international business companies, 156 for foreign sales corporations and 15 for societies with restricted liability. There were 4 new offshore banks licensed, raising the number to 47.

Tourism

Barbados’ tourism sector remained buoyant during 1998 with visitor arrivals showing an increasing trend since 1992. At the end of 1998 the number of long-stay arrivals to Barbados increased by 8.5 per cent over the comparative period for 1997. The number of cruise ship passengers declined marginally, this was the first decline experienced since 1984.

Output in the tourism sector contracted by 3.3 per cent for the first 6 months of 1999. This contraction was in contrast to the average growth of 4.7 per cent experienced over the period 1993-1998. There was a marginal contraction of 0.4 per cent in long stay arrivals for the first 6 months of 1999, however, cruise ship passenger arrivals declined by 21.5 per cent. For the first 6 months of 1999, tourist arrivals from two of Barbados’ 4 main markets recorded declines of 4.7 per cent from USA and 4.3 per cent from Canada as compared with the corresponding period for 1998. This fall is somewhat faster than the average 0.4 per cent decline in tourist arrivals from the USA market, over the same period in the last 5 years and also in contrast with an average growth rate of 3.6 per cent in the Canadian market for the same period. Over the last 5-year period 1993-

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 39 1998, the market from the United Kingdom experienced an average growth rate of 17.5 per cent. It also expanded by 7.6 per cent for the year 1999. It should be noted that the slower growth of the UK market in early 1999 came on top of a sharp surge of 25.9 per cent in the UK market in 1998, mainly due to the influx of cricket fans during the English cricket tour.

Generally, the tourism sector, during 1999, was adversely affected by the closure of several major hotels for renovations, accompanied by increased competition. Long- stay arrivals from CARICOM countries grew by 13.6 per cent during 1999 in contrast to an average growth rate of 6.2 per cent experienced over 1993-1998. During the year 1998, a total of 506,610 cruise ship passengers visited Barbados. This was the result of visits made by 14 new ships, which called at the seaport. Arrivals recorded were 2.02 per cent less than 1997 and this was largely due to the loss of service of the “Monarch of the Seas”.

During the period January to June 1999, the number of cruise ship passenger arrivals fell, reflecting an increase in competition from both regional and extra-regional ports and the loss of service ships over the 6 month period January-June. These ships together usually bring approximately 5,200 persons to Barbados’ shores per week. The end of 1998 saw hotel performance indicators falling below those recorded for the same period in 1997. The average length of stay by visitors fell to 5.9 nights compared to that for 1997 of 6.2 nights. Hotel occupancy was recorded at 52.5 per cent, a noted decrease from that for 1997, which was 63.2 per cent. The hotel bed occupancy rate was 56.7 per cent for 1998 falling from 62.4 per cent compared to 1997 (See Table 3).

Table 3 Selected Indicators in the Tourism Industry 1990-1998

Tourism Total Average Hotel Bed Hotel Arrivals Output Expend. Length of Occupancy Room As a % ($M) Stay Rate (%) Occupancy Stay-over Cruise Of GDP (Nights) Rate (%) Visitors Passenger

1990 9.8 987 6.8 56.3 57.5 432092 362611 1991 5.8 919.5 6.9 48.2 50.5 394222 372140 1992 11.8 925 6.9 49.1 46.3 385472 399702 1993 13 1055.9 7 51.3 52.9 395979 428611 1994 14 1196 7.1 56.4 57.4 425630 459503 1995 14.5 1223.6 7.6 56.7 59.2 442107 484670 1996 13.9 1288.6 6.9 59.5 60.6 447083 509975 1997 13.8 1314.4 6.6 62.4 63.2 472290 517888 1998 12.3 1405.7 5.9 56.7 52.5 512397 506610 Source: Barbados Economic and Social Report 1998

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 40 Manufacturing

During 1998, for the second consecutive year, output in the manufacturing increased. Growth was estimated at 5.7 per cent for food, 9.5 per cent for beverage and tobacco, 27.6 per cent for non-metallic mineral products and 12.2 per cent for other manufacturing. Nevertheless, declines were recorded in 1998 in wearing apparel amounting to 26.7 per cent, wooden furniture 0.4 per cent, chemicals 11.2 per cent, petroleum products 89.2 per cent and electronic components 15.3 per cent.

Data available from the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) shows that during the year 1998, 19 small businesses were started with a total initial capital of Bds$403,400 and creating 43 jobs. This was significantly lower than that for 1997 where 43 small businesses were started up which generated 115 jobs and had an initial capital investment of $1.5 million. During 1993, 9 companies were granted approved enterprise status and 12 went into production with total investment of $9,209,000. This remained at 9 companies in 1994 decreasing to 4 in 1995. Over this 5 year period there was an estimated 208 companies established generating an estimated 26,930 jobs.

There were 11 foreign owned companies established in 1998, which generated $2.3 million in new investment and 59 new jobs. This figure was greater than that for 1997 when 9 foreign owned companies were established, creating 59 new jobs but only creating $700,000 of investments.

Assistance was offered to the Small Business and New Enterprise Division by the BIDC where 30 companies were established in 1998 as compared to 37 for 1997. For 1998, total investment reached $44.1 million as compared to $59.2 million for 1997. New enterprises accounted for $2.0 million this is compared to $5.7 million for the year 1997, while investments in expansions fell to $42.1 million in 1998 from $53.5 million in 1997.

Agriculture

Production in the sugar sector increased from 48,500 tons in 1993 to 53,200 tons in 1998. Over this 5-year period the production in this sub-sector fluctuated considerably with 64,600 tons in 1997 compared to 59,100 tons during 1996 and 38,800 tons and 50,700 tons in 1995 and 1994 respectively. An estimated 80 per cent of the total 53,200 tons of sugar produced in 1998 was produced in the second quarter as a result of delays to the start of the crop due to protracted wage negotiations and mechanical failures at 2 of the 3 sugar factories. There was approximately 618,520 hectares of canes, which were destroyed by fire in the first 6 months of 1999, almost doubling the 315,800 hectares burnt for the same period in 1998. Sugar output fell short

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 41 of the contractual requirements to EC countries, forcing Barbados to issue a formal statement to the European Commission, requesting to be excused from the fulfillment of its contractual obligations for 1999 due to protracted wage negotiations which led to the late start of harvesting.

For the year 1998, the fishing sector experienced an improvement in performance following a 24.9 per cent decline in 1997. During the first 6 months of 1999, however, activity in the non-sugar agriculture and fishing sectors fell by some 7.6 per cent. This decline reflected reductions in fish catches of 14.4 per cent, milk production of 9.5 per cent and a 1.1 per cent increase in chicken production. This decline in fish catches was mainly due to unfavorable weather conditions, which affected the migratory pattern of the popular fish. Output of milk was affected by drought conditions experienced in the island during the year. The marginal increase in chicken production was as a result of a decline in demand earlier in the year.

Employment, Unemployment and Inflation

The expansion in output experienced over the period 1993-1998 resulted in the decrease in unemployment to its lowest level in almost twenty years. The unemployment rate in 1993 was 24.3 per cent declining to 12.3 per cent for 1998. The rate was 10.6 per cent for the first 6 months of 1999 being 1.5 percentage points lower than that for 1998 and the lowest since 1981. The unemployment rate among females fell by 2.9 percentage points to 14.5 per cent. This was due to a decrease in the number of women in the labour force by 1.6 per cent in combination with an increase of 17.8 percentage in the number of women employed in wholesale and retail and general services category. The rate for males, however, remained unchanged at 7 per cent. The sectors which showed the greatest job expansion in 1999 when compared to 1998, were general services (26.1 percent) and construction (21.6 per cent). During 1998, the Government Sector was the largest employer with 24.5 thousand persons, 19.9 thousand persons found employment in the services sector. The Distributive Sector employed approximately 18.2 thousand persons whereas Tourism provided 13.8 thousand jobs. Employment in the Construction Sector increased significantly with 12.5 thousand persons employed in 1998. (Table 4 below shows the level of employment in Barbados by major industrial division).

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 42 Table 4 Employment by Major Industrial Division 1993-1998 (‘000)

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Sugar and Other Agriculture, Fishing 5.7 5.6 5.1 6.5 6.1 5.2

Construction & 7.1 8 8.8 8.9 10.2 12.5 Quarrying Manufacturing 10.7 10.8 11.7 10 10.7 10.7

Electricity, Gas 1.4 1 1 1.1 1.4 1.3 and Water Wholesale and 15.5 15.9 16.6 15 15.9 18.2 Retail Trade Tourism 9.6 11.1 11.9 12.3 12.3 13.8

Transport and 4.7 4.7 5.1 4.5 4.6 5.1 Communication Financial Services 5.7 7 7.6 8.6 8.1 7.5

General Services 19.2 19.3 19.3 22.6 21.1 19.9

Government Services 21 21.9 22.9 23.9 25.2 24.5

TOTAL ('000s) 100.5 106 109.9 114.3 116.1 119.6

Source: Barbados Economic and Social Report 1998

The general price level was fairly stable over the five-year period 1993-1998, especially during 1998 as the rate of inflation returned to the low levels experienced prior to the implementation of a VAT in 1997. The average annual inflation rate for 1999 stood at –0.2 per cent, this figure is considerably lower than that for 1998, which stood at 2.2 per cent. The point-to-point rate for the period 1998/99 was 0.4 per cent compared with –1.9 per cent for the period 1997/98. The major sources of the deflation experienced in 1999 have been the food and the fuel and light sub-groups whose prices fell by 2.3 per cent and 5.9 per cent respectively. These falling prices are as a result of cheaper world market prices for commodities and lower domestic fuel prices.

Trade and Payments

The balance-of-payments shows that Barbados’ external position weakened during 1998 following consecutive years of strong growth. A deficit was recorded on the current account of Bds$17.6 million, which was in contrast to a surplus of $0.8 million

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 43 in 1997. This deficit was as a result of a fall in domestic exports due to the decrease in sugar exports. In addition there was a drop in the price of sugar and a reduction in foreign exchange earnings from food and beverages. There was a strengthened balance of payments in 1999 as a result of an expansion of the capital account, which had an estimated surplus of $191.5 million for the year, as compared to a deficit of $4.8 million for the year 1998. The surplus was driven mainly by net long-term public sector capital inflows of $160.9 million compared to net outflows of $11.6 million in 1998. The majority of these funds were obtained from the regional capital market in 1999, with $35.4 million being attributed to project funds. Public sector amortization payments amounted to $24.5 million. There were also net private sector inflows of $24.7 million during 1999, compared to net inflows of $1.3 million for the previous year. The expansion of the capital account served to raise the Net International Reserves by approximately $221.1 million for 1999, the largest growth ever recorded.

The current account surplus declined to $65.6 million for the period January-June 1999, a reduction of 61.6 per cent over the year 1997. This was the lowest surplus recorded since the recession of 1991 and was mainly as a result of the fall in tourism receipts and an increase in retained imports.

There was a decline in the export of goods by 1.5 per cent during the first half of 1999. This was compared to the average growth of 8.3 per cent experienced over the period 1993-1998. Although there was high sugar production, receipts from sugar exports fell by 8.5 per cent in 1999, mainly due to unfavorable exchange rate movements between the Barbadian and European currencies. There were also decreases in export earnings from food and beverages of 14.1 per cent, and chemicals of 0.7 per cent. The electronics component sub-sector and other miscellaneous products recorded significant increases in export earnings of $4.4 million and $6.1 million respectively.

The growth in retained imports of 11.1 per cent for the first half of 1999 was the highest recorded in two years. Consumer (17.2 per cent) and capital goods (30.8 per cent) were the major categories responsible for this growth. Despite this, imports of immediate goods declined for the first time in four years by 7 per cent as a result of an estimated 75 per cent decrease in imports of fuels for refinement. Services earnings contracted by 2.3 per cent during the first half of 1999 due to a 1 per cent decrease in travel credits, the first since 1991 and an 8.1 per cent increase in investment debits. Due to a rise in foreign interest payments investment debits were higher, however, net earnings from transportation rose by 17.1 per cent as a result of higher demand for shipping activities.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 44 Social Review

Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods

Based on the head count index for the year 1996, 20.0 per cent of the population fell below the poverty line of Bds$5290 per annum. This makes Barbados one of the better-placed countries insofar as poverty reduction strategies are concerned. In the absence of systematic household surveys it is difficult to determine with any degree of certainty the nature and distribution of poverty in recent years. The Government of Barbados continued to fight against poverty in the year 1998 through its Poverty Alleviation Programme. This Programme was used to complement assistance measures being provided by the social services.

There is relatively adequate provision for the employed population to receive benefits through the National Insurance (Barbados is the only country in the Caribbean which has an unemployment insurance scheme) and contributory pension schemes. Public assistance for the poor, elderly and other deprived groups are also satisfactory. The Barbados Drug Service is one example of a long standing Programme that guarantees adequate medical protection to participants. The Government however has indicated in its current development plan 1996-2000, proposals for safety net programmes, among which are the intensification of school feeding, adult literacy, and partnership with the private sector and NGOs in upgrading educational, recreational and community oriented facilities.

Health Status

Health in Barbados is mainly the responsibility of the Ministry of Health. It acts with other agencies to safeguard the quality of healthcare in Barbados. The Government of Barbados focuses seriously on healthcare issues and has sought to promote the sector through its strategic approach. This is coupled with partnerships within the private sector and community organizations. Over the past 5 years 1993-1998, the Ministry of Health along with PAHO, non-governmental organizations, the media, health insurance companies and other stakeholders have worked together to consolidate health related activities which took place in Barbados.

The Government of Barbados initiated several national consultations (National Nutrition Committee, Chronic Disease Research Center), during 1998, in an attempt to meet the demands and expectation of the population. The Ministry has also introduced a new public sector/private sector Programmes for the Care of the Elderly. It has allocated Bds$2 million to support the Care of the Elderly in private nursing homes. There was also the enactment of legislation to ensure quality care for patients.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 45 The population of Barbados enjoys good health. The infant mortality rate (IMR) was considerably reduced from 13.2 per thousand births in 1997 to 7.8 in 1998 with life expectancy at 76.5 years of age for that same period. Infant and child health has much improved.

Comprehensive immunization coverage is provided for infants under 1 year of age with immunization against measles being 92 per cent as at 1997. For 1998, 1,712 children under 1 year old were fully immunized against DPT and 1,731 against polio, measles, mumps and rubella. Children under 2 years old immunized totaled 1,702. The general goal of these immunization programmes is to administer 100 per cent immunizations in accordance with the rules set out by the World Charter on Immunizations. A mass campaign was launched against measles, mumps and rubella for all adults aged 21-35 years old in an attempt to eliminate rubella and its complication of Congenial Rubella Syndrome.

At present communicable diseases are under control. However, in 1998, there was a continuation of the Dengue epidemic, with a total of 1,148 cases, 5 resulting in death. All four viral stereotypes had been confirmed during 1998. There was a continued survey by the Vector Control Programme, which sought to investigate the cause of the disease. A new initiative of Laboratory testing raised the level of confirmed suspected cases from 50 per cent to 60 per cent. It has also shortened the response time between diagnoses and intervention. There was a 36 per cent increase in house inspections during 1997. This was the result of revised Dengue Fever Prevention and Control Plans. The annual De-bushing Programme was also implemented. A new development was the introduction of billing to owners for services rendered by the Project. The Programme which lasted 12 weeks de-bushed 436 lots at a cost of Bds$506,333.34.

Health Care Provision

Health care in Barbados is primarily the responsibility of the public sector namely the Ministry of Health, although private care is also available. Government operates the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which is a large 547-bed facility that offers 24- hour acute, secondary, tertiary and emergency care. The hospital houses more than 90 per cent of the country’s acute care beds; clinical services include accident emergency and outpatient and inpatient care in surgery, medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, pathology, radiology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation therapy, ophthalmology, and ear, nose and throat. The hospital’s diagnostic equipment includes CAT scan and ultrasound and modern radiotherapy equipment. A cardiac catherization unit was established in 1993, and by the end of 1996 had performed 50 open-heart surgeries and 242 cardiac catherizations.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 46 There is also a network of 4 district hospitals for geriatric care, a main geriatric institution, a psychiatric hospital and a half-way house, 2 rehabilitation institutions for the physically and mentally handicapped, an AIDS hostel and a development center for disabled children and adolescents. The psychiatric hospital, which caters to Barbados mental health care, has 627 beds and offers several services. These include acute psychiatric care, including child and adolescent care; long-stay psycho-geriatric care; forensic psychiatric care; and addiction services. Community mental health services include a district nursing service that follows up persons who have been discharged from the hospital, and a primary community mental health programme offered from the polyclinics.

There are 8 polyclinics, which provide a wide range of preventive and curative services, as well as limited rehabilitative services. These polyclinics along with 4 satellite stations provide traditional public health services such as maternal and child health, family life development, communicable disease control, community mental health, chronic disease programmes; dental health, nutrition and general practice. Also covered in these services are environmental health, which includes food hygiene, mosquito and rodent control, building development control, atmospheric and chemical pollution monitoring and control, water quality monitoring and control, sewage disposal monitoring and control, solid waste disposal, the maintenance of cemeteries, and the licensing and control of stray dogs.

Population and Reproductive Health

The population growth rate of Barbados continued to be low during 1998 when the total resident population grew marginally to reach approximately 266.8 thousand persons, 700 persons more than 1997. The male population accounted for 48.1 per cent of the total population and females accounted for 51.9 per cent. Though population size is fairly stable, both fertility and mortality rates have increased in recent years. The crude birth rate fell from 16 in 1990 to 14.2 in 1998. The crude death rate in 1990 was 9 and the average for 1998 was 8.9. The IMR fell from 15.5 per 1000 in 1990 to 7.8 per 1000 in 1998 (Table 5, see next page). Under 5 mortality stood at 12 in 1990, significantly decreasing to 0.4 in 1997. Barbados’ aging population is indicated by the reduction in youth dependency in comparison with the increased proportion of the elderly.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 47 Table 5 Population, Birth Rates, Death and Infant Mortality, 1990-1998 Resident Birth Rate Death Rate Rate of Infant Rate of Population (Per 1000 (Per 1000 pop.) Natural Mortality Population at December 31 pop.) Increase (Per 1000 Growth (000's persons) (Per 1000 pop.) Births) (%) 1990 260.8 16.5 8.2 8 15.5 0.5 1991 262.5 16.2 8.7 7.5 15.3 0.4 1992 263.1 15.6 9 6.8 13.8 0.2 1993 263.9 14.3 9.1 5.2 9.8 0.3 1994 264.3 13.4 8.9 4.5 8.5 0.2 1995 264.4 13.1 9.4 3.7 13.2 0.4 1996 264.6 13.3 9.1 4.2 14.2 0.1 1997 266.1 14.3 8.7 5.6 13.2 0.6 1998 266.8 13.6 9.3 4.3 7.8 0.4

Source: Barbados Economic and Social Review 1998

Maternal and Child Health

The maternal and child health programme targets mother, children and adolescents. It was enhanced during the year 1998 by health education strategies, which were delivered through breast-feeding clubs, special adolescent health clinics and parenting programmes held in Polyclinics.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has continued to deliver care to all other pregnant women referred by 30-36/40 weeks. The average number of visits per pregnancy decreased from 9 in 1997 to 3 in 1998. New antenatal attendance was on the increase for 1998, 1,906 out of a total of 5,621 attendances. The polyclinics had 1,788 postnatal visits.

The health prospects of babies and young children have improved markedly in recent years. Children under 5 years are targeted in order to ensure that their growth, development and nutrition are monitored with routine immunizations being carried out. The number of newborn babies fell to 2,708 from 2,841 in 1997. Total child health visits amounted to 38,052 being slightly down from the total in 1997. Greater effort must however be placed on postnatal care to improve the initiative to maintain breast- feeding. The IMR is low at 14.9 per cent and the impact of widespread immunization programmes is reflected in the complete eradication of most serious childhood diseases. Cases of hospitalization among children were mainly due to bronchial asthma, gastroenteritis and neonatal jaundice, though levels were low. The nutritional status of children has improved with only little mild to moderate cases, but no severe cases of

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 48 nutritional deficiencies has been recorded in the 1990s. However, overweight and obesity are increasing among children and are attributed to an increased consumption of “junk food” and a lack of physical exercise. To deal with the problem, the Government is giving priority to nutritional education programmes for parents and children.

Education

The education system in Barbados provides a wide range of educational opportunities from pre-primary to the university level. Public education is free at the point of delivery and compulsory for children, therefore providing for 100 per cent participation at the primary and secondary levels. In addition, a number of programmes are provided to ensure active participation by all students. These programmes include: the provision of school meals at the primary level; a text book loan scheme; transport assistance; a uniform grant and bursaries at the secondary level; and a wide range of awards, grants, exhibitions and scholarships at the tertiary level. At the base of these support systems is the premise that every person has the right to educational opportunities to allow him/her to develop his/her abilities to the fullest and to contribute to the social and economic development of the economy.

In Barbados, compulsory education spans the ages of 5-16. The present education system is structured into four tiers: pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary. In 1996/97, free public education was provided for approximately 48,000 students in the first three tiers of the system, and about 7,800 students in the fourth tier. During 1997/98 approximately 53,000 students were enrolled in the first to third tier, while 9300 students benefited from tertiary education. (See Table 6 and 7).

Table 6 Number of Students in the Public School System School Type Male Female TOTAL

1996/97 1997/98 1996/97 1997/98 1996/97 1997/98

Pre-Primary 2598 2439 2586 2409 5184 4848

Primary 10638 13801 10318 13186 20956 26987

Secondary 10599 10459 10788 10830 21387 21289

TOTAL 23835 26699 23692 26425 47527 53124

Source: Pamphlet; Each One Matters; Quality Education For All Complied by The Ministry of Education, July 1998

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 49 Early childhood education remains restricted, with 40 per cent enrollment of children aged 2-4. Most pre-schools are private and fee-paying and do not therefore cater to children from the lower income brackets. However, a National Education Plan formulated in 1995-96 established the requirements for more effective and equitable early childhood care and education programmes.

Pre-Primary education saw approximately 5,200 pupils between the ages of 3 and 4 during 1996/97 and approximately 4,900 in 1997/98. This level of education is offered in approximately 80 schools around the island.

The Primary education level catered to approximately 21,000 children during 1996/97 and 27,000 during 1997/98 in 84 public primary schools for those aged between 5-11 years. Nevertheless, with the advent of a policy of flexible transfer from primary to secondary school, pupils may begin secondary school from age 9+ and remain in primary school until age 12. During 1997/98 the teacher: pupil ratio at the primary level was 1:9 while at the secondary level it was 1:17. Special education is provided at 2 special schools and 4 units attached to primary schools. Approximately 270 students received education at these facilities during 1996/97 and 1997/98.

Secondary education is offered to students between the ages of 9+ and 18 in Forms 1 to Upper 6. An estimated 21,400 students were enrolled in 23 public secondary schools during the 1995/96, 1996/97 and 1997/98 academic years. Of these 23 schools, 4 are Sixth Form Schools where students are prepared for Advanced Level studies. One of the 23 schools offers an alternative curriculum catering to special needs students.

Tertiary education was offered to an estimated 7,800 students at four public institutions during the period 1996/97 and 9,300 during 1997/98. These 4 institutions are namely: Barbados Community College; Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic; Erdiston Teachers’ College and the University of the West Indies. (See Table 7)

Table 7 Distribution of Enrollment at the Tertiary Level

Institution Enrollment 1996/97 1997/98 Barbados Community College 2329 3784 Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic 2157 1842 Erdiston College 148 176 UWI, Cave Hill 3223 3568 TOTAL 7857 9370 Source: Pamphlet; Each One Matters; Quality Education For All Complied by The Ministry of Education, July 1998

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 50 The education budget for 1998/99 was estimated at Bds$301.5 million, approximately 7.6 per cent higher than that of 1997/98. Secondary schools received $101.9 million or 33.8 per cent of the Ministry’s allocation; tertiary institutions received $69.0 million or $20 million more than that for 1998. Thirty per cent of this budget went to Basic Education Development. After falling in 1997/98, expenditure on direction and policy formulation services rose by $0.8 million to $8.2 million. Special Services received an estimated $23.0 million while Teacher Training received $2.8 million and Adult Education received $6.0 million (See Table 8).

Table 8 Ministry of Education Actual Expenditure by Programme Name of Head Actual Expenditure ($) % of MEC Budget 1996/97 1997/98 1996/97 1997/98

Central Admin 15019076 15019076 5.5 5.5

Teacher Training 2199748 2199748 0.8 0.8

Basic Education Development 71161576 71161576 26.1 26.1

Secondary Education 90728652 90728652 33.26 33.26

Tertiary Education 56054685 56054685 20.55 20.55

Adult Education 4969548 4969548 1.82 1.82

Special Services 20682516 20682516 7.58 7.58

Culture 11988013 11988013 4.39 4.39

TOTAL 272803814 272803814 100 100

Source: Pamphlet; Each One Matters; Quality Education For All Complied by The Ministry of Education, July 1998

A recent development within the education system in Barbados is the implementation of the EDUTECH 2000 programme. The primary objective of this programme is to increase the number of Barbadians contributing to sustainable, social and economic growth and development of the country, by the turn of the new century. Edutech 2000 seeks to invest, prepare and equip Barbadians to participate optimally in the global market place, by increasing the efficacy of the teaching/learning processes. The programme includes teacher training; repairs and refurbishment of deteriorating school plants and institutional strengthening. The Edutech 2000 programme will utilize what is known as a child-centered approach to learning. This approach is based on an

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 51 underlying constructivist philosophy, which proposes that students construct their own learning, acting more often as pilots, rather than passengers, on the journey of learning.

The project which is estimated to cost approximately US$194.4 million, with the IDB providing US$85 million, the CDB providing US$31.5 million and the Government providing the remainder, is expected to be executed over a seven year period with 15 schools involved during the first phase.

Child Rights and Development

Children at Risk

Few children in Barbados live in absolute poverty, and in cases where parental care is unavailable, extended family members - especially grandparents continue to fill the void. Institutional care is available for children at risk. The Government Industrial School provides for boys aged 9-18 years of age, who are either in need of care and protection or who have committed a criminal offence and are too young for imprisonment. Mixing age groups in the same institution, however, is problematic as the older ones often influence the younger, less delinquent boys. Summervale, the institution for girls provides short-stay accommodation for delinquent and problem girls aged 12-18 years of age. Several children’s homes around the island accommodate younger children, who have been neglected, abandoned or abused. A serious problem for these homes is the lack of resources, particularly trained staff who can provide counselling for their charges.

There is also the Edna Nicholls Center, which was established in 1997/98 in order to assist students in the secondary school system who have been suspended or expelled. This rehabilitation programme was designed to cater to the needs of individual students in order to facilitate their re-integration into the general education system. Staff is currently undergoing training to equip them with the skills to help students.

The Compulsory Education Act stipulates age 16 as the minimum age for employment in Barbados and child labor is largely non-existent. Children are used to help out in family businesses, but this occurs mainly after school and during the vacations. There is no evidence of street children or child prostitution.

There is an obvious need for research and accurate reporting on the situation of children at risk, especially in terms of child abuse and drug use among juveniles. A stricter enforcement of the provisions of the law in the protection of children and special arrangements and facilities for juvenile offenders are also important. Education and training in counselling and increased levels of community awareness are required to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 52 Child Protection

Barbados ratified the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in October 1993. Little has been done since then in terms of legal reform to bring the laws of the country in line with the Convention. Existing legislation includes the Births and Deaths (Registration) Act, 34/86 which requires notice of births within 30 days and the Status of Children Act, 36/86 which gives a child born out of wedlock the right to have the father's name registered. However, there is no provision by law for childcare for the children of working parents.

Human Resource Development

The 20/20 compact for social development, developed by the United Nations is a very important element of human resource development. Focussing on social development and the human development priorities of the poor, adherence to the compact acts as a guarantee that the poorest of the poor are being catered for in Government planning. The compact comprises of (i) total Government expenditure as a percentage of GNP, (ii) Government expenditure on the social sectors as a percentage of total Government expenditure, and (iii) the percentage of Government social expenditure that is spent in human development priorities (UNICEF 1998, p.27).

Human resource development must take into account the most vulnerable groups in society, especially when these persons fall within the economically active cohort, and can contribute to the development of the society. Addressing the needs of these groups within the 20/20 compact would go a long way towards utilizing all available human resources.

The service trade within which Barbados is heavily involved in becoming increasingly technological and computerized. The education sector must therefore be able to match the changing needs of these sectors as is seen with the introduction of the Edutech programme in several schools.

There are several tertiary level organizations in Barbados which seek to prepare the citizens to reach their full potential, through education and training, so that they make a worthwhile contribution to the economic, social and cultural development of the nation. The Barbados Vocational Board, formerly the National Training Board provides modular skills and apprenticeship training, the Barbados Youth Service of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Affairs provides character building and life skills training. The Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) seeks to develop trade skills and occupational competencies up to the level of skilled craftsmen. The SJPP has as its focus a delivery system aimed at aiding the economy, keeping pace with perceived manpower needs, maintaining technological relevance and promoting self-employment. The Barbados Community College is an institution designed to improve the facilities

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 53 available to the community for training in a wide range of skills at the technical para- professional, middle management and pre-university levels. Among the private sector institutions is the Barbados Institute of Management Productivity (BIMAP) which provides management and supervisory training for the public and private sectors.

The increasing problem of obesity among the population can severely limit the capacity of the population to perform adequately. Since this disease often starts from childhood, the School Meals Programme operated by the Government, in conjunction with nutrition education, are positive steps towards building a healthy workforce.

Barbados’ heavy emphasis on tourism and offshore financial services can open the country to numerous drug-related problems. One way to minimize the effects of the drug trade on the youth of the country, especially the males, is to restructure the education system in order to keep the male student in school, and offer them alternatives to the “get-rich quick” schemes which tend to be appealing.

Advancement/Empowerment of Women

Status of Women

The Government of Barbados ratified the 1979 UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), establishing a Women's Desk in 1980. At present the Bureau of Women’s Affairs has planned to extend its operations to Gender Affairs. The number of women in Barbados who have achieved high positions in the public and private sectors has increased over the years. However, they are few relative to the number of women employed. The majority of Barbadian women still work in low-paying jobs or for moderate wages.

Of the 309 doctors listed with the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 109 are female. Women hold formal positions of power within the Government. There are 3 women in the Lower House, 2 of whom are Ministers of Government, one being the Deputy Prime Minister and the other the Minister of Education. Four women hold executive positions in the Bar Association: Vice President, Treasurer, Hon. Secretary and Assistant Secretary. There are 4 female Magistrates of Justices, 5 female Permanent Secretaries and a female Governor of the Barbados Central Bank. The police force is male dominated with women holding only 13.2 per cent of the posts.

Women constituted 48.40 per cent of the labor force in 1998 as compared to 48.6 per cent for the year 1997. Women are predominant in the service sectors, especially as sales assistants, clerks and in the hotel industry and, in the teaching service they outnumber men.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 54 Violence against women

Under reporting makes an estimation of the extent of the problem of violence against women difficult to determine. Reported cases indicate an increase in rape and indecent assault from 81 in 1997 to 92 cases in 1998.

Law Reform

The laws of Barbados are relatively well advanced in terms of the protection of women. The Maternity Leave Act addresses the right to maternity leave, and it is provided for in civil service regulations.

Drugs and Crime

Drugs

Amidst the backdrop of a problematic, economic and social situation where large minorities of young people find no salaried employment, drug use has become rampant with marijuana becoming the drug of choice to deal with the difficult situations. Marijuana has mainly been used since it is thought to subjectively help in coping with stress and problems, and because it relaxes. Marijuana has become a part of the public life in several communities where it is being smoked openly as individuals “lime on the block” while attending parties. School children also have their first encounter with drugs through smoking marijuana, it is often mixed with alcohol and in some areas the so- called “blackies”, marijuana joints laced with cocaine, have become the popular things.

Marijuana is mainly popular among teenagers and young adults since it is easily accessible. Its use, however, is strongly rooted in the Rastafarian religion where it is seen as a sacred tool. According to community activists and programmers, marijuana seems to be the most problematic drug, as it is leading to indifference and inactivity in the community. There is a need to cope with the problem through the provision of training of marketable skills or by the provision of alternatives to just “liming on the block” or hanging out and smoking. In order for any improvements to materialize, resources must be made available and responsibilities set out. These will include the transfer of police resources to allow community policing, which has proven to be quite effective over the years.

Along with marijuana, cocaine and alcohol abuse are seen as the biggest problems in the communities around Barbados. Cocaine, however, seems to be more prevalent in and around the City of Bridgetown, and suburban areas. Increased drug use has seen an increase in illegal activity such as violence, especially gang violence and property crimes. There has also been increased gun use and drug-related homicides.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 55 Crime

During the year 1998, Barbados witnessed a reduction in the number of recorded crimes to 10,097 from 10,203 witnessed in 1997. This represented the sixth consecutive year of decline from the recorded high of 13,047 during 1993. Although there was an overall decline in criminal offenses, the incidences of serious crimes increased. The crux of this problem appeared to be the increased sales of drugs. After falling by 7.7 per cent in 1995 to a low of 745, the number of drug crimes gradually rose by 31.4 per cent in 1996, 4.5 per cent in 1997 and 5.6 per cent in 1998.

The number of murder cases in Barbados increased to 20 in 1998 as compared to 11 during 1997. There was an increase in cases of serious bodily harm to 258. The number of rape cases increased from 81 in 1997 to 92 in 1998. With the exception of burglary of dwelling houses, which saw a decline by 261 to 1668 in 1998, burglary in general (in three other categories) increased. Cases of aggravated robbery increased from 14 in 1997 to 68 in 1998 while at the same time, burglary of buildings and other burglaries increased from 751 to 764 respectively. Crimes related to theft fell generally during 1998 as compared to that of 1997. Nevertheless, the incidence of criminal deception/fraud increased by 166 cases to a total of 233 in 1998. Cases involving juveniles were 102 in 1998 as compared to 95 in 1997. This represents the fourth consecutive year of increases from a low of 37 in 1995.

Governance

Barbados’ political system is based on the British traditions of democracy in which popular elections are regularly undertaken. Accordingly, general elections are constitutionally due every 5 years but may be held earlier at the discretion of the head of Government.

Universal adult suffrage was introduced in 1951 and is enshrined in the country's constitution since its independence in 1966. Exercise of the franchise is restricted to nationals and British Commonwealth citizens 18 years and over who are resident in the country and have registered accordingly.

There are two major parties participating in the political process namely, the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and the Democratic Labour Party (DLP). There is also a minor party, the National Democratic Party (NDP).

Legislative System

The legislative system consists of a bicameral Parliament that, subject to the provisions of the constitution, is the only law-making body. The lower chamber, the

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 56 House of Representatives, is composed of 28 popularly elected members and is vested the authority to constitute the executive arm of Government. The Senate's 21 members are appointed by the Governor General - 12 with the advice of the Prime Minister, two with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, and 7 at the Governor General's discretion.

The House of Representatives constitutionally holds legislative supremacy over the Senate since some bills passed by the former may become law if the latter fails to endorse them.

The Executive System

The Governor-General is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister and holds office at "the monarch's pleasure" with no fixed term of occupancy. The Prime Minister, normally the leader of the majority party in Parliament, is appointed by the Governor General. Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries drawn from elected members and the Senate are appointed by the Prime Minister and preside over the State's Executive functions. The Prime Minister determines the size of the Cabinet. Appointments to the civil service are made by a Public Services Commission, which theoretically exercises its functions independently of the political directorate. However, appointment to senior level posts involves the Prime Minister, either by way of consultation or direct power of appointment. Decision-making is centralized with power ultimately vested in the Ministers of Government with the civil servants having administrative responsibilities for the implementation of ministerial decisions.

Judicial System

Barbados’ Judicial System comprises the British Privy Council, a Court of Appeal, a High Court of Justice and the Magistrates Courts. The Court of Appeal, comprising the Chief Justice and three Justices, decides on civil appeals from Magistrates courts, and both civil and criminal appeals from the High Court.

Barbados has an independent judiciary composed of magistrate courts, which are statutorily authorized, and a Supreme Court, which is constitutionally mandated. The Supreme Court consists of the high court and the court of appeals, each with 4 judges. The Chief Justice serves on both the high court and the court of appeals. The court of last resort is the Judicial Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council in London, whose decisions are binding on all parties, Barbados has however, agreed to establish a Caribbean Court of Justice. Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister after consultation with the leader of the Opposition.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 57 Civil matters are heard without jury while a jury tries criminal cases. Magistrates’ courts consist of a Chief Magistrate and up to 4 others are appointed. Their jurisdiction covers civil and criminal matters without jury.

Human Rights Policy

A declaration of individual rights and freedoms is entrenched in the Barbados Constitution. These rights include, life, personal liberty and security, freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly, privacy, freedom from unlawful search, freedom of movement, protection from discrimination, and protection for the criminally accused such as fair trial, trial by jury and the right to appeal. Barbados is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

The Environment

Presently, Barbados is faced with specific environmental issues, which need immediate and effective attention. These issues include the following as key priority:

· Coastal zone degradation; · Inadequate land disposal of solid waste; · Uncontrolled management of toxic and agricultural chemicals; · Marine pollution; · Destruction of natural forests; · Lack of environmentally sound planning; · Fragmentation of institutional responsibility; and · Lack of environmental awareness.

To some extent the priorities of Barbados are also reflected in the major investment projects currently being undertaken, some of these are already completed. These include:

· The West Coast Sewage Project; · The South Coast Sewage Project; · Solid Waste Management Plan; · The Coastal Zone Management Plan and Coastal Conservation Project; · The Coastal Conservation institutional strengthening; and · Agricultural diversification.

On careful analysis of policies in Barbados, it can be seen that the majority of environmental issues overlap between different economic sectors. Consequently, the

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 58 required legislation or legal framework is fragmented between the various sectors in the economy. There are three main bodies in Barbados, which are responsible for ensuring that safe and effective environmental practices are carried out. They are namely: the EED, SWSPU and the CZMU.

The Environmental Engineering Division (EED)

The Division is the environmental control, regulation and enforcement body of the Ministry of Health and the Environment. Its main aim is to promote sustainable environmental practices, within the context of a rapidly developing society, with the view to enabling future generations to inherit a healthy, productive and enjoyable environment. The general function of the Division may be adequately described as one of deliverance of preventative health care.

In the face of unsightly and odoriferous dumping grounds, stagnant streams, smoke filled skies and continuous deafening noise, societies generally manage to ignore the impact of the environment. This ignorance will end when they begin to become aware of the negative effects that a polluted environment can have on their own health and well being, be it aesthetic, cultural or economic. Bearing this in mind, the EED, soon to be renamed the Environmental Protection Unit, seeks to protect the populous of Barbados from the threat that a polluted environment poses through the development and implementation of specific programmes.

The Solid Waste and Sewage Project Unit (SWSPU)

This unit, under the Ministry of Health, has the responsibility for the management design and execution of solid waste projects in Barbados. Emphasis is currently being placed on internationally funded projects on solid and liquid waste disposal. The Unit collects and disseminates information on liquid and solid waste generation, collection methods and treatment methods. The main issues related to solid waste and sewage management in Barbados are: waste water generation, solid waste generation and disposal, ground water quality, waste water collection, treatment and disposal. The solid waste sector utilizes economic instruments (e.g. environmental levy, subsidies, tipping fees, etc.) accompanied with some pieces of legislation.

The Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU)

This is the primary agency overseeing the management of Barbados’ coastlines. The Unit was established in 1983 being conceived as a specialized governmental unit specifically concerned with issues related to coastal erosion and the application of management strategies to deal with this threat. The long-term objective of the CZMU is to design and implement an effective, comprehensive Coastal Zone Management Plan for the island, ensuring that the coast retains its vital and pivotal role in the economic,

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 59 social and physical development of Barbados. The Unit carries out routine monitoring and analysis of oceanographic conditions around the island. This is done in addition to hydrographic surveys, GIS data management, and water quality monitoring among other functions. The CZMU also assists in the evaluation of all coastal related development planning applications submitted to the Town and Country Planning Division.

The Government of Barbados, namely the Ministry of the Environment works feverishly in conjunction with several governmental bodies, research institutions and non-governmental organization (NGOs) around the Caribbean in order to tackle their environmental concerns. The primary institutions are namely: Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA), University of the West Indies: Departments of Biology, Engineering, Geology and Zoology, Marine Resources and Environmental Management Programmes (MAREMP), among others. Barbados also benefits from donor activity, which take the form of environmental programmes and projects. This donor activity mainly comes from the United Nations through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). There are also several multilateral development institutions, which offer assistance; these are the World Bank, the Caribbean Development bank (CDB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). These institutions provide both technical assistance and project financing for projects held in Barbados.

Conclusion

The high dependence on the tourism sector makes Barbados vulnerable to external shocks. Some degree of production diversification has been seen over the years. The Government also experienced a favorable fiscal position in recent years in an effort to reduce the extent of foreign debt. While unemployment is relatively low, there is still some concern about the pockets of poverty existing in the country. While health conditions are reasonable, the problem of growing incidence of chronic diseases can put a strain on the limited health budget. In addition, problems of human resource development need to be addressed in order for the country to be competitive in the international environment. As in other Caribbean countries, the impact of economic activities on the physical environment needs to be monitored.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 60 DOMINICA: GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

:

Introduction

The pace of economic activity within Dominica has strengthened during 1998 where real GDP was estimated to have increased by 3.5 per cent as compared to an expansion of 2.0 per cent in 1997. This growth is largely as a consequence of increased activity in the services sector and a strong performance in manufacturing. The decline in banana production resulted in a contraction in the agricultural sector whereas activity in the construction sector fell below the level of the previous year.

Sectoral performance and contributions to real GDP varied during the 1997-1998 period. The manufacturing sector showed strength in 1998 as compared to 1997 where the value-added increased by 21.1 per cent which was above the 2.5 per cent rate recorded for 1997. This value-added resulted from an expansion of soap production by 18.8 per cent to 14,779 tonnes as this industry regained its market share. Additionally, activity in the manufacturing sector was stimulated by the production of dental cream. This production commenced in 1997 and output of the production amounted to 1,662 tonnes in 1998 alone. The remainder of the manufacturing sector saw output of beverages increasing by 20.9 per cent to 221,339 cases. Output of cardboard boxes expanded by 14.4 per cent to 4.3 million cartons as a result of the increases in soap and beverage production.

The services sector saw an expansion of 4.9 per cent in value-added for electricity and water services, partly due to increased activity in the manufacturing sector. The other services in Dominica also recorded growth such as a 3.1 per cent growth for transportation, the banks and insurance sector grew by 5.5 per cent as compared with a 4.2 per cent decline in 1997. Government services increased by 4.9 per cent, 2.0 percentage points above the rate for 1997.

The Balance-of-Payments estimates for 1998 show that activity in the external sector strengthened in 1998 partly due to improvements in the current account. The current account deficit decreased to EC$76.5 million in 1998 from $99.8 million in 1997. The contraction in the current account deficit of Dominica has contributed to a significant increase in the overall balance where a surplus was recognized. The surplus in 1997 of $5.0 million increased to $9.0 million in 1998.

Reported donor assistance between 1990-96 was in the range EC$8 million - $10 million. In 1995, the largest allocation ($5.38 million or 63 per cent) went to social development programmes. The emphasis since 1993 has shifted toward capital projects, especially in health and education through concessional loans estimated at $5.78 million

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 61 or 67 per cent. The estimated UN assistance is $1.2 million with approximately half being provided through the UNDP. The CDB is a major donor with $6.5 million undisbursed allocations for 1996-97, while USAID has no investments in the current period.

Dominica's external debt situation continues to be problematic with increases from US$53.2 million in 1986 to US$93.8 million in 1994. As a percentage of GDP, the debt has remained steadily in the range between 47.6 per cent and 45.1 per cent. The debt service ratio declined from 9.1 per cent to 7.4 per cent over the period. Although the debt service ratio has been decreasing gradually over time as the country has been contracting external debt on high concessional terms and receiving grant financing from bilateral and multilateral donors, the total debt is still about half of the GDP. According to the Government of Dominica Report (1994) on the Status of Women, with the advent of Structural Adjustment and Government’s commitment to stabilization policies there has been a decline in real income for the most vulnerable groups - women, children and the elderly, and the cost of goods has risen steadily. The improvement in this indicator however masks the build up of arrears, which has taken place as a result of the difficulties in meeting current obligations. This is a cause of concern particularly in the context of the current fiscal stringency and the need for adequate export growth rates.

Agriculture

Agriculture is the dominant sector in terms of exports, employment and output. In 1998, this sector, which is the largest contributor to GDP, declined by 1.2 per cent as compared with the contraction of 1.5 per cent in the previous year. This contraction has mainly been due to a 16.6 per cent decrease in banana production to 29,114 tonnes which is representative of 20.2 per cent of the total output for the banana producing countries of the Caribbean. This figure is less than the 25.4 per cent realized in 1997. During 1998, banana output was affected by drought in the first half of the year. Also during that year, some farmers ceased production of bananas as a consequence of increasing production costs and stricter quality standards set by the UK supermarket chains and the uncertainty as a result of the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling. Agriculture’s share of GDP has continually deceased since 1990. In 1994, the sector’s share was 22.4 per cent, by 1995, 20.2 per cent and by 1996, 19.8 per cent. In 1997 it rose to 20 per cent of GDP, but declined slightly in 1998 to 19.1 per cent.

The rural communities of Dominica are largely agrarian in nature with a dis- proportionately higher dependence on agriculture for employment, income, food, shelter, fuel and medicine. It is estimated that 60 per cent of the population of Dominica live in rural areas. The urban poor also have a higher dependence on agriculture as a source of low-cost food and energy (charcoal).

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 62 Non-banana agriculture rose by an estimated 2 per cent in contrast to a 4 per cent contraction in 1995. In 1996, farmers benefited from a farm productivity programme, financed by 1994 European Union Lomé STABEX resources, aimed at increasing production, productivity and quality control.

The future of this industry remains uncertain with the prospects of the removal of preferential trading agreements with the United Kingdom by 2002. The main concerns of the Dominican Government are the impacts and implications of trade liberalization on the economy with the establishment of the new trade regimes by the WTO. Of particular concern is the ruling against the CAP/European Union Lomé Convention preferential trade arrangements on bananas, which the ACP countries (including Dominica) currently enjoy.

Livestock production has risen in recent years in spite of the competition from bananas for grazing land. The system has shifted from an extensive to an intensive one for all types of stock including sheep, goat and dairy cattle. Pig production has made very significant strides.

There is considerable scope for the development of fisheries of Dominica as a strategy for import substitution and replacement, and contribution to the income, employment and nutrition of the Dominican population. Fish production has increased in recent years due to investments in improved fish landing sites, fishing gear and technology, training and greater access to credit. Japan is a major donor in the enhancement of the fisheries sector and has built a modern fisheries complex in Roseau.

Related problems facing the industry are low productivity and profitability, vulnerability to natural hazards, and not being competitive in the international marketplace. The implications are serious at both the macro- and micro- levels. At the macro level, the impact on economic growth, employment and exports is significant. At the micro level, the livelihood of a considerable number of marginal farmers is being threatened. The policy of the Government of Dominica is focused on the revitalization of the banana industry, transforming it into an efficient and competitive sector and at the same time accelerating the implementation of the agricultural diversification programme. Government's strategy for addressing these issues includes assistance for improved crop cultivation and diversification as well as agro-processing. It involves an intensive agricultural extension programme geared toward reorienting and upgrading the skills in the sector and improving its productivity and competitiveness.

Industry

Dominica's industrial base is dominated by the processing of coconut products, which account for about 70 per cent of sector output and 30 per cent of merchandise exports. Annual real growth in the sector averaged 7.4 per cent in the 1986-90 period,

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 63 but declined to a mere 0.7 per cent in 1991-94 due to competition from both regional and extra-regional sources. The industrial sector, however, accounted for 21 per cent of GDP in the year 1997. Related to industrial performance is the role of the private sector. Indications are that there has been an appreciable build up in private sector investment projected at 32 per cent higher in 1994 than 1993. Gross capital formation increased from $183.2 million in 1990 to $204.0 million in 1998 at current prices. Yet sectoral activity in Dominica is the least vibrant among the OECS economies. There is scope for improvement. As with the agriculture sector, problems of production costs, productivity, and competitiveness need to be resolved if the performance in manufacturing is to be improved and the desired expansion achieved. Critical elements in the Government's response to issues of competitiveness in the global market and sectoral expansion are human resource development and an incentive framework to attract foreign and domestic investment.

Services

The services sector is essentially tourism. Value-added in this sub-sector has grown by 2.5 per cent in 1998 as compared to an increase of 2.0 per cent in 1997. Total visitor arrivals, mainly from the Caribbean remained relatively stable at 2.3 per cent and stay-over visitors amounted to 65,501 which represented 7.8 per cent of the total stay over visitors to the ECCB region, excluding Montserrat (no data was available). Those from the UK market increased by 3.1 per cent in 1998 from an increase of 17.0 per cent in 1997. Contractions in visitors of 2.0 per cent from the USA and 8.5 per cent in visitors from other countries were more than offset by increases in arrivals from the UK and the Caribbean region. The number of cruise ship arrivals grew by 4.5 per cent to 240,905 in 1998. This was well below the 19.2 per cent rate of increase in 1997. Total visitor arrivals rose by 2.8 per cent to 307,853.

A major obstacle to tourism in Dominica is the lack of adequate port (air and sea) facilities and limited road development. In addition to the above limitations, traditional sun and sea tourism in Dominica is limited by the poor state of the hotel industry and the lack of numerous white sandy-beaches. However, Dominica has a distinct advantage over the other OECS countries in the provision of nature-tourism (Eco-tourism). The undeveloped interior of the island added to its many natural water resources like rivers and waterfalls offers the nature tourist adequate activities.

The Government's strategy to boost the services sector includes the incentives to attract foreign investment, the recent establishment of a cruise ship pier and provision of air route services by a U.S. carrier. The Government has introduced fibre-optics technology that should facilitate activity in the informatics sub-sector.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 64 Other Areas

Economic Infrastructure

Government recognizes the need to provide an economic infrastructure to support development of the productive sectors. The road network in the island, for example, needs expanding, but the extensive mountainous terrain limits it. Adding to the problem of limited road network, is the prevalence of landslides and mudslides in the island, which can block roads for several days. However, because of a weak financial base, efforts in this area are restricted to the establishment of cruise ship facilities and road construction/rehabilitation. This situation has been aggravated by the spate of natural disasters in 1995. Three storms, Iris, Luis and Marilyn, caused damage to the port and major and secondary roads, severely damaged many dwellings, especially in poorer communities, and destroyed crops. The overall damage, not including utilities, was estimated at EC$175 million.

Trade

Dominica's trade deficit was estimated at US$73.8 million or 34 per cent of nominal GDP for the 1994-95 period and is projected to increase to US$99.5 million or 31 per cent by the year 2000. These continuing trade deficits point to slow growth of exports in relation to imports. The implications are negative impacts on debt service capacity, Government's revenues, and its ability to carry out programmes. Given the heavy reliance on imports to sustain consumption and production, it is critical that Dominica implements strategies to promote the expansion of exports in order to sustain economic development and to improve the standard of living. Government's concerns are to increase competitiveness, encourage private sector development and increase access to international markets. Like the other countries in the OECS, Dominica recognizes the need for strengthening the process of integration in view of its small market size and dominant global trends toward the integration of markets.

Privatization

In its attempt to rationalize the public sector, the Government has sold, or is in the process of selling several public sector enterprises. It has restructured and sold shares in Dominica Banana Marketing Corporation (DBMC), sold all remaining shares in Dominica Electric Company (DOMLEC) and has privatized the Port Authority and reviewed the options for privatizing Dominica Water and Sewage Company Limited (DOWASCO).

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 65 Dominica's privatization programme includes the review of tax exemptions and monopolies. It proposes to grant flexibility to public enterprises in price setting, to take advantage of market forces. In order to increase competitiveness, the Government proposes to guarantee loans and in some cases (such as the Port Authority, DAIDB, DBMC, DEXIA, NCB and DSS), exemption from taxes.

Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods

There have been considerable improvements in living conditions in Dominica measured in terms of access to water, sanitation, electricity, health, education and other social amenities over the past decade. However, there is still need for greater improvement in these areas. Poverty and the vulnerability of certain groups have intensified, creating urgency for public policy. Existing data (1994) show that 6 per cent of households were in receipt of public assistance, 12 per cent of households were indigent, and 27 per cent of households were below the poverty line and unable to meet their basic needs. The British Development Division in the Caribbean (1995) did a Poverty Assessment study for Dominica, based on qualitative information. It identified the major groups of the poor and indigent, namely:

· Urban squatters: the unemployed, among which are those with skills.

· The landless which comprised a third of all households (in the rural community of Dubic, for example) whose incomes were below the poverty line and whose children are most affected by malnutrition, absenteeism from school, and other forms of abuse and deprivation.

· The fishing villages most affected by seasonal poverty.

· The larger farmers who are also being impoverished, since even the most efficient banana producers suffered a 40 per cent reduction in gross income over a two-year period 1994/1995. The effects on the economy are being more generally felt due to reductions in the work force resulting from the economic downturn.

· Small farmers are more severely affected, and are being forced to move out of the cash economy into subsistence farming.

· The indigenous population living in Carib territory is among the poorest, stemming from a long history of neglect, loss of culture and generally low status.

The poverty assessment study estimated that 27.6 per cent of households live in poverty in 1994 (Bonnerjea and Weir, 1995). The study showed that the parish of St.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 66 David, where the indigenous Carib populations live, had the highest proportion of households below the poverty line. Using overcrowding (2 or more persons per room in a household) as another proxy indicator of poverty, the data show that more than half of the population and over 15,000 children in Dominica in 1991 were living under disadvantageous conditions which represented a breeding ground for the spread of diseases. This exposed children to serious risks of being sexually or otherwise abused.

The poverty assessment study indicated that the major determinants of poverty and vulnerability in Dominica were:

I. single parent families combined with an underdeveloped informal sector;

II. old age combined with a very limited safety net and an increasingly transnational family structure;

III. a social security system which offers little security;

IV. lack of marketing for crops other than bananas;

V. Insufficient non-agricultural employment opportunities.

The overall dependence of the economy on the banana industry, which in 1993/94 accounted for 54 per cent of domestic exports, is at the root of the escalating poverty trends. The industry has been restructured in response to the downturn in fortunes and prospects. In order to increase competitiveness within the industry, the banana growers have been divided into those who produce over/under 30 metric tonnes (Mt). Those producing above 30 Mt, approximately 30 per cent of the growers, receive well-developed extension services with fertilizers, sprayers and other forms of assistance from the Dominican Banana Marketing Cooperation. The others, who make up the majority of growers, no longer receive these subsidies. Consequently restructuring of the industry at least in the short run is adversely affecting small farmers with implications for unemployment and poverty among a previously vibrant sub-sector of the economy.

The indigenous Carib population of Dominica is considered to the poorest of the poor, and thus deserves specific attention as an extremely vulnerable group. This group of people needs programmes specifically targeting their unique culture. The allocation of land to this group of people, though beneficial to securing them shelter, does retard their social and economic development. First, the location of the Carib community is geographically cut-off from adequate social services and utilities, including water, schools, and health facilities. Second, the community is isolated from the central business district, necessitating lengthy travel for the few who work or who go to school outside the community. The lack of regular and affordable transportation adversely

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 67 impacts on those working outside the community. With the above disadvantages, the poverty situation of the Carib population seems likely to continue since they are lacking some of the basic requirements for human resource development. The Carib population is also poor because of the erosion of their culture and language.

The authorities acknowledge the existence of the problem and are committed to addressing them. A two-pronged strategy is being adopted. In the first place various safety nets will continue to be maintained and promoted for the poorest of the poor. Government will continue its public assistance and will encourage NGO, donor and extended family support. The second element consists of broader schemes directed at reducing poverty in general.

The general principle guiding the latter is that the focus should be on increasing the productivity of the poor, through greater access to resources - land and other inputs such as credit, and improved technology through training and technical assistance. Government had signed an EC$16.8 million Rural Enterprise Development Project with the objective of increasing agricultural production and income generating activities among rural poor in the worst affected areas of Dominica. Government proposes to continue its self-help and basic needs project activities and to continue its low cost housing and social programmes targeting improvement of work attitudes, adult education, non-formal youth skills and assistance to single women with children in difficult circumstances.

Sectoral Issues

Health

One possible programme area that may be considered for Dominica, within the context of the OECS, is a well-structured social investment fund aimed at stimulating micro-enterprises. Combined with skills training, this should contribute toward poverty reduction.

The health profile of Dominica has shown marked improvements in recent years as reflected in high life expectancy at 77.3 years and a relatively low IMR at 17 per cent. Immunization programmes and access to sanitation (84 per cent in 1998) have been major contributory factors. Ninety-nine per cent of 1-year-old children were immunized against measles in 1998. Dominica has recorded no cases of diphtheria, polio or neonatal tetanus in the last 10 years. Typhoid is increasingly under control with only 10 cases reported in 1991. Only sporadic cases of dengue have occurred and measles is virtually eliminated. Among the young adult population the leading causes of death are accidents (97 per cent of the victims were male) and cancer. From as early as the mid-30s age group, cardiovascular disease is the main health problem, followed by hypertensive disease and diabetes. These, in addition to blindness mainly due to chronic glaucoma,

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 68 are the main illnesses affecting the elderly. The rate of AIDS/HIV is among the lowest for the Caribbean, though an increase in the proportion of female victims is evident.

Health Care

Dominicans have benefited from an extensive Government health policy, which in 1994 included a sizeable proportion of expenditure for infrastructure and special attention to the implementation of health reform programmes aimed at combining efficiency and equity in health care. A comprehensive health sector reform programme involves decentralization into seven Health districts. Each District has a community- based, preventive Primary Health Care (PHC) programme located in a series of 44 clinics. The clinics provide a range of services for maternity, family planning, childcare, dental and mental health, nutrition and communicable diseases. Patients are referred to the two district hospitals or the Princess Margaret Hospital in Roseau for secondary health care. However, the availability of hospital beds and physicians per head of the population is relatively low (Table 6, p. 158). Levels of public satisfaction are reasonably high although there is also a demand for private care. For example, an estimated 25 per cent of diabetic patients seek private care.

There is an indication that the reform process will need to pay attention to the public/private mix and to ensure that the public sector does not subsidize private practice in public institutions, as is the case in some other countries in the region.

Government is actively engaged in refurbishing and expanding hospital services at the same time as policies are implemented to decentralize health care by directing patients to clinics as a first resort. Additional measures include improved procedures for hospital admission, the rationalization of drug and medical supplies, staff training, public education and the encouragement of community support in health care. Government is also proposing to increase the cost effectiveness of health programmes and has implemented mandatory, prepaid user-fees. The overall effect on the health of the community has not become fully evident. Dominica also benefits from the OECS bulk drug purchasing service, though drugs continue to be sold privately.

Dominica's approach to health reform and its implementation of decentralized services have been cited as a "model" in the Caribbean. It offers good prospects for combining equity in access to health care with financial sustainability.

Child Health

The health profile of the children of Dominica is reasonably good, due mainly to the high immunization coverage and the consequent elimination of many of the more serious childhood diseases (as indicated the IMR is low). Among children under age 5, acute respiratory infection is rare, although the incidence of asthma is reported to be

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 69 increasing. Rates of gastroenteritis, though low, continue to fluctuate. A disturbing sign, however, is the increase in protein-energy malnutrition and, among older children, increasing evidence of obesity. Among the Caribs, who comprise approximately 2 per cent of the total population, childhood health is significantly worse with higher recorded rates of hookworm and tuberculosis.

Education

In Dominica, education receives 15.3 per cent of Government recurrent expenditure (Table 7, p. 159). However, the pattern of expenditure on secondary schools reveals that, while the average expenditure per student was around EC$1,440 in 1992/93, Governments most prestigious and urban secondary school, the Dominica Grammar School, received more than EC$2,000 per student, while the Grand Bay Secondary School, located in a rural, depressed area of extremely high unemployment, received only EC$814 per student. The only other secondary school where expenditure per student was below EC$1,000 was the Goodwill Secondary School which, although located in the city, serves mainly the economically and socially depressed sections of Roseau North and Roseau Central. Even the private Assisted Secondary Schools, which receive only partial financing from Government, enjoyed a greater share of Governments expenditure on education per student than did the two secondary schools serving some of the most depressed areas in the country. The Government has taken primary responsibility for provision at primary and secondary levels. Of the total enrollment at primary level, more than 78 per cent of pupils are in the 54 public schools and 18 per cent in the 5 private schools, all of which are Government assisted, leaving less than 4 per cent in the 5 fully private primary institutions. Among the 14 secondary schools, 5 are public and account for 54.2 per cent of enrollment, while the remaining nine are Government assisted. Tertiary education is provided at the Clifton Dupigny Community College which specializes in technical and vocational training, the Dominica Teachers' Training College, established in 1973 and providing in-service courses for primary school teachers, and the School of Nursing, which offers courses in basic and general nursing. All tertiary level institutions are being brought under one umbrella for greater efficiency.

Basic educational problems facing the Government of Dominica stem from the fact that, for the clear majority of the population, English is not the first language and, until recently, was taught as a second language in primary schools. Accurate estimates of literacy are notoriously difficult to obtain as levels are often overstated. The estimate provided in Table 7 differs from the results of a detailed National Literacy Survey conducted in 1993. The survey reported that 18.0 per cent of the population was illiterate and a further 19.4 per cent functionally illiterate, leaving 64.2 per cent of the population classified as literate. The Government has identified tackling illiteracy as a priority - in 1997 the literacy rate was increased to 82 per cent. In primary schools, a Reading Task Force, within a specialized programme entitled Project Read, has been

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 70 appointed to address the problem and in secondary schools a remedial programme has been established. The Adult Education Division of the Ministry of Communication, Development and Social Affairs is also targeting illiteracy as a major component of its programmes to provide basic education and parenting skills.

At the beginning of the decade, the proportion of trained teachers was very low. Policies for teacher training have improved the situation, though in 1995, 50.3 per cent of teachers at primary level remained untrained and levels of training at secondary school were alarmingly low, with only 17.7 per cent of teachers classified as trained graduates or non-graduates with professional training. Particularly at secondary school level, the problem is compounded by reports of unprofessional attitudes and a high turnover rate among teaching staff. Satisfactory pupil-teacher ratios have, however, been achieved (Table 7, p. 159). The training of school principals is planned in conjunction with the UWI Certificate in Management and Supervision and the OECS Basic Education Reform Strategy.

Government's educational programme also includes the improvement of access to secondary education, the upgrading of facilities at primary schools (some of which lack sanitation, electricity, libraries and telephones), the provision of a daily meal in primary schools, the extension of the school day from the present 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and the proposed appointment of guidance counsellors in secondary schools. Family Life Education has been introduced with the appointment of one trained teacher at each primary and secondary school. Family Life Education with emphasis on parenting skills, is also an integral part of the Adult Education Programme. Special provision has been made for pupils with disabilities such as sight and hearing impairments and, in conjunction with the NGO project, Operation Earthquake, a home has been established for neglected children. The Government is also examining legislation with a view to updating educational regulations. With this range of pressing problems, Government has been unable to devote the necessary resources to pre-school education. This level of education therefore remains in private hands and is unaffordable and inaccessible for the majority. This deficiency has direct adverse implications for poor households, especially those that are headed by single females.

Child Education

Educational provision in Dominica is reasonably good. In terms of the performance of school children, there is room for much improvement and recent evidence shows that girls are out-performing the boys. The gender bias has been linked to the predominance of female teachers, 62.8 per cent in 1994/95. Boys are no longer motivated to remain within the education system, as there is no guarantee that scholastic achievement will increase their chances of gainful employment and survival. They have been increasingly involving themselves in illicit “ get rich quick” activities such as the trading in drugs as evidenced by the increase in juvenile crime and the continuation of

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 71 male dominated prisons. At the end of December 1994, the prison population of Dominica stood at 597 males and only 8 females. At CXC English A, the poor results are to some extent a reflection of English as a second Language for the majority of the population. Less than one-third of the children entered for Mathematics passed at Grades 1 or 11 (Table 8, p. 160). At secondary school, drop out rates are low, estimated at 3.9 per cent in 1994/95, but repeaters, at a rate of 9.2 per cent in 1994/95, are a problem.

Multi-Sectoral Issues

Child Rights and Development

Children and Families at Risk

A growing number of cases of child abuse exist across the Eastern Caribbean, and new entries of children into institutions resulting from cases of incest and abandonment have also increased. In Dominica, the total number of reported cases of child abuse increased by 250 per cent between 1989 and 1991. Whether this trend reveals an increase in the incidence of child abuse, or whether awareness has been further heightened through reporting and media involvement is not fully known, because the extent of child abuse is extremely difficult to quantify, due to the lack of accurate records. The stepping up of reporting has nonetheless unmasked a more realistic picture of the situation, but there are now problems of exactly what action is suitable on behalf of abused, neglected and deprived children. Incidents of child abandonment and neglect, however, are not systematically reported, though only three cases of abandonment were identified for 1994. Government policy includes a Child Abuse Prevention Programme, which has preventive and rehabilitative functions. Workshops have been conducted to educate the public and counselling has been provided for victims. In addition, an NGO- operated home for children at risk has been established. Alternatively, foster care and adoption has been arranged by the social welfare department for younger children in particular. In general, however, there is a lack of trained counsellors to deal with the problem, particularly within the schools. Since indications are that the majority of children at risk are located in poorer households, greater targeting of this effort is anticipated.

There are no records on the levels of disability among children in Dominica. The NGO-operated Alpha Center caters to the mentally ill and Government has made provisions for the visually and hearing impaired.

There is no separate juvenile justice system in Dominica. No legal aid is available and young offenders attend the same courts as adults. There is no specialized family court and the conditions in the magistrates’ courts are such that anonymity cannot be preserved. In addition, with only 3 magistrates functioning and insufficient court hearings scheduled, there is a long backlog of cases. Reported cases of juvenile

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 72 delinquency increased markedly from 884 in 1989 to 1580 in 1993. Most cases involve young males and virtually all (72.3 per cent in 1993) were cases of burglary.

Law defines 12 years as the age of criminal responsibility. A range of punishments for young offenders includes "whipping" for male offenders, with the stipulation that boys of under 14 years of age should receive no more than 12 strokes of the tamarind rod. A small NGO-operated home provides care for some younger boys in trouble, but the older male delinquents are sent to the prison. The prison population totals 217 persons, 14 per cent of who are under age 18. Juvenile delinquents are therefore kept in the company of hardened criminals.

The absence of children from school to labour on "banana days" is no longer a problem in Dominica. However, a few children are seen helping their parents in the informal sector, particularly as vendors in tourist areas. There is no evidence of child prostitution or street children in contemporary Dominica.

Although no statistics on the extent of drug abuse among the youth of Dominica are available, there is an increase in the number of young male patients with drug abuse problems at the psychiatric and main hospitals. There are reports of teenage boys selling drugs for an income and evidence that the drug problem has infiltrated the schools. The National Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, an instrument of the Drug Act of 1988, was set up to monitor and deal with the increasing problem of drug abuse with particular attention devoted to children and young adults. Sharing of techniques for promoting behavioral change and preventive techniques with other countries is being suggested as an expedient device. A small NGO programme is in operation and receives a Government subvention. There is need for better records and an articulated policy on childhood disability in Dominica.

Child Protection

Dominica signed the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in March 1991. Although no legal reform on the status of children has been enacted since then, there are several existing laws, which protect children. The Children and Young Persons Act, 17/70, provides for the general care and protection of children and the subsequent Children and Young Persons Welfare Act, 21/72, addresses the specific needs of the "delinquent and maladjusted child and young person". The Dominica Security Act, 1975, stipulates the payment of a child allowance and the Maintenance Act, 1982, requires parents and guardians to provide reasonable maintenance for children under 15 years of age or up to 18 if they are still in full time education. However, the amount stipulated is minimal, only EC$50 per week. The Education Act includes a clause concerning compulsory education between the ages of 5 and 15 years.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 73 In 1994, the National Plan of Action for Children was established, its main function being to bring the law in line with other aspects of the CRC, including the provision of pre-school education. Recommendations have been made for updating child abuse legislation and a new Sexual Offenses Act is being drafted.

Human Resource Development

Human resource development is a major challenge for Dominica. The areas of educational achievement, illiteracy, skills training, health education, technology development, and adequate allocation of social sector expenditure are some of the key areas to be addressed if human resource development is to improve. Within the framework of a programme of human resource development, the vulnerable groups in society, especially those in or soon to be in the economically active population need to receive special attention. In addition, a policy for human resource development should coincide with a policy for poverty reduction.

In the area of education, there are steps being taken to improve, the educational system, for example, through Dominica’s inclusion in the OECS Basic Education Reform Project. The secondary school system needs revamping to ensure equal opportunities for all the school-age population. The current location of secondary schools needs to be more equitable in terms of rural and urban location and poor and non-poor areas. Similarly, the provisions of funding and facilities to the different schools must be more equitable. Teacher training is an important element of revamping the education system. This is especially needed if the quality of education is to improve. The imbalances in the education system, which are currently operating against males, need to be corrected. Such an initiative has implications not only for the educational sector, but for the society as a whole since it could mean boys staying in school instead of dropping out to take part in “get rich quick” activities, which may be related to the sale of illegal drugs. The Government of Dominica has attempted to deal with the issue of drug abuse in the country by establishing the National Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, as part of the Drug Act of 1988. A Drug Education Programme was established under the Ministry of Education and subsequently, the Drug Prevention Unit was established in April 1997.

An illiterate population, especially in an era when not just functional literacy but computer technology literacy is vital, seriously impedes the development of a country. The increasing demise of the banana industry in the Windward Islands will result in a restructuring of the agricultural sector. Alternatives in agricultural diversification and agro-processing will invariably involve aspects of machine and technology use, which the agricultural sector must be able to operate.

The increasing incidence of AIDS/HIV in women and children is a cause of concern. If this trend continues, not only will it reduce the population of human capital

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 74 needed for development, but it will also invariably exert financial demands on the Government, which may cause a redirection of social sector spending. The challenge to the Government therefore is to limit the effects of this disease in the population, for example by a mass campaign of family life and sex education programmes.

Human resource development in all its spheres needs adequate expenditure. The United Nations has developed a 20/20 compact detailing the necessary ratios of government expenditure to be spent on social development. Dominica’s public expenditure ratio is in excess of the recommended 25 percent of GDP. However, the allocation to the social sectors is less than that recommended by the compact. Despite the shortfall in the allocation to the social sectors, Dominica provides the recommended allocation to social priorities. Unfortunately, it fails to reach the amount necessary for human development priorities (see Table 13, p. 165). Given Dominica’s relative state of undevelopment compared with the other OECS countries, especially in terms of industrial and infrastructural development to attract private sector led growth, priority must be given to developing a human resource base upon which the island can develop.

Advancement/Empowerment of Women

The Government of Dominica ratified the 1979 UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and, in 1980, established a Women's Bureau. Subsequent staff expansion added a Programme Officer and secretary to the post of Director. However, Governmental funding continues to be inadequate and the programmes of the Bureau rely heavily on funding from international agencies. The Dominica National Council of Women (DNCW), an NGO umbrella organization with more than 50 affiliated groups launched in 1986, has worked closely with the Women's Bureau in a programme of training sessions and workshops to prepare women for increased participation in national development. Collaborative income- generating projects have been organized with non-Governmental organizations, in particular the Small Projects Assistance Team (SPAT), Dominik Save and the Dominica Hucksters Association. In addition, in 1994 the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica Report on the Status of Women was prepared. The document called for the measures to increase women's rights, for the removal of all forms of discrimination against women and specifically proposed legal reforms in terms of marriage, divorce and property.

Status of women

In Dame Eugenia Charles, Dominica has had the first and only female Prime Minister in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Since her retirement, the representation of women in Government has continued to be reasonably good (Table 9, p. 161). In 1995, there were 5 female members of the House of Assembly. The Speaker of the House and 1 senator are also women. There has also been some increase in female candidates for

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 75 election, though they remain a minority. In 1990, there were 8 women in a field of 63 candidates. In the civil service, 55 (31.6 per cent) of 174 top posts are held by women and 50 per cent of diplomatic posts at the level of Consul and above are occupied by women.

The female labour participation rate in 1991 was 45 per cent, compared with a 75 per cent male rate. The unemployment rate for women is high, estimated at 55.5 per cent, considerably higher than the 29.1 per cent figure for men. The majority of employed women are to be found in areas traditionally associated with women's work, especially the clerical, sales and service sectors. The teaching service, in particular, is female dominated. However, in 1991, women owned 50 per cent of businesses and firms. In addition, women accounted for 54.4 per cent of employment in the administration and management sectors and 50.8 per cent in the professional and technical sectors.

In Dominica one-third of all households are female headed. This constitutes a relatively low proportion and correlates with higher marriage and lower divorce rates when compared with neighboring Caribbean countries (Table 10, p. 162).

Violence against women

There is an absence of systematic research and accurate statistics concerning violence against women. What evidence exists suggests that the problem is increasing. In response, the Women's Bureau and the DNCW have initiated a public awareness campaign through panel discussions, radio programmes and a newsletter. A survey conducted by the DNCW in 1991 revealed, however, that violence against women, ranging from physical abuse, to rape and molestation is a problem and reports of such violence are on the increase. Fifteen per cent revealed that a family member had been physically beaten or assaulted by a male, 6.3 per cent were sexually assaulted by either a father, brother, uncle, friend, stranger or employer.

Law Reform

The DNCW has organized public sessions campaigning for changes in the legal status of women. In particular, calls have been made for the reform of the Law of Succession to protect the inheritance rights of wives, including common law wives. In 1989, Dominica abolished the distinction between the male and female minimum wage.

Population and Reproductive Health

Population size and density in Dominica are low and declining. Between 1981 and 1987, a negative population growth rate of -0.37 was experienced. This represents approximately 261 persons per year and is attributed mainly to migration. Nevertheless,

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 76 both birth and death rates have been declining in recent years, the birth rate to 17.7 per cent in 1997 and death rate to 6.8 per cent in the same period. The age composition of the population suggests a shift from youth to old-age dependency.

Reproductive Health

The adolescent proportion of total births in Dominica continues to fall. Between 1993 and 1994, teenage births declined from 16.5 to 12.9 per cent of the total. Teenage pregnancies are attributed to early sexual initiation and careless attitudes rather than a lack of contraceptive knowledge. A 1990 survey among women found that the median age of first intercourse of all women aged 15-44 is 15.7 years. This means that one half of all women aged 15-44 had sex before they were 16 years. Of concern too, is the fact that the age of first pregnancies is getting lower, indicating earlier sex initiation. By 1991, an estimated 85 per cent of pregnant women received prenatal care, virtually all births were attended by trained medical personnel and the maternal mortality rate was very low (Table 12, p. 163). Between 1987 and 1994, only 1 case was reported. However, high levels of obesity among women continue to threaten reproductive health. It should be noted that this obesity in adults starts from childhood. Dominica recorded a constant increase in obesity in the 0-5 age group which doubled in less than a decade.

Governance

The system of Government is based on popular elections, constitutionally due every 5 years. Universal adult suffrage was introduced in 1951 and is enshrined in the country's constitution since its independence in 1978. Exercise of the franchise is restricted to nationals and British Commonwealth citizens 18 years and over who are resident in the country and have registered accordingly. There are 3 major parties participating in the political process. Eleven general elections have been held since 1951, and over the last 8, the current governing party has won 5 and one of the opposition parties 3. The latest election is to be held at the end of January 2000.

Legislative System

The Legislative System of the Commonwealth of Dominica, the sole law-making authority, is unicameral with Parliament subject to the provisions of the constitution. It is composed of 21 elected members and 9 Senators, 5 of whom are appointed by the governing party and 4 by the opposition. The authority to constitute the executive arm of Government resides in the elected membership.

A local Government system, established in the late nineteenth century, comprises three municipal councils, one Carib Council, and 34 Village councils. Each Village Council has 8 members, of whom 5 are elected and 3 are nominated by the Government for a period of 3 years. One of the recommendations of the British Development

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 77 Division Caribbean (BDDC) is that there is need for greater transparency in project selection process. Village councils should be linked more directly with communities and thereby increase the participation of the poor in designing projects that more specifically meet their needs.

The Executive System

The Commonwealth of Dominica adopted a republican form of Government in 1989. The Executive System consists of the President who is Head of State, the Cabinet of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister and the Civil Service. Executive Authority is formally vested in the President but, with a few exceptions, must be exercised in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The President is selected by the Parliament for a term of 5 years with a limitation of 2 terms. The Prime Minister who commands the support of a majority of elected members, is appointed by the President as the person

Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries drawn from elected members and Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister and preside over the State's Executive functions. The size of the Cabinet is determined by the Prime Minister. Appointments to the civil service are made by a Services Commission, which theoretically exercises its functions independently of the political directorate. However, appointment to senior level posts involves the Prime Minister either by way of consultation or direct power of appointment. Decision-making is centralized, with power ultimately vested in the Ministers of Cabinet and Civil Servants perform administrative functions in the process.

The Government has proposed a series of activities intent on strengthening the planning process to facilitate more timely submission of sectoral plans and their incorporation into a national plan. The Government’s commitment to more efficient implementation is hampered by the lack of expertise in all line ministries. Hence training in project and resource management, the introduction of a calendar-based planning cycle and management information systems are needed to standardise communication links among ministries. These features of public sector reform are aimed at improving efficiency and management capabilities and project implementation by increasing the timeliness and accuracy of data flows.

Among the important requirements for the Government, are:

(a) to improve the capabilities of the Ministry of Finance, Industry and Planning in providing the required economic forecasts that would determine the levels of revenue and capital expenditure;

(b) improve the implementation rates of the capital projects under the Ministry of Communications, Works and Housing; and

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 78 (c) improve project implementation by training and supplementing present resources.

Judicial System

The judicial system comprises the British Privy Council, a Court of Appeal, a High Court of Justice and the Magistrates Courts. As is the case in all Commonwealth Caribbean Countries the British Privy Council has been retained from the pre- independence period, as the final Court of Appeal in all civil and criminal matters. Dominica shares a Supreme Court with the other 5 independent members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The Supreme Court is made up of a Court of Appeal and a High Court of Justice.

The Court of Appeal, comprising the Chief Justice and three Justices, decides on civil appeals from Magistrates Courts, and both civil and criminal appeals from the High Court. The High Court comprises 9 Puisne Judges with 1 based in the country. Court is held before one Judge at least once a month in civil and criminal matters. Civil matters are heard without jury and criminal cases are tried by jury. Magistrates courts consist of a Chief Magistrate and up to 4 others as appointed. Their jurisdiction covers civil and criminal matters without jury.

Human Rights Policy

A declaration of individual rights and freedoms is entrenched in the constitution of Dominica. These rights include life, personal liberty and security, freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly, privacy, freedom from unlawful search, freedom of movement, protection from discrimination, and protection for the criminally accused such as fair trial, trial by jury and the right to appeal. The Commonwealth of Dominica is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Legal Aid Services

Dominica does not have a formalized Legal Aid Service, but provision is made for legal representation of the accused in murder cases.

The Environment

The extensive use of pesticides and weedicides in banana cultivation in Dominica poses a threat to the water quality. Mocap and Furdam are 2 widely used pesticides along with the weedicide Gramoxone. The compounds found in these chemicals are extremely toxic to humans. The danger resulting from pesticide use is exacerbated by

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 79 banana cultivation on steep slopes above water catchment areas (CEHI, 1995). The extent of damage to the environment from these chemicals depends on the frequency of use, the dosage applied, the persistence of this dosage in the environment, the method of application and the disposal practices. The challenge to Government therefore is to regulate land use practices in water catchment areas.

The Governments strategy is developed in the National Environmental Action Plan which places priority on:

a. Deforestation aimed at regulating timber harvesting, agricultural diversification, land clearing and land use practices in the islands extensive water catchments;

b. Sewage treatment and management of solid waste as well as agricultural and agri-industrial waste. Less than half the population is currently served by adequate refuse collection and disposal;

c. Coastal zone management threatened by the country’s heavily populated areas, manufacturing and tourism industries which are concentrated in this zone;

d. Environmental Legislation and Regulations which are currently lacking, to the extent that environmental impact studies are not a legal requirement for investment projects.

Dominica has been making progress in the enactment of legislation to protect its environment. The Forestry Act exists to protect state lands and all their contents, while the Forestry and Wildlife Act includes a hunting season and mandatory licensing of hunting activities (NRMU 1996, p.19). Nevertheless, technical assistance is needed in each of the above areas. However, one urgent requirement is the strengthening of Government's capacity in physical planning and land use in which UNDP/UNCHS have been involved through the Capacity 21 project.

Conclusion

The main development issues facing Dominica relate to the diversification of the economy, the provision of social infrastructure and human resources development. The agricultural sector (bananas and coconuts) has dominated the economy for several years. With the problems facing the banana industry in the traditional export markets, Dominica is seeking to foster development in the services sector (eco-tourism, financial services). The diversification process has been however constrained by financial resources to implement the level of social infrastructural and human resources development needed. While health conditions are reasonably good, there are concerns

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 80 with increase in non-communicable chronic diseases. Poverty is a major problem especially with the decline in agricultural activity. Poverty is linked to the underdevelopment of the human capital base of the country. A poverty reduction programme must therefore incorporate a human resources development component. In addition, there are problems of drug-abuse and educational achievement amongst boys. The Government needs to strengthen the planning machinery to prepare an integrated programme of action to overcome the social and economic problems facing the country.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 81 SUMMARY DOMINICA

GOVERNMENT-STATED ISSUES PRIORITIES ASSESSMENT OF NEED(S) STRATEGIES Economic Increasing debt servicing and the Stimulating export growth, Movement into newer technology- Inter-agency and bilateral support reduction in donor assistance are diversifying production by giving based operations (fibre optics) and where possible negotiating the likely to affect social development greater impetus to agro-industry and require appropriate skills. sharing of skills regionally programmes. sustaining the viability of tourism. Extension services geared at Contraction of banana production upgrading and reorienting the skills and the impending removal of of agricultural workers. preferential agreements Assist the maginalised small banana farmer by crop diversification and Agricultural diversification agro-processing. Privatization The pace and impact of privatization Review tax exemption schemes Evaluate proposals for guaranteed Learning from experiences on economic growth. loans and exemptions from taxes to elsewhere in the region and outside certain agencies. (facilitated by OECS, CARICOM, CDB or other agencies) Poverty Reduce levels of poverty and Devise mechanisms for targeted Establish income generating UNDP to take lead in the follow improve standard of living. programmes programmes and improve safety- through with national consultations nets for groups in poverty arising out of the Inter-Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Eradication to formulate a plan Health Managing the process of health Streamline financial sustainability Balancing the mix between public reform effectively. for health care while maintaining and private health care emphasis on PHC.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 82 Education Strengthening primary and Emphasis on teacher training and Pre-school education, especially to Sharing resources, regionally with secondary systems and facilitating improved literacy facilitate early entry of children the assistance of regional and continuing education from the poorest households international agencies Children Improved policies/programmes for Greater attention to behavior change Preventive programmes through Sharing regional resources children at risk especially in relation to drug abuse education and social marketing Women Effectively targeting women to Special attention to labour Strengthen agencies and increase Inter-agency support reduce gender and economic equities participation of women and female coordination of programmes headed households Governance Public Sector Reform Improve project implementation and Building capabilities in the priority Inter-agency support economic forecasting areas.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 83 GRENADA: GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Introduction

Grenada's economy has been growing at a satisfactory rate, remaining buoyant in 1998. During this period the annual average growth rate of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 5.8 per cent, while the rate averaged 4.2 per cent per annum for 1997 and 3.1 per cent between 1994-1996. This expansion was directly influenced by developments in the construction, manufacturing and services sectors.

The current account deficit in the balance of payments widened in 1998 by 8.5 per cent to EC$225.5 million or 23.9 percent of GDP relative to 1997. This was as the result of the deterioration of the visible trade account. Although there was a 14.4 per cent increase in merchandise exports, the visible trade deficit increased by 6.1 per cent to 41.9 per cent of GDP in 1998, due mainly to a 7.4 per cent growth in merchandise imports. Higher earnings were the result of the growth in exports, which mainly comprised nutmeg (25.0 per cent), mace (18.3 per cent) and cocoa (10.5 per cent).

Grenada's economy continues to be plagued with problems inherent in high external debt and arrears, which increased from US$81.5 million in 1991 to US$84.8 million in 1995. External debt arrears declined from US$12.3 million in 1993 to US$8.8 million in 1994 through repayment and rescheduling. Debt service obligation as a percentage of exports of goods and non-factor services amounted to 6.1 per cent in 1995. While the debt is serviceable, given the openness of the economy, Grenada's vulnerability to damaging effects of external shocks is a potential source of difficulty.

Agriculture

Agriculture is the dominant sector in the Grenadian economy with an output growing by 2.4 per cent in 1998 following a decrease of 4.4 per cent in 1997. In 1998 the contribution of agriculture to the GDP decreased to 9.2 per cent from 9.5 per cent in 1997. The most recent data from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank indicates that there was however a 3.9 per cent increase in cocoa production to 1,419 tonnes in 1998. This improved performance resulted from improved plant husbandry and higher demand on the external market.

The output of the agricultural sector increased by only 0.1 per cent in 1997, mainly as a result of the poor performance of the traditional export crops, bananas, cocoa and nutmeg. Banana exports came to a halt in 1997 because of the poor quality of fruit, low prices paid to farmers and a general uncertainty surrounding the future of the industry. Production fell sharply in 1998, as a result of the suspension of the export of banana from Grenada to the UK by WIBDECO during the first quarter of 1997. During

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 84 May 1997, there was the implementation of a EC$1.8 million banana recovery by the Grenada Government. Under this plan extension services were provided to a select number of farmers who owned plantations located in areas most suited for banana production. The infestation of the Pink Mealy Bug still constrains exports of agricultural produce to other Caribbean islands. Nevertheless, continued efforts were made in 1998 to revive non-traditional agriculture. The agriculture sector continues to be plagued with low quality product and lack of adequate transportation services.

The livestock sub-sector plays an important role in food security. In 1995, this sub-sector grew by 2.9 per cent increasing its output value from EC$2.78 million in 1994 to EC$2.86 million in 1995. In 1998 this sector grew by 4 per cent. The present livestock population is estimated at 7,000 cattle, 20,000 head of small ruminants and 10,000 pigs. Women and small holders, who plot less than 2 acres, own the majority of the stock.

The fisheries sub-sector is now being assisted with financial support from the Japanese Government. Grenada invested about US$22.5 million in infrastructure and institutional facilities with the support of Japanese funds. The contribution of this sector to GDP remained at 1.5 per cent in 1998. Fish production in 1998 increased by 33.9 per cent to 3.8 million pounds, following a decline in 1997 of 18.9 per cent.

The main policy of the agricultural sector is to implement agricultural diversification measures aimed at reducing the dependency of the sector on the traditional export crops. The specific sectoral objectives of Government include: increased food sufficiency through larger food production, import substitution and agro- industrial development; implementation of an export-oriented strategy based on increased productivity of selected traditional exports, and diversification into new exports which are market-led and for which Grenada has export advantages; conservation and development of natural resources through the promotion of more efficient use of land, forest and water, and conservation of biological diversity.

In addition, the Government is placing priority on modernisation of the agricultural sector through the provision of improved inputs and a greater dissemination of appropriate extension services; improvement of agricultural infrastructure, especially farm roads; improvement of the country’s capacity in plant pest and disease management; and development of farmers organisations.

Approximately 50 per cent of merchandise exports between 1990 and 1994 were derived from the sector. As with the other Windward Islands, Grenada's banana industry requires restructuring in view of the impending loss of preferential agreements by the year 2002. Thus medium-term objectives of the Government agricultural policy are

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 85 targeted towards the restructuring of the banana industry, the rehabilitation of the cocoa industry and nutmeg products for expanded markets.

Industry

The industrial sector encompasses mainly small to medium scale production of garments, beverages, flour, wheat and bran animal feed, furniture, paints and varnishes, household appliances and paper products for local and regional markets. The sector's share of GDP remained constant at around 5.2 per cent between 1985 and 1990, increasing to 7.7 per cent in 1994 and to 20 per cent in 1997. In the 1990s several companies closed operations and the sector remains small and vulnerable to competition from regional and extra-regional sources. In addition, high wage rates relative to some other Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) countries have eroded the sector's competitiveness. The emergence of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), and the World Trade Organization (WTO) poses serious problems for the survival of Grenada's manufacturing sector in a free trade environment.

Government's medium-term policy agenda for the sector involves increasing investment promotion, and providing assistance to enterprises in order to increase their competitiveness.

Services

Tourism is the main service industry in Grenada. The sector has, on the whole, performed well throughout the 1994-96 period, improving further in 1998. Expansion was facilitated by improved air access through the construction of the Point Salines airport in the early 1980s. As a result of a 2.1 per cent growth in the hotel and restaurant sector, a leading indicator of tourism activity, the contribution of the tourism industry to GDP rose to 9.1 per cent from 8.9 per cent in 1997.

Stay-over arrivals in 1998 grew by 4.6 per cent to 115,794 as compared with the increase of 2.3 per cent in the previous year. Of the total stay-over visitors to the ECCB region, Grenada accounted for 13.8 per cent. The number of visitors from the UK rose by 9.2 per cent and those from the Caribbean rose by 13.0 per cent. This increase in travel to Grenada by UK residents grew as a result of increased charter flights and improved advertising in the UK market by the Grenada Tourism Board. Canadian visitors increased by 6.3 per cent to 5,290, however, activity in relation to US visitors remained relatively flat in 1998. This was mainly due to low advertising competition from other countries and the change in route of a major airline, which resulted in increased flying time for visitors travelling from the northeastern part of the US to Grenada. In the meantime visitor arrivals from Germany declined by 19.7 per cent to

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 86 4,017. Since the withdrawal of an airline service from the German market in 1997, Grenada has found it difficult to secure airlift services from the German market. The number of cruise ship passengers increased by 7.8 per cent to 265,875 in 1998 while the number of cruise ship visits increased by 1.5 per cent to 328.

Tourism is expected to be one of the major sources of growth over the medium- term, with new construction being planned by the private sector. Government's strategy is to collaborate with the private sector in the development of the industry and to establish supporting infrastructure.

Informatics is a new service area to which Government is giving some attention. The strategy for developing this sub-sector includes the creation of an appropriate incentives and regulatory framework and foreign investment promotion. Government is also negotiating with the appropriate telecommunications companies with a view to securing concessional tariff rates.

The services sector in general recorded growth in real output in 1998: wholesale and retail (5.6 per cent), communications (6.3 per cent), transportation (5.2 per cent) and banking and insurance (6.0 per cent).

Other Areas

In order to support economic development and attract private sector investment, Government is giving priority to the improvement of roads, the water supply system, electricity services, and telecommunications. A comprehensive road rebuilding and rehabilitation programme is to be undertaken and the water system in the southern part of the country, where tourism activity is concentrated, is to be improved. The partly privatized Grenada Electricity Services (GRENLEC) and Grenada Telephone Company Limited (GRENTEL) are about to commence investment programmes to upgrade the technologies for their facilities.

Trade

Grenada has been experiencing continuing unfavorable trade balances. However, the trade-balance deficit increased by a mere 1 per cent to US$92 million in 1994 due to a 2 per cent increase in imports. Nevertheless, a 29 per cent increase in the net services balance from US$36.7 million in 1993 to US$47 million in 1994 resulted in substantial improvement in the current account deficit. The current account balance increased from a deficit of EC$75.7 million in 1994 to a deficit of EC$225.5 million in 1998. Strong capital inflows however helped to ease the balance of payments problem. Government's plans for agriculture, manufacturing and tourism are appropriately targeted to improve the continuing trade imbalance by expanding merchandise and service exports.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 87 Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Livelihoods

By the headcount measure, Grenada has an estimated 30.8 per cent of its population below the poverty line, and 21.5 per cent indigent (1998). This makes it second to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which recorded the highest degree of poverty among the OECS countries for which extensive poverty surveys have been conducted. The poverty gap for the island, which measures the depth of poverty, is however lower than that for Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The poverty gap value is 5.2 percent, signifying the amount of income needed to raise the incomes of the poor individuals to the poverty line represented as a percentage of the poverty line (Kairi Consultants 1998). Therefore, while the head count measure illustrates a large percentage of the population in poverty, the poverty gap shows that the depth of that poverty is not the greatest experienced in the OECS. The capital of Grenada, St. Georges, has the highest percentage of the poor population, but the parish of St. Marks registers the greatest percentage of its population as poor. However, the most severe pockets of poverty can be found in the parishes of St. Andrew’s and St. David’s, both exceeding the national poverty gap of 5.2 per cent.

The population under the poverty line is to be compared with the estimated 24 per cent in 1983 of which the rural population comprised 94 per cent. The regional differences are marked with the level of poverty estimated as high as 52 per cent in the mainly rural county of St. Mark and 18 per cent in St. George, the capital city.

With the assistance of the Department for International Development (Caribbean) (DFID-C), formerly the British Development Division, the Government has reviewed its social programmes in an attempt to bridge the poverty gap. It has resulted in greater attention to targeting strategies, which include upgrading school feeding programmes; assisting needy students to defray the cost of travel to school and for books and uniforms; social assistance and in-kind benefits for low income families; unemployed benefits, youth training, public works and small business assistance for the unemployed; non-contributory pension and NIS pension in addition to social assistance and residential care for the elderly and the disabled.

However, these policies are inadequate. The average social assistance payment, at EC$50.00 per month, for example, is between 20 per cent and 33 per cent of the weekly minimum subsistence basket. The Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI) basic caloric basket for the OECS is priced at $5.50 per person per day. This public assistance is extremely inadequate since it fails to provide the minimum income needed for food consumption for one individual. The public assistance provided cannot meet the food requirement for one individual for 2 weeks. When non-food items and the average household’s size are taken into consideration, the monthly public assistance fails as a viable poverty alleviation effort. When an individual or a household depends

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 88 entirely on public assistance, family and community support invariably become important safety nets for survival. Furthermore, eligibility criteria for public assistance in Grenada include, among others, that the potential recipients be engaged in no form of work.

Various groups are affected by poverty in Grenada. The Grenada Food and Nutrition Council (GFNC) identified the most vulnerable groups as:

· pre-schoolers (3-5 years old); · women, especially heads of rural households and unemployed and under- employed urban dwellers; · the elderly, especially those who live alone at home.

The fact that the two economically active sectors of the population, along with women, fall within the most vulnerable groups of the Grenadian society is extremely detrimental to the society. The triple burden of work carried by women includes childcare and rearing, and providing informal community services such as care for the elderly (Moser 1989). However, their propensity to be poor restricts the extent to which they can adequately carry out these functions. The poverty alleviation and eradication efforts must place women as a priority, since women are instrumental in providing services to the other vulnerable groups. Non-Governmental organizations like the Agency for Rural Transformation (ART) and GRENCODA are working to combat poverty in Grenada and target women as a high priority.

The inclusion of pre-schoolers as one of the most vulnerable groups has important implications for the development of human resources. The Grenada Food and Nutrition Council (GFNC) indicated an increase in malnutrition among pre-schoolers between 1990 and 1996. This is especially problematic since the capacity to learn is a function of health, especially nutritional, status.

Other groups such as the disabled are also more likely to be impoverished than males, or the youth. Males, especially those in the agricultural sector are also faced with increasing poverty through the continual decline in agriculture, especially nutmegs.

As in the case of other OECS countries, evidence from various social sector studies indicates a close association between the levels of poverty, risky health behavior, poor sanitation, high drop out rates at school, high unemployment and violence.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 89 Sectoral Issues

Health

In Grenada, health status as reflected by life expectancy and infant mortality levels is reasonably good. In 1998 Grenada realized a life expectancy of 71.4 years and an IMR of 14.3 in 1997. Although Government provision for immunization ensures almost total coverage of the population under 1 year of age (92 per cent in 1998), there is room for improvement, especially in public health care. The health profile indicates that communicable childhood diseases are virtually under control and the major health problems are related to chronic non-communicable, so-called "lifestyle" diseases. The elderly are affected by heart disease, hypertensive disease, and diabetes, which are presently the leading causes of mortality. While the reported level of AIDS/HIV is low, recent figures (1998) put the cumulative number of cases at 111. Heterosexual and perinatal transmission are suggested by the number of women (39) and children (4, aged 0-4 years) in the sample of patients. An increasing rate of vehicle accidents is affecting the health of young people.

Health Care

Health care in Grenada is structured around 6 health centers with 30 satellite clinics. These are linked to 6 hospitals including the main General Hospital with 240 beds. A new psychiatric hospital has been built to replace the one damaged by the invasion in 1983. There is also a geriatric hospital and 2 special facilities for the handicapped and substance abusers.

A major cause for concern is a fall off in the use of public health care facilities. The number of patients attending public pediatric, diabetic and general clinics peaked in 1993, but declined since. In general, levels of satisfaction with the quality of public health services are low and are expressed in the drift to private care. This is evident even among the poor, though it is likely that many health problems at this socio-economic level remain unattended. The proportional provision of hospital beds and physicians, however, compares well with other countries in the region (Table 6, p. 158). Grenada also benefits from the OECS bulk drug-purchasing scheme. Active NGOs in health include the Grenada Council for the Disabled and the Society for the Blind.

Governmental financial allocation to health has declined significantly in recent years: from 18.3 per cent of total Government expenditure in 1991 to 12.7 per cent (1993) and 11.5 per cent (1994). Government is considering the introduction of user- fees in the health service. The Government is also involved in a financial study of the hospital with a view to identifying methods of cost recovery. While striving to achieve

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 90 cost-effectiveness, Government is aware of the implications of a fee-for-service arrangement on the poor.

Child Health

In Grenada, there has been a considerable improvement in child health. The neonatal death rate in 1993 was 7.4 per 1000 live births. The most common causes of neonatal admission to hospital are jaundice, sepsis, birth asphyxia, prematurity and respiratory distress syndrome. The IMR has fluctuated but declined overall during the past 10 years reaching 14.3 in 1997. A comprehensive childhood immunization programme is in place and virtually all serious childhood diseases have been eliminated. In 1993, no cases of measles or polio were reported and there has been no incidence of neonatal tetanus for more than 20 years. In children under 5 years of age, gastroenteritis, acute respiratory infection and increasing cases of asthma are the main problems, although the incidence of each is low.

Although information on the incidence of low birth weight (LBW) is incomplete and inconsistent, it is clear that the rate has fallen. In 1993, only 1.8 per cent of infants under 1 year of age were under weight and 1.5 per cent of those aged 1 to 4 years. Only 4 of these cases were severely underweight.

Education

The Government of Grenada allocated 16.6 per cent of total expenditure to education in 1994 (Table 7, p. 159), though this represents a decline from the 17.8 per cent allocation for 1993. The Government undertakes major responsibility for education, with primary public schools accounting for 58 of the 74 schools and 94 per cent of overall enrollment. The ratio of teachers to pupils (20:1) at both primary and secondary schools is satisfactory (Table 7). In 1988, Government rationalised tertiary education by amalgamating the Adult and Continuing Education Programme along with other programmes into one national college, subsequently renamed the T. A. Marryshaw Community College. The programmes offered through the College are arranged via a decentralised system with coordinators located in each parish.

During 1996, the Ministry of Education concentrated on the preparations for the OECS Basic Education Reform Project. Despite the satisfactory figure on literacy, a pilot project is underway in preparation for the launching of the National Integrated Literacy Programme. Rural areas are highlighted and community and NGO involvement is being harnessed for the project. Early childhood education is also a priority area in Government's overall education planning. A total of 73 pre-schools has been opened, 78 per cent of which are Government operated. An Early Childhood Division of the Ministry regulates day-care centers, and training for pre-school teachers is available at

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 91 the T. A. Marryshaw Community College. In 1989, a Family Life Education project was established in all secondary schools. Other target areas for the Basic Education Reform Project include an improvement in the overall efficiency and equality of education at all levels, measures to tackle the relatively high rate of truancy and student repeaters and to lower educational costs, of text books in particular. The need to improve educational efficiency prompted the introduction, in 1996, of a Performance Appraisal System, under which all teachers and educational officers will be assessed annually.

The Government's national educational policy will be informed by the OECS Educational Reform Strategy. Through the OECS project, attention is being paid to the social aspects of education, including community and family participation, guidance counselling and policies to deal with dropouts, particularly pregnant teenage girls.

Child Education

Educational provisions in Grenada are reasonable. The majority of children complete primary school education, but in 1994/95 only 1,350 children (40.4 per cent) passed the Common Entrance Examination to gain a place at a secondary school. High rates of truancy, estimated at roughly 7 per cent at primary schools, and of student repeats, estimated at 10 per cent of total enrollment, are major problems. Pass rates at CXC for 1995 were extremely low for English A and among the lowest for Mathematics. The overall pass rate for 'A' levels was only 44 per cent in 1994 (Table 8, p. 160).

Multi-sectoral Issues

Child Rights and Development

Children and Families at Risk

The incidence of child abuse fluctuates and there is a need for accurate data. Nevertheless, reports from social workers in the field suggest an increase. Available figures indicate that the main form of child abuse has been physical, accounting for 49 per cent of the total 349 cases reported from 1985 to 1994. Sexual abuse, however, is on the increase and by 1993 had become the most prevalent form of abuse, accounting for 93 cases in comparison with 26 cases of physical abuse. There is no organized system of management or treatment of these cases. An NGO operated home has been in operation since 1988, but deals with only 21 cases. Foster care and adoptions are arranged, though mainly for girls, the preferred choice of foster parents. The living conditions faced by children in welfare and other residential facilities, foster homes and other institutions has not changed since the 1995 UNICEF Study of Children in Institutions in Grenada. In particular, there is still a lack of counselling and rehabilitation services, lack of standards

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 92 and established codes for enforcement, and lack of proper programmes of a long-term nature for support to the institutions.

Disabled children are catered for in three institutions all operated by NGOs, but receiving annual Government subventions. The School for the Deaf, established in 1972, cares for 55 students; the School for Special Education established in 1976, has approximately 50 students; and the Resource Center caters to 15 visually impaired children. Only in the latter is the programme integrated with the mainstream educational system so that students might reach their full potential. For the rest, institutionalization tends to isolate them from family and community life. The Ministry of Health has set up an Early Childhood Intervention Programme which deals with 65 children of varying degrees of physical and mental disability.

There is no evidence of child labour, street children or child prostitution in Grenada. Information on cases of juvenile delinquency is sketchy and not accurately reported, though it is known that the majority of cases are burglaries, especially housebreaking, committed by male youths. Offenders are tried in the regular courts since there is no separate juvenile system with provisions for in camera hearings. A halfway house provided for juveniles is no longer functioning so that, once convicted, the young offenders are sent to prison where they are influenced by the adult criminal population.

Statistical data on drug use are incomplete although the Ministry of Education's Drug Avoidance Unit, established in 1989, conducted a survey in 1993. The results of the survey are unavailable, but what is clear, is that there has been an increase in admissions to hospital for drug related problems, mainly among males. Between 1986 and 1994, 172 persons under the age of 25 years were sent to prison for drug offenses. They constituted 22.7 per cent of the total offenders. For young females, there is evidence of another serious problem. Between June and November 1995, 12 cases of attempted suicide between the ages of 14 and 18 were reported.

Child Protection

Grenada signed the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in November 1990. In 1993, the National Coalition on the Rights of the Child was convened to coordinate and implement the principles and policies of the Convention. Children at risk were high on the agenda. In particular, the coalition recommended a Child Abuse Register, though this is yet to be established and there is no mandatory reporting of cases of abuse. A workshop held on juvenile justice recommended the establishment of correctional institutions for young people, the provision of counselling and vocational skills and an increase in the legal age of a juvenile from 16 to 18 years. The coalition also expressed concern at the dispersal of child services throughout several

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 93 departments and recommended the establishment of a national body to integrate matters of child rights and development.

The Status of the Children Act, passed in 1991, addresses the issue of paternity and seeks to abolish the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. Provision is also made in the Act for child support up to the age of 16 and to 18 if full time education is being pursued by the child, though at a weekly amount of only EC$15. The Criminal Code, 1993 is designed to protect against abuse irrespective of gender, although legal protection for boys in this regard is insufficient. The Family Court Act, 1994, deals with child maintenance and with special provisions for hearings on family matters, including a more conducive court environment.

Human Resource Development

The focus for human resource development is to improve education and on-the- job training to upgrade skills. The Basic Education Project co-sponsored by the World Bank, CDB and CIDA (1995-96), aims at improving the curriculum, upgrading schools and teacher training, expanding and upgrading health facilities and expand nutritional programmes to reduce the level of malnutrition among children. These schemes will respond to some of the major educational and health care issues while creating a pool of resources more capable of responding to the technological requirements of the economy. One of the main areas that urgently needs targeting is the job creation and relevant training for youths, given the observed trend toward higher unemployment among this group, over the past 5 years. Women too need urgent targeting to improve their economic situation. The high percentage of female-headed households, and their vulnerability to poverty makes them a core component in any poverty alleviation or eradication programme.

Drug and alcohol abuse especially by teenagers is detrimental to the development of the individual and the country as a whole. Substance abuse is especially prevalent among the young males, most of whom are rejecting the education system. Admission of males under 18 years to the General Hospital in Grenada in 1995 was due to conditions related to substance abuse. Similarly, the drug related convictions and prison sentences between 1994 and June 1995 numbered 759, of which almost all were male (UNICEF 1998, p.122). This problem must be seen as a structural one, for which the solution is structural changes within the family, religious and educational institutions.

The University of the West Indies Center and the T. A. Marryshaw Community College are the main avenues for continuing education. The Government is currently proposing to convert the Community College into a statutory corporation, on a fee pay basis. It is also discussing with the private sector and the trade unions, the mechanisms

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 94 for a skills-training scheme, patterned after the youth training and employment scheme pioneered by SERVOL in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Government of Grenada’s public expenditure far exceeds the recommended 25 percent of GDP in the 20/20 compact. Its allocation to social sector spending is also in excess of that specified by the compact. However, its social and human development priorities are lower than the required amounts (see Table 13, p. 165). Given the extent of poverty in Grenada, the above ratios signify that either too much of the social sector spending is being allocated to non-priority areas, or that the identified areas of human development priority are too few. The fact is that the UNICEF's definition of basic social services does not include elements like secondary education, or secondary and tertiary health care. However, the Government of Grenada, like the other Governments of the OECS, include these as basic social services to which the public are entitled.

The increase in malnutrition among pre-schoolers is particularly problematic for the country, since inadequate nutrition stunts educational development, especially at an early age. In order to maintain an educationally sound population and workforce, this social problem must be addressed. The programme efforts in school feeding is a positive step in this direction.

Advancement/Empowerment of Women

The Government of Grenada ratified the 1979 UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and, in 1982, the Women's Desk which had been established since 1979, was upgraded to a Ministry of Women's Affairs. With the removal of the People's Revolutionary Government (PRG) in 1983, however, the national machinery for women has been demoted to a Division and subsequently a Department of Women's Affairs. The Department works in collaboration with the National Women's Organization (NWO) which has increased its membership to an estimated 21.5 per cent of the female population. A total of 23 non-Governmental organizations are affiliated, including the more traditional groups such as the YWCA and church groups, as well as the more recently established GRENCODA (1986), and the Group of Concerned Women (1987).

Status of women

Grenada's record of female involvement in the political arena has seen the appointment of Dame Hilda Bynoe as Governor from 1968 to 1974 and subsequently, 2 female ministers and one ambassador during the PRG's tenure in office. Since then at least 1 woman has been appointed as a minister (Table 9, p. 161). Women, however, remain a minority in the legal profession and in the civil service.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 95 The level of unemployment has been estimated at 28 per cent with the rate for women almost twice that for men. Employed women are concentrated in traditional occupational areas. A total of 53.1 per cent is in production, service and agriculture, with only 3.4 per cent in professional and technical posts and 1.3 per cent at administrative and management levels. In 1993, only 9.6 per cent of the police force were female. The proportion of female headed households in Grenada is high (Table 10, p. 162) and this is related to the feminization of poverty in the country. The number of female-headed households also reflects low marriage and, in turn, low divorce rates (Table 10).

Violence against women

No accurate information is available on domestic or other forms of violence against women. Both the Group of Concerned Women, which runs a crisis hot line and counselling service, and the Legal Aid and Counselling Clinic report an increase in the number of cases. Very few cases, however, result in convictions, mainly because the women concerned withdraw their complaints.

Law Reform

The Maternity Leave Act, 1980 constitutes an important piece of legislation protecting women's right to leave during pregnancy and childbirth and guaranteeing their jobs. In addition, the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act is designed to ensure the health and safety of all workers, though unfair practices continue. There is no legislation for equal pay or against sexual exploitation at the work place. Neither does the law deal specifically with domestic violence.

Population and Reproductive Health

As indicated in Table 11, p. 163, the population of Grenada is small, although the density is relatively high. The growth rate is low, averaging 0.7 per cent for the years 1981 to 1991, due mainly to declining fertility and net migration which, over the same period, removed an average of 1,300 persons per year. The crude birth rate has fallen from 27.5 in 1981 to 21.3 in 1996. The crude death rate has been stable over the last 15 years. However, the population is relatively young as indicated in the ratio of youth to elderly in the population.

Reproductive Health

Teenage pregnancy continues to be a problem in Grenada though the rate (Table 12, p. 164) has fallen since the early 1980s when these births accounted for 23 per cent of the total. Virtually all deliveries, (91.3 per cent) occur in hospitals and are attended by

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 96 trained medical personnel. As with Dominica, teenage pregnancies are attributed to early sexual initiation. Of concern is the fact that the age of first pregnancies is getting lower, indicating earlier sex initiation. One-fifth of the teenage hospital admissions for child delivery was repeaters, and not new pregnancies. This observation gives us a sense of the length of exposure to pregnancy among women.

There is concern that many women are not attending clinics for follow-up visits. The maternal mortality rate, relatively high at 11.0 per 100,000 live births in 1991, was reduced to 0.42 by 1993. Levels of anemia and cancer in women are also disturbing. In 1994, there were 10 deaths from cancer of the cervix, uterus and ovaries and the Government plans to intensify screening and to educate women about the importance of self-examination.

Governance

Grenada's political system is based on the British traditions of democracy of fair and free popular elections, regularly undertaken. Accordingly, general elections are held as constitutionally due every 5 years or earlier at the discretion of the head of Government. Universal adult suffrage was introduced in 1951 and is enshrined in the country's constitution since its independence in 1974. Three main parties have been participating in the electoral process. Of the 11 general elections held since 1951, the minor opposition party has won on 6 occasions, the main opposition once and the governing party twice. There have been 2 coalition Governments. Although the country comprises 3 islands, the form of Government is unitary.

Legislative System

Grenada has a bicameral legislative system consisting of a House of Representatives and a Senate. Parliament is the only law-making body. The House of Representatives, comprises 15 elected members, and the Senate 13 members, of whom 7 are appointed by the governing party, 3 by the opposition party, and 3 by the Head of State on the advice of the Prime Minister after consultations with civil organizations and other interest groups. The House of Representatives constitutionally holds legislative supremacy over the Senate since bills passed by the former may become law if the latter fails to endorse them.

There is currently no local Government system in Grenada. The constitution provides for a Council for Carriacou and Petit Martinique and the 1985 Constitution Commission recommended the re-introduction of a nationwide system of local authorities.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 97 The Executive System

The Executive System of Grenada, consists of the Queen who is Head of State represented by the Governor General, the Cabinet of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister and the Civil Service. The Governor General is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister and holds office at "the monarch's pleasure" with no fixed term of occupancy.

Public sector reform has been placed high on the agenda and a Commission has been established to assist with the development of a plan that would streamline Government's fiscal management and administrative coordination. While substantial progress has been made in privatizing state-owned assets, the full benefits of cost- effectiveness have not been realized. Central Government expenditure, which was at 62 per cent of GDP, 1980-84, has been reduced to 28 per cent, 1990-1994.

Although there are several NGOs and community organizations, the process of civic involvement in decision making is relatively ad hoc. The Government has indicated its intention to stimulate activities that would improve the role of civil society.

Judicial System

Grenada's Judicial System comprises the British Privy Council, a Court of Appeal, a High Court of Justice and the Magistrates Court. As is the case in all Commonwealth Caribbean Countries, the British Privy Council has been retained from the pre-independence period, as the final Court of Appeal in all civil and criminal matters. Grenada shares a Supreme Court with the other 5 independent members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The Supreme Court is made up of a Court of Appeal and a High Court of Justice.

The Court of Appeal, comprising the Chief Justice and 3 Justices, decides on civil appeals from Magistrates courts, and both civil and criminal appeals from the High Court. The High Court comprises 9 Puisne Judges with 2 based in the country. Magistrate’s courts consist of a Chief Magistrate and up to 4 others as appointed. Their jurisdiction covers civil and criminal matters without jury.

Human Rights Policy

A declaration of individual rights and freedoms is entrenched in Grenada Constitution. These rights include, life, personal liberty and security, freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly, privacy, freedom from unlawful search, freedom of movement, protection from discrimination, and protection for the criminally accused such as fair trial, trial by jury and the right to appeal. Grenada is a

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 98 signatory to the Universal Declaration of Rights; the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women; and the American Convention on Human Rights.

Legal Aid Services

Grenada does not have a formalized Legal Aid Service but legal representation is provided for the accused in murder cases.

The Environment

The National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) has established the priorities to include solid waste management, water supply and liquid waste management, land use management, coastal zone management, and the reduction of man-made hazards. The proposals also make provision for the introduction of user fees for garbage collection and for the use of national parks and the inclusion of natural resource accounting in cost benefit analysis of projects. The Government plans to implement the Grenada solid waste management project within the current fiscal year, which will construct sanitary landfills, and expand and upgrade waste collection facilities and transportation. Greater efforts are required in strengthening the legal and administrative frameworks to ensure that regulations are formulated and adequately administered to support the environmental policies and programmes.

Conclusion

Grenada has a slightly more diversified agricultural sector than the other Windward Islands. The sector however suffers from problems of low product quality and inadequate transportation services. The economy is generally vulnerable to external (e.g hurricanes, decline in world economic activity) shocks. Over the past decade the Government has had to struggle with a high external debt and growing arrears. The main economic objective has been to diversify the economy: intra-agricultural and inter- sectoral. Tourism has been identified as a major activity in this diversification programme with the private sector leading the process supported by the Government’s incentives framework and capital expenditure. Available data suggest a high level of rural poverty and pockets of urban poverty. Although some social assistance is provided, this appears to be inadequate. While the health status is generally good, there are problems associated with the high incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases and to a lesser extent child malnutrition. Human resources development has been constrained by the low level of those entering the secondary school system and performance in the secondary school examinations. Job creation for the young segments of the population is therefore a problem since their human capital base is weak. There is also the need to broaden the scope of popular participation in the decision making.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 99 SUMMARY GRENADA

GOVERNMENT-STATED ISSUES PRIORITIES ASSESSMENT OF NEED(S) STRATEGIES Economy High external debt and arrears, Restructuring the banana industry, Developing incentive schemes and diversification of agriculture, and rehabilitation of cocoa and nutmeg regulatory frameworks increasing competitiveness of industries. Incentives to medium industry sized enterprises to increase industrial competitiveness Privatization Sustain the planned programme and To complete divestment of public Reorienting the public service to Technical assistance and inter- increase public sector savings enterprises increase its monitoring and agency support for the transition regulatory functions process Poverty High level of poverty: 30.8% below Identifying and providing assistance Establishing and implementing Poverty Assessment Survey (CDB) the poverty line and income-generating opportunities appropriate targeting instruments to provide a basis for targeting to groups in need groups and Poverty Eradication National Consultation led by UNDP to involve communities in establishing priorities. Health Improving the PHC system Restructuring the public health care Health reform focusing on Strengthening the mechanisms for system so as to improve equity in decentralization and financial sharing of services with other OECS access sustainability and CARICOM countries and devise better provision for targeting the poor

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 100 Education Improving the overall quality and Improvements in early childhood Teacher training OECS basic education project, a efficiency of education education combined with day care vehicle to achieve objectives and to centers collaborate with other countries.

Children at Risk Relatively high rates of child abuse Regularizing foster care services in Improving drug abuse education and collaboration with NGO Guidance and Counselling Services Sharing techniques and programmes with OECS and CARICOM countries Women High rate of unemployment and Creating more job opportunities for Regulations to deal with sexual Target women for increased benefits female headed households women exploitation, equal pay for education and employment opportunities Governance Public Sector Reform Streamlining fiscal management and Implementing budget control to Technical assistance to increase administrative coordination achieve cost-effectiveness human resource capabilities

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 101 ST. KITTS AND NEVIS: GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Introduction

St. Kitts and Nevis' economic growth has varied from moderate to impressive during the period 1979 to 1997, however, activity in 1998 slowed with real GDP increasing by 1.6 per cent as compared with an increase of 7.3 per cent in 1997. The lower rate is due mainly to the passage of hurricane Georges in September 1998, which caused substantial damage to the economic and social infrastructure. Positive growth in 1998 was only maintained because of the expansion of activity in the construction sector. In the manufacturing and agricultural sectors there was a contraction in value-added mainly due to a decline in sugar cane and sugar production. The finances of the central government declined during 1998. This was manifested in a current account surplus of $2.8 million as compared to that of $10.7 million in 1997. Foreign exchange earnings are derived from an export base, comprising agricultural, manufacturing, tourism and, to a lesser extent, information and financial services.

St. Kitts and Nevis' deficit in the current account of the balance of payments was 12.5 per cent of GDP over the 1993-95 period but increased to nearly 20 per cent over the 1997-98 period. External financing has been mainly through direct investment, which ranged from 31 per cent of GDP in 1990 to 6.0 per cent in 1994. The contribution of the commercial banks fluctuated between 0 per cent in 1990 and 16.1 per cent in 1992 and between 0 and 1.6 per cent during 1993-94.

The external debt continued to rise between 1986 and 1995 from US$19.0 million to US$52.5 million. The debt/GDP ratio gradually declined from 25.9 per cent in 1990 to 21.7 per cent in 1994 and accordingly, the debt-service ratio fell from 6.1 per cent to 3.9 per cent. The effective rate of interest on external debt in 1994 was 4.5 per cent while exports grew by 5.2 per cent. Whether debt service can be sustained in future, will depend on the continued significant growth in exports as well as management of debt levels.

Agriculture

Agriculture is dominated by the sugar industry. Although the share of GDP in this sub-sector has been substantially declining, accounting for 6 per cent in 1997, it remains important as a foreign exchange earner. The industry is faced with the removal of preferential treatment in the United Kingdom with the advent of the European single market. The Government owns most of the agricultural land, and it is estimated that 20 per cent of the 4,526 farmers are landless, while another 40 per cent operate on small uneconomical plots. Government's strategy for agriculture includes diversification into non-traditional

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 102 crops, enhancing the marketability of sugar and the development of high value by-products, and implementing a land tenure programme to encourage private investment.

Some of the most recent challenges to the agricultural sector were the Tropical Bont Tick and the Pink Mealy Bug. The advent of the Tropical Bont tick and its associated complex, dermatophilosis; the recent introduction of the Pink Mealy Bug, both internationally notifiable pest and diseases, and the high food import bill (some US$18.5 million) places the food security of the Federation in a precarious position. Insecurity of tenure seriously limits the ability for farmers to make worthwhile investments.

The dependence on rainfall and an atypical weather pattern (continuous period of rainfall, months of drought, or hurricanes) makes food production very unstable. The binding constraint of water, underdevelopment of the marketing system, inadequate organizational and management skills all limit the development of the agricultural sector.

Industry

Apart from sugar refining, the manufacturing sector comprises medium-sized export-oriented enclave firms producing mainly garments, and electric components; and small-scale enterprises, producing food, beverages, furniture and other wood products, mainly for the domestic market. The sector currently accounts for the majority of merchandise export earnings, making up 25 per cent of GDP (1997).

Value-added in this sector declined by 9.0 per cent in 1998 in contrast to growth in 1997 of 11.2 per cent. This was attributed to a decline in both sugar production and electronic components. Sugar production declined by 20.4 per cent to 24,582 tonnes; this reflected a decrease in sugar cane production. In 1998 the actual yield of sugar per tonne of cane remained unchanged at 10 tonnes.

Value-added in manufacturing other than sugar, declined by an estimated 6.0 per cent during 1998. This reflected a contraction in output of electronic components, mainly for export to the USA. Electronics sub-sector that continues to expand is plagued by labour shortages, rising wage costs, increased competition from extra-regional sources, and consequently declining competitiveness. Further, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) will adversely affect the sector in its current state.

Government's comprehensive strategy is to attract foreign and domestic investment in light manufacturing and new technology-using firms, maximize employment, facilitate skill development, improve the incentive framework, and expand industrial infrastructure.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 103 Services

The services sector comprising mainly of tourism and informatics has accounted for 70 per cent of GDP in 1997. Within this sector however, there were increases in value-added for wholesale and retail (5.0 per cent), communications (8.9 per cent) and transportation (1.6 per cent) for 1998. Value-added in the real estate and housing sector, however, declined by 15.0 per cent as a result of damage to the housing stock by the hurricane.

Tourism has emerged as the dominant industry in the economy and is the largest foreign exchange earner. Value-added in the hotel and restaurant sectors increased by 2.3 per cent. The annual average increase in stay-over visitor arrivals was 5.6 per cent representing 93,194 as compared with 4.9 per cent in 1997. This was still, however, below the peak level of 94,185 achieved in 1994. Of the total stay-over visitors to the entire ECCB region, St Kitts accounted for 11.1 per cent. The United States of America is the industry's main market, accounting for approximately a 29.3 per cent increase. The United Kingdom and the Caribbean account for an increase of 4.0 per cent and 6.6 per cent respectively. Visitor arrivals have however decreased for Canada and Europe. Activity from cruise ships and yachts has improved with visitor and passengers increasing by 48.1 per cent in 1998 as compared to that of 17.7 per cent in 1997.

The sub-sector receives considerable support from, and its continued development is the primary objective of, the Government's investment programme.

Informatics is a new sub-sector in which significant growth has taken place over recent years. Government is actively pursuing possibilities in offshore banking and establishing an appropriate legal and fiscal incentive framework for the sub-sector.

Other Areas

Economic Infrastructure

In order to facilitate private sector activity, and sustained growth and development, Government's strategy is to invest approximately eight per cent of GDP annually, over the medium-term in economic infrastructure, including road improvements, and upgrading seaports and airports in both islands.

Trade

St. Kitts and Nevis' continuing trade deficit (in nominal terms) worsened by 45 per cent from US$62.6 million in 1993 to US$90.9 million in 1996. This downward movement was driven by a contraction in export earnings, whilst imports rose in line with real growth. Services exports increased by almost 10 per cent to US$93.0 million in 1994, but this was partly offset by an increase in service imports of about 14 per cent, primarily as a result of

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 104 large outflows of private investment income. The balance on the services account worsened from US$47.8 million in 1994 to US$25 million in 1996. Government's policies for the export sectors recognize the need to address the continuing unfavorable trading patterns, and the constraints they present for economic development.

Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods

A World Bank report estimated poverty in St. Kitts and Nevis at 15 per cent in the early 1990s (Jules 1996, p. 21). No recent data exist on the distribution of poverty across the various social groups in society, or across parishes. The same report noted that Conaree, Saddlers, both rural, and Irish Town and Newtown, located in capital, are the areas of heavy concentration of poverty. The source goes on to indicate that none of the population lives in extreme poverty. However, the definition of extreme poverty is not given. A more comprehensive poverty assessment is needed for the islands. Unfortunately, however, St. Kitts and Nevis were rated as lacking the institutional resources and overall capacity to conduct poverty assessments (Greene 1996, pp. 9-10). The Caribbean Development Bank has recently commissioned a poverty assessment study for the country.

Sectoral Trends

Health

Although life expectancy (67.6 for 1998) and infant mortality rates (30 per cent for 1997) in St. Kitts and Nevis are below the average for the region, provisions for immunization (97 per cent for 1997), safe water (100 per cent for 1998) and sanitation (100 per cent for 1998) are excellent (Table 6, p. 158). The health profile of the people of the twin Island State reflects a shift from communicable to chronic non-communicable diseases. However, there is evidence that some communicable diseases such as gastroenteritis and measles are not fully under control and few cases of tuberculosis have re-emerged. Of concern also are hemorrhagic conjunctivitis and viral hepatitis, though the incidence is low. Mortality from accidents and injuries is also increasing.

Health Care

In comparison with other countries in the region, St. Kitts and Nevis has a relatively low proportion of Government expenditure on health (7.1 per cent) and has experienced a recent decline from the 1993 figure of 10.1 per cent. In 1995, for example, public expenditure on health care accounted for a mere 3.1 percent of total GDP. A decentralized health structure is in place. A total of 17 health clinics (11 in St. Kitts and 6 in Nevis), which provide primary care including family planning, dental, mental and environmental health, are dispersed in rural areas. They refer patients for secondary care to the 4 central hospitals (2 in St. Kitts and 1 in Nevis). The supply of hospital beds (9.2 per 10,000) and physicians (8.9 per 10,000) for the population is good (Table 6). In addition, the country has a

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 105 remarkably high supply of nurses at 59 per 10,000 of the population. There is no private hospital, though private beds are available in the main public hospital.

Child Health

In St. Kitts and Nevis there is evidence of improvement in the health of children. The neonatal mortality rate continues to fluctuate, but was reduced to 19.8 per 1000 by 1994, down from the 1978 figure of 22.7 per 1000. The main causes of neonatal mortality are asphyxia, prematurity and congenital deformity. The IMR, at 24 per 1,000 live births, is still relatively high. Later in life, between the ages of 1-4 years, the main causes of hospital admission are gastroenteritis and also respiratory infection. The low birth weight (LBW) rate declined to less than 10 per cent in 1990 and child malnutrition has been significantly reduced. In 1980, the proportion of undernourished children aged 1 to 5 years, attending clinics was as high as 42 per cent. By 1995 the level had been reduced to 4.4 per cent with only 78 children affected, only three of whom were classified as severely malnourished.

Education

The Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has given priority attention to education for several years and at present devotes a relatively high proportion of GNP to educational development (Table 7, p. 159). Public schools are in the majority. By 1995, eight of the nine secondary schools were Government operated and accounted for 97 per cent of enrollment. Satisfactory teacher-pupil ratios have also been achieved (Table 7). At the School of Continuing Studies, an extramural wing of the University of the West Indies, first year undergraduate courses and certificate programmes are offered. Adult and continuing education programmes are also offered in the two Multi-Purpose Workshops which have been built, one in Basseterre in St. Kitts, the other in Charlestown in Nevis, and remedial reading centers have been established.

With high levels of literacy achieved (Table 7), the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has turned attention to other educational priorities. Over the last decade, the process of entry to secondary school has been restructured with the abolition of the Common Entrance (Eleven Plus) Examination and the automatic transfer of pupils to the nearest secondary school. Special programmes have been implemented including Family Life Education, introduced into primary and secondary schools in 1987. A school meals programme, introduced in 1981, expanded to incorporate 22 primary schools by 1995. The School Attendance Officers appointed in 1991 have made significant progress in reducing levels of truancy. The under-enrollment of young children in pre-schools is, however, a matter of concern to Government, although training for teachers at this level is provided in the local Teachers Training College. Overall, the proportion of trained teachers in St. Kitts and Nevis compares favorably with that of neighboring OECS countries.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 106 St. Kitts and Nevis participate in the OECS Education Reform Strategy. This programme has provided a framework for regional collaboration within which national priorities of curriculum development, standardized testing and teacher training identified by St. Kitts and Nevis are being addressed.

In addition to an emphasis on formal and continuing education, the 1996-98 strategic plan makes provision for in-service training schemes for enhancing job skills especially among the youth. An Inter-Ministerial Committee has been established to work out the details, indicating recognition that this is a matter for inter-sectoral collaboration.

Child Education

The provision of education in St. Kitts and Nevis ranks high within the Caribbean. With the abolition of the Common Entrance Examination, virtually all children gain automatic entry into secondary schools. However, there is room for an improvement in CXC results which, in 1995, were below 50 per cent for English A and somewhat over one- third for Mathematics (Table 8, p. 160). A gender bias in enrollment and achievement appears at the upper primary level and becomes more marked through secondary and tertiary levels of education. The overall sex ratio at primary levels shows that boys outnumber girls, but that at the top of the primary schools boys are already dropping out, despite the efforts of specially appointed School Attendance Officers. At secondary schools in 1994-95, the overall enrollment was 50.85 per cent female (except at private schools where girls outnumber boys by over 3:1), but by fifth form level, the proportion of girls had risen to 60.1 per cent. In the same academic year, sixth form enrollment was 63.7 per cent female.

Multisectoral Issues

Child Rights and Development

Children and Families at Risk

Overall figures indicate that in 1995, a total of 25 children were abused, of which 10 were girls. Harris' Home for Boys has accommodation for 16, but it is in a run-down condition. At present, there are only 3 boys enrolled, although there is a permanent staff of 7. The St. Kitts Children's Home has 19 children, mainly orphaned, abandoned, abused or neglected. The children in both homes attend local schools during the day. There is no home for girls. The Social Welfare Department, in conjunction with the police force, deals with cases of child abuse and reports an increase in the number of such cases in recent years.

Statistics on disabilities among children are unavailable. Institutional facilities provided include the Mental Retardation Unit which catered to 22 students in 1995 and is located on the same compound as a primary school so that students are integrated with other children and the community. The School for the Deaf housed 14 children in 1995 and the

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 107 St. Vincent de Paul Centre is home to 7 mostly disabled children, including one baby affected with HIV/AIDS.

There is no reported evidence of child labour, child a prostitution or street child in St. Kitts and Nevis. The number of convicted juveniles has fluctuated between 20 and 60 over the last decade. The 1995 figure was 51, two-thirds of who were male. A Juvenile Magistrates Court exists and is linked with the Harris' Home for Boys. Boys are referred for punishment including "flogging". In 1989, a Juvenile Delinquency Department was established within the police force. Its main functions are counselling and developing community awareness and response to the problem.

There is no statistical or research information available on the problem of drug abuse among children and young people though the incidence has increased in recent years.

Child Protection

St. Kitts and Nevis ratified the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in July 1990. Several legal provisions have been made for the protection of children. The Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act provides for stiffer penalties for child abuse and incest and for in camera hearings for sexual offenses. Provisions for child maintenance have been extended to children of 18 years of age and the flat weekly rate of EC$15 has been replaced by calculations based on what is affordable determined in accordance with the magistrate's discretion. The Status of Children Act removes discrimination on the grounds of illegitimacy and gives equal rights to paternity, maintenance and inheritance. The age of consent has been increased to 16 years and legal provision made for compulsory education between the ages of 5 and 16.

Human Resource Development

One of the main thrusts of human resource development in St. Kitts and Nevis has been the development of the educational sector. Issues of adequate provision and equity within the system have been forefront on the agenda. By contrast, the health sector is not as heavily financed. The allocation of the total government expenditure within the 20/20 compact for St. Kitts and Nevis is unknown (see Table 13, p. 165).

Advancement/Empowerment of Women

The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis ratified the 1979 UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and, in 1984, established a full Ministry of Women's Affairs. The Ministry has concentrated its efforts on training women in leadership and entrepreneurial skills, in particular through two major projects, the Agricultural Project for Rural Women and Generating Resources for Women (GROW). Public education programmes have been launched, especially through radio. The

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 108 NGOs with which the Ministry collaborates include women's service clubs, church groups and branches of political parties. Government financial assistance for these programmes is inadequate and the Ministry relies heavily on international agencies.

Status of Women

In 1992, there was one female minister and the situation has remained unchanged to the present (Table 9, p. 161). There are 3 Permanent Secretaries in the Ministries of Education, Women's Affairs and Foreign Affairs respectively and only 15 per cent of the heads of departments in the Civil Service are women.

Female unemployment is estimated to be 26.2 per cent compared with a male figure of 23.8 per cent. In the private sector, women are moving into prominent positions in the law, banking, insurance and tourism. The number of female lawyers rose from 2 in 1986 to 15 in 1993, representing 35 per cent of the total. Of a total of 773 businesses operating in 1993, solely women owned 34.3 per cent and a further 20.6 jointly owned. Only 13.1 per cent of the police force are female.

The low levels of women's occupational status (sales clerks, service workers and other elementary occupations) combined with a high rate of female-headed households is indicative of the poverty experienced by the majority of women and their families in St. Kitts and Nevis (Table 10, p. 162). The country also reflects the prevailing Caribbean patterns of low marriage and divorce rates (Table 10).

Violence against women

In 1990, 32 cases of rape and indecent assault were reported, up from 26 in 1985. However, it is believed that this under-represents the true picture, since only minorities of women come forward to report these crimes. The sensitization programme of the Ministry of Women's Affairs is expected to improve the levels of reporting and conviction.

Law Reform

Law reforms significant for women in St. Kitts and Nevis includes the Protection of Employment Act, 1986, which provides for maternity leave as well as severance. In addition, the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act has increased the penalties for rape, incest and other sex offenses and provided for in camera hearings. The Social Security Board recognizes the rights of common law wives, but not by the law.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 109 Population and Reproductive Health

The population of St. Kitts and Nevis is small and declining, with a low density (Table 11, p. 163). The majority (78.3 per cent) is resident in St. Kitts. Between 1980 and 1991, the decline of 0.06 per cent of the population was due mainly to out migration. The crude birth rate has been steadily reduced from the 1981 figure of 25.9 to 21.9 in 1994 and the crude death rate has fallen slightly from 10.3 in 1981 to 9.6 in 1994. St. Kitts and Nevis have an aging population. Between 1980 and 1991 the youth dependency ratio fell by 3.2 per cent while the old-age dependency ratio rose by the same proportion.

Reproductive Health

Although teenage pregnancy continues to concern health officials, St. Kitts and Nevis have experienced considerable success in reducing the rate of adolescent births from 30 per cent of total births in 1980 to 16.7 in 1997. The problem is attributed to early sexual initiation, for some below age 15, and careless attitudes, since the knowledge and availability of contraceptives is good. No maternal mortality occurred during the 1994-95 period and virtually all births took place in hospital, attended by trained medical personnel.

Governance

The political system in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis political system is based on the British traditions of democracy and the principle of fair and free popular elections, regularly undertaken. Since 1952, 11 general elections have been held in the Federation and for 7, only two political parties have been the major participants. In addition, since 1983, 2 Nevisian parties have contested the seats in that island. The current governing party has been elected to power on 7 occasions, the main opposition party, twice and there have been 2 coalitions Governments with elected members from Nevis. Since 1996, the main political faction in Nevis has requested secession from St. Kitts. A special CARICOM Commission, in part funded by UNDP was set up to negotiate a solution. The Commission’s findings have led to the formation of a Constitutional Task Force to consider modalities for a new constitution.

Legislative System

St. Kitts and Nevis's legislative system consists of a federal and unicameral Parliament, which, though subject to the provisions of the constitution, is the only law- making body for the Federation. It is composed of 11 elected members and 3 Senators. Eight of the elected members represent St. Kitts and 3, Nevis. The governing party and 1 by the main opposition party appoint 2 of the Senators. Elected members alone have the authority to constitute the executive arm of Government. A system of self-government obtains in Nevis through constitutional provisions, which have established a Premier, a

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 110 legislature with exclusive and concurrent legislative powers and the right of secession from the Federation.

The Executive System

The Executive System of St. Kitts and Nevis consists of the Queen who is Head of State represented by the Governor General, the Cabinet of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister and the Civil Service. Public sector reform focuses on greater fiscal management and use of resources.

Judicial System

St. Kitts and Nevis' Judicial System comprises the British Privy Council, a Court of Appeal, a High Court of Justice and the Magistrates Courts. As is the case in all Commonwealth Caribbean Countries the British Privy Council has been retained from the pre-independence period as the final Court of Appeal in all civil and criminal matters. St. Kitts and Nevis share a Supreme Court with the other 5 independent members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The Supreme Court is made up of a Court of Appeal and a High Court of Justice. The Court of Appeal, comprising the Chief Justice and 3 Justices, decide on civil appeals from Magistrates Courts, and both civil and criminal appeals from the High Court.

The High Court comprises 9 Puisne Judges with 1 based in the country. Court is held before 1 Judge at least once a month in civil and criminal matters. Civil matters are heard without jury and jury tries criminal cases. Magistrate’s courts consist of a Chief Magistrate and up to 4 other magistrates as appointed. Their jurisdiction covers civil and criminal matters without jury.

Human Rights Policy

A declaration of individual rights and freedoms is entrenched in the St. Kitts and Nevis Constitution. These rights include, life, personal liberty and security, freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly, privacy, freedom from unlawful search, freedom of movement, protection from discrimination, and protection for the criminally accused such as fair trial, trial by jury and the right to appeal. St. Kitts and Nevis are a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Legal Aid Services

St. Kitts and Nevis do not have a formalized Legal Aid Service though provision is made for legal representation in murder cases.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 111 The Environment

One of the main environmental problems faced by St. Kitts and Nevis is the loss of topsoil from soil erosion. This problem is considered a relic from the centuries of cotton and sugar production. The de-vegetation of the slopes in St. Kitts and Nevis however is a major contributor to the problem. Erosion in Nevis, particularly in the southern section of the island, is attributed to the grazing activity of feral goats (CCA, 1991).

Like the other countries of the OECS, solid waste management, sewage and industrial waste collection, treatment and disposal, chemical pollution, marine and coastal pollution, and drinking water quality are additional areas of environmental concern.

The problems of solid waste management are increasing with the creation of sporadic dumpsites throughout the island. The increasing use of disposable products, especially with the increase of tourism-related activity, will exacerbate the problem.

Improper sewage and industrial waste treatment and disposal have resulted in marine and coastal water pollution. CEHI water quality studies found bacterial counts of up to 5,000 per millilitre in marine waters on the Basseterre Bay shorefront. This indicates that there is direct discharge of sewage into the shorefront. Given the role of tourism in the economy of St. Kitts Nevis, the country needs to better safeguard its marine environment (CCA, 1991).

Water treatment, and water quality is diversed throughout the islands. Not all areas in St. Kitts are serviced by treated water, or by extensive treatment. Water supplied to Basseterre is treated, but there is no guarantee that the rest of the island will have access to treatment facilities. The health implications of this are numerous, including high incidences of gastroenteritis and diarrhea. One of the major problems faced by the 2 islands is the lack of water quality tests. The use of rainwater for drinking in Nevis may pose a problem for regulating the drinking water quality in the future (CCA, 1991).

Conclusion

While the small sugar industry is an important foreign exchange earner for the country, the economy is dominated by the services sector, especially tourism. With the exception of 1998, St Kitts recorded relatively high growth rates over the 1990s. The Government is seeking to diversify the economy by encouraging private sector investment in informatics and manufacturing. The Government is providing the social infrastructure to encourage both domestic and foreign investment. Little information exists on poverty in the country. The high proportion of government expenditure in education has resulted in a relatively high literacy rate. There is, however, still some concern for the poor secondary school performance in public examinations. Expenditure on health has been relatively low, but the health status of the country is relatively good. There is a concern with the increase in chronic non-communicable (lifestyle) diseases. There is still a need to develop special

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 112 services for children, the disabled and women. Unemployment is particularly high among young females in the country. Environmental problems are also present in the form of solid waste management, soil erosion and water quality.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 113 SUMMARY ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

GOVERNMENT-STATED ISSUES PRIORITIES ASSESSMENT OF NEED(S) STRATEGIES Economic Sustain tourism growth and change Diversification of agriculture into Facilitate skills development, Work through OECS to strengthen the patterns of production in non-traditional crops, revitalizing improve incentive framework, integration process, negotiations on agriculture and manufacture to take sugar and implementing land tenure expand industrial infrastructure trade, foreign relations advantage of changes in the market programme. (opportunities). Infomatics is a new area of concentration and investment Attract foreign investment for light in economic infrastructure -- roads, manufacturing and new technology seaports, and airports -- to receive sustained budgetary support. Pursue possibilities in offshore banking Health Maintain good health status Paying attention to efficient delivery Prevent slippage indicated by the Share services with other OECS and of public health services and gradual reemergence of some CARICOM countries sustainable financing communicable diseases

Education Under-enrollment Special education, including family Plan for a sustained pre-school Participate in OECS Reform life education, school meal programme Strategy and share benefits programme Children Increasing numbers of abused Striving to improve facilities for Guidance and counselling. children at risk preventive programmes such as drug abuse Better statistics and methods of data collection

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 114 Women Improve economic status of women Job creation to reduce high Special programmes to reduce unemployment among women and poverty among women, including health promotion to reduce teenage female-headed households pregnancies Governance Reconciliation of relations between Increasing the role and functions of Strengthen the process of Sustained mediation of CARICOM islands a national coalition with shared decentralization as a mechanism to in collaboration with OECS and responsibilities for policy making deal with sectional interest, and other agencies create effective governance.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 115 SAINT LUCIA: GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Introduction

Saint Lucia, in comparison to most of the other OECS countries, has been enjoying reasonable economic growth. Economic growth increased in 1998 to 2.9 per cent following growth of 0.6 per cent in 1997. There was value-added in all sectors excluding manufacturing, this sector contracted for the third consecutive year. In 1998 the rate of inflation increased when compared with the previous year, however, wages and salaries declined moderately.

The contribution of the sectors to real GDP varies. Agriculture's share declined from 17.5 per cent in 1977 to 11.7 per cent in 1994 to 11 per cent in 1997. In the same period, tourism increased from 8.4 per cent to 11 per cent; manufacturing fluctuated from 6.3 per cent in 1977 to 9 per cent in 1987 and fell to 6.4 per cent in 1994; and construction increased from 4.4 per cent to 9.5 per cent. The other sectors which together accounted for 47.3 per cent of real GDP in 1994, include: transportation and communication (18 per cent), wholesale and retail (14.2 per cent), banking and insurance (8.2 per cent), real estate (5.2 per cent), electricity and water (3.4 per cent), mining and quarrying (0.7 per cent), and other services (3.2 per cent).

Saint Lucia's balance of payments deficit was approximately 11.2 per cent of its Net Disposal Income (NDI) over the period 1994-95. Related to this is a resource gap that has increased from 2.6 per cent in 1986 to a high of 17 per cent in 1989, tapering off to approximately 12.4 per cent in the period 1990-94. External financing of the resource gap has been in the form of direct investment, which ranged from 5 per cent of NDI in 1986 to a high of 13.9 per cent in 1988 to 6.6 per cent in 1994. The contribution of the commercial banks fluctuated between zero (1986-88) and 4.9 per cent of NDI (1989), and between 0 per cent (1990-92) and 3.5 per cent (1993-94). Public sector long-term flows increased steadily from 1 per cent of NDI in 1986 to 3.2 per cent in 1988 to 4.6 per cent in 1992 and fell to 0.7 per cent in 1994.

The pressure on the economy is compounded by an increase in external medium and long term debt from US$29.6 million in 1985 to US$126.8 million by 1996 which represents an increase from 13.2 per cent to 31.3 per cent of GDP at 1990 market prices. Debt servicing which increased from 1 per cent in 1986 to 3.6 per cent in 1993 fell to 3.3 per cent in 1996. One positive indicator of debt sustainability is that the effective rate of interest on external debt at an average of 5.3 per cent between 1989 and 1994 was lower than the average growth of export of goods and services of 9.6 per cent.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 116 Agriculture

In Saint Lucia, agricultural production is the single most important activity, and is centered on the banana industry, with increasing attention being given to the non- traditional agricultural crops. During the last 10 years, the sector accounted for an average of 50 per cent of the merchandise exports, approximately a quarter of the labor force, and more than 11 per cent of GDP. Banana production facilitated by the existence of preferential trading status in the European market provided 59.8 per cent of value added.

However, in 1997, the agricultural sector registered significant decline with a contraction of 17.9 per cent in 1997. The contribution of the sector to domestic output continued also to decrease, from 11.1 per cent in 1996 to 9.0 in 1997, increasing to 9.2 per cent in 1998, a clear reversal of the trend. The main reason for this reversal is the recovery of the banana industry and the strengthening of the non-traditional crops sector. Output of bananas increased by 4.5 per cent to 74,595 tonnes in 1998, accounting for 51.6 per cent of the total production for the 4 banana producing countries in the region. However, banana production contracted by 32.4 per cent in the previous year. This reversal in improvement in the banana industry was still faced with a decline of its contribution to real output of the agricultural sector from 52.7 per cent in 1997 to 51.9 per cent in 1998. This revival of the banana industry was partly due to the adjustment process undertaken in the industry, which intensified during the year with the implementation of the banana recovery plan. The increased price in 1997, which was maintained in 1998 with the institution of a price stabilization mechanism, also stimulated output growth.

Despite this improved performance Saint Lucia once again failed to meet its quota to the European Union (EU) market and incurred dead freight shipping cost. Despite this decline, the quality of fruit produced improved substantially in 1997, with the established minimum standards being surpassed. Based on the percentage units within specification (PUWS), Saint Lucia recorded a quality score of 87.0 per cent in 1998 compared with 83.0 per cent in 1997. However the creation of the Single European Market, and the removal of preferential trade agreements by 2002, require greater efforts in rethinking the technical and managerial aspects of the industry, both locally and regionally.

With regard to the production of non-traditional crops, the growth rate remained relatively constant. Cocoa production increased by 10.8 per cent to 27.2 tonnes during the first half of 1997. Similarly, export volume and value increased by 11.8 per cent, respectively. The production of non-traditional crops declined by 14 per cent during the first half of the year 1998, resulting from a ban imposed by Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Maarten on agricultural goods from Saint Lucia after the discovery of the Pink Mealy Bug.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 117 Value added in the livestock and fishing sub-sectors grew by 16.2 per cent and 11.6 per cent respectively in 1998 compared with increases of 36.4 per cent and 20.3 per cent in 1996 respectively.

The medium-term objectives of Government agricultural policy revolve around several pertinent objectives including the restructuring of the banana industry, establishing appropriate safety nets to mitigate the effects from the banana restructuring, increasing the emphasis on diversification of export crops such as cocoa, fisheries, and agro-processing.

Industry

The industrial sector is made up essentially of comparatively large, foreign- owned export oriented apparel and electronic component manufacturing operations, and smaller indigenous import substituting manufacturers producing processed agricultural goods like copra, beverages, paper products and other light manufactured items. In 1994, the sector accounted for 12.1 per cent of the overall employment with the wearing apparel employing the largest number of workers (42 per cent) in the sector; electronics 17 per cent; paper and plastics 13.8 per cent; and food and beverages 12.3 per cent. The sector's share of GDP was 6.8 per cent in 1985, 9.1 per cent in 1987, 6.4 per cent in 1994 and 20 per cent in 1997. The general decline in the 1987-94 period was a reflection of average declines within the manufacturing sub-sectors: non-alcoholic beverages (24.3 per cent), wearing apparel (14.1 per cent), coconut derivatives (12.1 per cent), paper products (5.1 per cent), and electronics (0.2 per cent). Despite various incentives like tax holidays designed to attract foreign investments into the sector, the persistent declines have been partly due to the fact that the incentives are predicated on assumptions like low wages. But wage increases in Saint Lucia have been relatively higher than competing centers and CBI-based advantages have been eroded with the advent of NAFTA.

The manufacturing sector continued to experience difficulties in 1998 where value added contracted by 2.1 per cent, the third consecutive year of decline. Real output fell by 0.3 per cent in 1997 and 6.8 per cent in 1996. The sector’s contribution to GDP declined by 0.3 percentage points to 6.1 per cent. This performance was the result of contractions in the major industries in the sector, reflective of the increase in competition as a result of the lowering of preferential treatment. There were declines in production of paperboard products (3.4 per cent), electrical products (0.1 per cent), textiles (20.4 per cent), wearing apparel (29.5 per cent), plastic products (63.0 per cent) and copra derivatives (43.8 per cent).

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 118 In an attempt to reverse these adverse trends, the Government of Saint Lucia has devised a Trade and Industrial Sector Strategy, which included the development of locally owned small and medium-sized enterprises and the establishment of a Small Enterprise Development Unit within the Ministry of Trade. This Unit is charged with the responsibility of improving the efficiency of operations within the sector.

Services

The major services are in the areas of tourism and informatics. Value-added in the tourism industry expanded by 2.4 per cent in 1998 compared with 10.6 per cent in 1997. The sector’s contribution to real output remained constant at 13.0 per cent in 1998. The lower rate of growth in value added reflected the slowdown in the rate in increase stay-over visitors. Stay-over visitors increased by 1.5 per cent to 252,237, representing 30.0 per cent of total stay-over visitors to the region. In the previous year these visitors rose by 5.4. Cruise ship passengers grew by 19.9 per cent to 372,068. As a consequence, total visitor arrivals expanded by 11.7 per cent in 1998 compared with growth of 32.2 per cent in 1997.

The number of stay-over visitors from the main markets, the USA, the UK and the Caribbean grew by 10.5 per cent, 6.0 per cent and 8.4 per cent respectively. Consequently, the market share of visitors from the USA increased by 2.6 percentage points to 32.2 per cent in 1998, meanwhile those for the Caribbean and the UK visitors grew by 2.4 percentage points and 1.0 percentage point respectively.

There has also been a steady growth in investment in the sector. Total rooms increased at a rate of 6.1 per cent per annum between 1985 and 1994 and the estimated returns were US$2.97 million before tax compared with the average of US$2.35 million for the English-speaking Caribbean as a whole. International chains own 20 per cent of the hotels. Approximately 80 per cent of hotel rooms are within medium sized range of between 69-399 rooms. Since 1993, there has been an increasing number of smaller properties together with greater participation by locals in their ownership and management, a trend that is being encouraged by the Government.

Value added in the construction sector grew by 3.4 per cent in 1998, following marginal growth of 0.4 per cent in 1997. The sector’s share of total output increased marginally by 0.1 percentage point to 8.1 per cent. This growth in value added was directly related to the relatively high level of public sector capital expenditure, which grew by 43.4 per cent with central government contributing largely to the increase. Construction activity from the public sector focussed mainly on road rehabilitation and construction, including the cul-de-sac tunnel and highway, with expenditure on this project estimated at $53.8 million in 1998. Other public sector projects included the construction of the Pointe Seraphine Berthing facility ($16.8 million), a multi- storey car

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 119 park, police stations, government office blocks ($7.0 million) and school buildings ($7.1 million). The driving force to growth was also provided by a significant increase in private sector construction. The major private sector project was the construction of a hotel estimated at US$54.0 million, of which 65.0 per cent was spent in 1998. Other construction activity in the private sector was associated mainly with investments by the Electricity Company ($13.4 million) and the Telecommunications Company ($18.9 million), as well as commercial and residential buildings.

Value-added in the wholesale and retail trade sector increased by 4.5 per cent in 1998, following growth of 3.2 per cent in 1997. This sector’s share of GDP grew to 14.0 per cent. The performance of the sector was significantly influenced by positive developments in the foreign exchange earning sectors of the economy.

Transportation’s share of GDP remained constant at 10.9 per cent, while value- added grew by 3.2 per cent. This growth was related to an increase in value-added in road (3.3 per cent), air (4.2 per cent) and sea (2.0 per cent) transport activity. At the same time a 3.7 per cent growth in value added was recorded for the communications sector. For government services, which were the third most significant contributor to GDP with a share of 12.4 per cent, a 1.5 per cent increase in value added was recorded.

Informatics is a relatively new area being promoted by Government. It is envisaged that this development will be accompanied by training schemes that prepare potential employers for entry into this field. Government is also negotiating with the appropriate Telecommunications Company for concessional terms.

Other Areas

Trade

Implicit in the policies affecting the agricultural, services and manufacturing sectors is the role of trade in the economic development of the country. The deficit on the trade balance account is forecasted to increase from US$184,000 in 1995 to US$208,000 (1996-98) to US$250,800 (1998-2002). Services, however, are projected at a net increase from US$99,000 in 1995 to US$140,000 in 1996-98 and US$200,000 in 1999-2000.

Privatization

The Government has a planned programme of improvements to the public transportation system, roads and highways, expansion and upgrade of the island’s telephone fibre optics system and the George F.L. Charles Airport and the Hewanorra International Airport at Vieux Fort. The Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited,

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 120 privatized in 1993, is in the process of increasing its high voltage transmission in anticipation of the estimated 10-15 per cent growth in demand. The National Development Corporation and the Saint Lucia Development Trust jointly administer the fiscal incentive scheme to attract foreign investments. The NDC has been responsible for the diversification of the economy since the early 1980s through the establishment of industrial estates which have attracted investments in apparel, assembly of electronic goods, sporting goods, toys and games and other light manufacturing, and data processing. The employment opportunities provided by these estates have been sustained except for the down turn in the apparel enterprises. Their replacements have mainly been small firms from the local private sector, which in turn have been associated with the gradual increases in employment.

In this context the role of the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF) is significant. It has made small and micro enterprises the focus of its portfolio and drafted the Small Enterprises Bill for Saint Lucia. Over the 10-year period of its operation it has helped to establish and sustain several enterprises, disbursed 221 loans, directly created approximately 1000 jobs, trained approximately 900 entrepreneurs and employees in micro enterprises. Of these, 46 per cent were women. The extension of its programme to communities and community groups is one of the newer initiatives of NRDF, intended to support specific programmes, such as the Youth Enterprise Programme, and geared toward skills training and business practices.

Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods

Based on a 1995 poverty assessment survey (Kairi Consultants 1996), 18.7 per cent of the households in Saint Lucia were classified as poor and 5.3 per cent as indigent, and 25.1 per cent of the population were classified as poor and 7.1 per cent as indigent. The survey recorded a poverty gap estimate of 8.6 per cent, meaning that the poor population needs 8.6 per cent of the value of the poverty line to raise their incomes to the value of the poverty line. The poor are concentrated in the rural areas. Poor, compared with non-poor households had fewer income earners, more children and persons below working age; higher unemployment and lower labor force participation; and lower educational attainment. The survey also identified the working poor who were concentrated in agriculture, essentially male small farmers, and the manufacturing sector, mainly female.

Subsidized services are offered by the state to bring relief to the poorest households. Among these is better school feeding programmes and the provision of textbooks. However, the survey indicated that only 37 per cent of the poor households benefited from these schemes. Therefore, one emerging priority is the need to establish appropriate mechanisms to ensure better targeting of services to the poor. In the case of health care, for example, poor households utilize public services more than the non-poor,

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 121 by a ratio approximating to 3:1. Compared to the non-poor, they also use the private sector health facilities less, 1:4. Based on household survey data, spending on the social sectors is relatively high, comprising 8 per cent of overall GDP. Primary education, for example, is universal; its benefits are therefore progressive since poor households tend to have on average more children than wealthier ones.

The present safety net structure in Saint Lucia is based on the loosely structured poor relief, social welfare system that involves contributions by the state and NGOs, with external support. The safety net, which was always inadequate, is now ineffectual. This is due to the economic declines largely associated with structural adjustment, increasing numbers of unemployed, increasing numbers of retirees over the age of 60 years, and declining external support for NGOs. The Public Assistance Act 1967 provides some support to "needy persons". Social welfare recipients received from EC$40 for 1 person to EC$120 for a family of 5. These amounts are far from adequate. The recent development of a Poverty Reduction Fund in Saint Lucia signals the national efforts to eradicate poverty.

A number of NGOs perform social welfare services, including the Saint Lucia Save the Children Fund (LUSAVE) initially supported by the Canadian's CANSAVE but now also supported by CADEC and UNICEF. CARITAS ANTILLES, the regional Catholic offshoot of CARITAS INTERNATIONALES, is involved in skills training especially among the youths; and the Crisis Centre, is involved in counselling and support to victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and child abuse.

While safety net programmes provide subsidies and short-term relief, the Government is considering a social investment fund as part of its NRDF Programme, specially targeting to providing opportunities for micro-enterprise activity by poorer communities and groups.

Sectoral Issues

Health

Saint Lucia enjoys relatively good levels of health. The crude birth rate was 22.4 live births per 1000 in 1997 compared with 49 per 1000 in 1970; while the crude death rate has declined from 15 per 1000 in 1960 to 6.6 per thousand in 1997.

Saint Lucia is nevertheless one of the countries with a health profile covering both the upper and lower end of the epidemiological spectrum. On the one hand, the chronic non-communicable diseases such as heart diseases, neoplasms, diabetes mellitus, and cerebral-vascular disease are now the major causes of mortality. On the other hand,

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 122 there is the re-emergence of some communicable diseases such as dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever and the persistence of reproductive health problems originating in the perinatal period. The latter are among the top 10 causes of mortality, and are much higher among the pediatric group and adolescents. Mortality and injuries due to motor vehicle accidents and homicides, and to HIV/AIDS are among the main contributors to the death rate.

This trend reveals the need for health reform initiatives to respond to the ongoing changes in the patterns of mortality and morbidity, generally reflected in an aging population. The present health trends require more sophisticated secondary and tertiary level care and at the same time, strategies for strengthening preventive and primary health care.

To achieve these objectives, Government has undertaken several programmes - including the upgrading the Victoria Hospital into a full general hospital - financed by European Development Fund (EDF). It proposes to undertake an assessment of the organization, management and compatibility of the primary and secondary care facilities, their rationalization and financing and their overall quality, effectiveness and efficiency. Government's initial views on health reform indicate that consideration will be given to increasing the scope for sharing medical services with other OECS and CARICOM countries. Consideration will also be given to the introduction of a National Insurance scheme on a phased basis, and the recruitment and training of personnel in response to some of the major problem areas. These include the shortages of scientific and technical skills such as laboratory technicians, radiographers, nutritionists; and the inability to adequately service the network of health centers and clinics.

Child Health

The situation of child health in Saint Lucia has improved over the last generation. The neonatal mortality rate has been reduced from 16 in 1985 to only 9 in 1994. The main causes of death continue to be prematurity, respiratory problems and asphyxia. The IMR has also been reduced considerably from a high rate of over 100 in the 1960s to the 1997 figure of 24, though there are still fluctuations. The main causes of illness and death in children aged 1-4 years are gastroenteritis, respiratory tract infections including pneumonia, and congenital abnormality. Morbidity has been considerably reduced in the 4-5 age groups though cases of mumps, dengue and influenza are reported.

The proportion of babies suffering from LBW has been reduced to below 10 per cent since 1990. Malnutrition in children under 5 years has seen a dramatic decline from 69 cases reported in 1984 to only 3 in 1994 and the number of deaths attributed to severe malnutrition has fallen from five between 1985 and 1989 to 2 during the years 1990 to 1994. Much of this decline has been attributed to the provision of school meals, costing

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 123 40 cents a day in many of the primary schools in particular. However, the programme is threatened since support from the World Food Programme came to an end in 1998.

Education

The Educational system has been given priority in the overall budgetary expenditure over the past 5 years. The Government has taken responsibility for the provision of all primary and secondary education, while contributing to the provision of tertiary and vocational education. Since 1990, it has been involved in a process of rationalizing post-secondary level training by bringing tertiary and technical/vocational education under the umbrella of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. The College covers pre-University courses, the training of nurses, agricultural technicians, teachers, some paraprofessional occupations and technical training. It also offers undergraduate degree courses in Arts, Social Sciences and Natural Science disciplines since 1988, and was authorized by the University of the West Indies in 1995 to offer second year programmes in the Arts, and Social Sciences.

The Government's Basic Educational Reform Project is the vehicle for improving the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of education at all levels. Emphasis is placed on basic teacher training, better management of schools, more appropriate curricula, increases in secondary places in under-served areas, and generally increasing access to achieve greater equity.

Saint Lucia participates in the OECS Education Reform Strategy, aimed at improving the quality of school performance and management; increasing broad-based community participation in the educational process, improving guidance and counselling for "at-risk-youth", including teenage mothers, and actively reducing the drop out rates.

Child Education

The Saint Lucia Education Act (1977) makes education compulsory from ages 5 to 15 years and provision at primary level is generally good. However, only an estimated 44 per cent of those achieving acceptable results at the Common Entrance Examination acquire places at secondary school. Results for CXC are relatively poor (Table 8, p. 160). The prevalence of the Creole language in Saint Lucian homes is likely, at least in part, to be responsible for the low pass rate in English A. Boys slightly outnumber girls at primary schools, constituting 51.5 per cent of total enrollment. However, the high dropout rate, estimated at 25 per cent annually since 1990, is two- thirds male. Girls outperform boys at the Common Entrance Examination, in 1994 gaining 55.2 per cent of secondary school places and constituting 56.9 per cent of overall enrollment. The dropout rate at secondary school is low, only 3.3 per cent in 1994, and is due primarily to the withdrawal of pregnant girls. The 'A' level pass rate, estimated at

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 124 68.1 per cent, has improved markedly since the establishment of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College.

Multi-Sectoral Issues

Child Rights and Development

Children and Families at Risk

Reported cases of child maltreatment in Saint Lucia have risen dramatically over the last 10 years, though how much of this is due to increased community awareness and a willingness to come forward rather than an actual increase in the incidence is unknown. Of the 102 reported cases in 1994, most were physical abuse (42 per cent), followed by sexual abuse (34 per cent). Neglect and abandonment accounted for the remaining 24 per cent of cases. Virtually all of the sexual abuse victims were girls and the perpetrator fathers, stepfathers or other adult male relatives. LUSAVE runs a day care and pre-school center for about 100 disadvantaged children and the Saint Lucia Crisis Center provides a voluntary walk-in programme for parents and children. There are, however, no homes for these children and the alternative is foster care informally organized by the Social Welfare Department.

According to figures available for 1991, children constituted 8.1 per cent of the total 9,449 persons in Saint Lucia with disabilities. There is no breakdown of these figures available in terms of age, sex or the nature of the disability. Programmes for the blind and those with other disabilities are available.

Laws for child labour protects the children of Saint Lucia. However, there is some evidence of children working on "banana days" and more recently in urban areas as vendors. The phenomenon of street children is not considered to be a problem in Saint Lucia and is confined to young boys who run away for a day or two before returning home. There is no indication of child prostitution.

Juvenile delinquency is a growing problem involving mainly boys. In 1992/3, 125 new cases of delinquent boys aged 10- 17 were reported and, by 1994/95, the number had risen to 337. The majority was in trouble for burglary and theft. Only a few were reported for drug offenses, but this is considered to grossly under-represent the actual involvement in drugs. The Boys Training Center and the Upton Girls Garden Center provide programmes for delinquent youths. The centers however operate under severe financial limitations and carry a social stigma. Their programmes are directed to training in practical, vocational skills, not to counselling and rehabilitation. Repeat offenders over the age of 16 are sent to prison where they are not separated from adult criminals. A total of 32 of the 404 prisoners are below 25 years of age.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 125 It is generally known that the problems of drug abuse are affecting young people in Saint Lucia, including school children, but data are not available. In some secondary schools a Drug Free Club has been set up. Other than this, a detoxification center, Turning Point, has been established but, the fee at EC$50 a day is prohibitive for most of the population.

Child Protection

Saint Lucia ratified the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in June 1993. The Saint Lucia Child Advocacy Committee (SLCAC), a voluntary group of individuals from the private and public sector, was established in March 1991 to spearhead reforms to bring Saint Lucia in line with the CRC recommendations. The group has paid particular attention to public sensitization and provisions for maternal and child health.

Existing legislation deals with many of the issues of the CRC. The Civil Status (Registration of Births) Regulation, 1973 allows for the inclusion of the father's name on the birth certificate of all children. In existence for the protection of children are the Education Act, 1977 and the Children and Young Persons Act, 1952, although both require updating. The Criminal Code (Cap 250) deals with sexual exploitation but provisions protecting boys and against child pornography need to be specifically included. Legislation on physical abuse also needs to be updated, in particular by the addition of codes on mental abuse. The greatest weakness in the laws of Saint Lucia is the distinction made between children born in and out of wedlock. With 87 per cent of births in Saint Lucia classified by law as "illegitimate" (out of wedlock), many children remain unprotected in terms of custody, maintenance and inheritance.

Human Resource Development

There is evidence that human resource development is being seriously addressed, with the emphasis being been placed on revamping the educational system taking into consideration the demands from a more technology-driven and service-oriented economy. Greater provision in Government expenditure has been made for basic education, skills training and continuing studies. The scope of the Sir Arthur Lewis College has been expanded beyond technical subjects to offering degrees in Education and associate degrees of the University of the West Indies in other fields. In addition, emphasis has been given to other social programmes to increase nutritional status and other forms of social welfare. By increasing access to the various services and by placing emphasis on the ways to improve equity, the Government seems intent on increasing its human resource base simultaneously with the reduction of poverty.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 126 The emphasis on human resource development through education is a positive step for the Government. However, a special approach to the vulnerability of females, especially female headed households, and the youth to poverty, must be developed. The Division of Women’s Affairs has been instrumental in providing skills training, especially for rural women. Unfortunately however, household and family commitments, the lack of initial capital to develop the skill, and distance from ready markets negate the efforts of these women. A comprehensive plan for women as a vulnerable group must take into consideration the possible obstacles that could impede their progress.

Human resource development must take into consideration the issues that can reduce the capability of an individual to function efficiently. Health and environmental health issues, psychological issues, family issues and economic issues all become important in a comprehensive programme of human resource development.

Saint Lucia comes very close to meeting the 20/20 compact developed by the United Nations. Total government expenditure is 30 per cent, of which 33 per cent is allocated to the social sectors. Of this 33 per cent, 60 per cent is spent on social priorities. Of the OECS countries, Saint Lucia comes the closest to meeting the 20 per cent allocation to the human development priorities with 19 per cent (see Table 13, p. 165). Based on the credibility of the compact, Saint Lucia is well on its way in improving its human development resources.

Advancement/Empowerment of Women

The Government of Saint Lucia ratified the 1979 UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and, in 1986, established a Women's Desk in the Ministry of Community Development, Youth, Sport and Social Affairs. In 1991, it was upgraded to a Division, with the appointment of two Women's Affairs Officers, and in 1994 it became part of the joint Ministry of Legal Affairs and Women's Affairs. A National Policy Statement on Women is presently being completed. The National Women's Advisory Committee with responsibility for establishing a national policy on women was launched in 1987. Subsequently, in 1991, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Women was launched and later in the same year Cabinet adopted the National Policy on Women. The policy urges the recognition of women's contribution to national development, an improvement in the public image of womanhood, support for their productive roles and policies to enhance women's roles by the development of information, opportunities and authority positions. The Ministry and the Committee work closely with more than 40 non-Governmental organizations, most of which are community development and family life groups and include approximately 20 of the traditional Saint Lucian Mother's and Father's groups. These in turn are

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 127 grouped under the umbrella group, the National Council of Women's Voluntary Organizations (NCWVO).

Status of Women

The participation of women in parliamentary affairs has seen minor improvement since 1992 when there were 4 women representatives (Table 9, p. 161). All 17 of the elected members in the Saint Lucia House of Assembly are male. In 1993 there was 1 woman in Cabinet, by 1997 there were 2. The Senate, however, has 36 per cent female participation. The representation of women in senior administrative positions in the civil service is limited to 13 per cent, a decline over previous years, and in local Government, the first female mayor was appointed in 1993.

Unemployment among women, at 22.5, per cent is almost double that of men (11.7 per cent), though women constituted 39.7 per cent of the economically active population in 1991. Women's employment is concentrated in the service sector (36 per cent) and in teaching, nursing, secretarial services and farming. There has been a significant increase in female representation in the legal profession with the increase of women lawyers to 39 per cent. Only 13.1 per cent of the police force are female.

In Saint Lucia, marriage rates are low and a high proportion of female-headed households, undertaking primary, if not sole responsibility for the economic welfare of their families. Given their high unemployment rate and low occupational levels, their overall status signifies poverty. As would be expected, divorce rates are low (Table 10, p. 162).

Violence against women

Reported cases of violence against women have increased dramatically in recent years, from approximately 89 in 1988-89 to 532 in 1993. The Saint Lucia Crisis Center, a non-Governmental organization to which most of the cases are referred, provides advice and counselling and has identified a site for a shelter for abused women.

Law Reform

Saint Lucia has had a divorce law since 1973. In 1994, legislation on domestic violence was enacted. This was spearheaded by the Saint Lucia Crisis Center. Common law spouses continue to be outside the law with no automatic rights to inheritance and there is no legal provision for abortion.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 128 Population and Reproductive Health

The population of Saint Lucia has grown steadily at an average rate of 1.25 per cent since 1990, although fertility has been reduced in recent years. The crude birth rate, while declining, remains relatively high at 22.4 in 1997. Between 1980 and 1995, the rate fell from 34.0 to 25.6, the lowest for the past 15 years. The crude death rate is also low and declining at 6.6 in 1997, while the IMR at 24 per cent in 1997. Comparing the youth and age dependency ratios indicates that Saint Lucia continues to have a relatively youthful population.

Reproductive Health

Teenage births have been identified as a major reproductive health problem in Saint Lucia, although the rate has fallen from 24.2 per cent of total births in 1986 to 17.3 in 1997. Between 1992 and 1994, a total of 2,050 adolescent births was recorded. A number of factors are perceived to be responsible including high youth unemployment, the lack of sexual counselling in schools, relationships between young girls and older men which provide economic support, the incidence of spontaneous, unprotected sex, and peer pressure. According to recent estimates, 75 per cent of teenagers are sexually active by 19 years of age. In 1991, there were 32 young women between the ages of 15 and 19 with 5 children each.

The overall maternal mortality rate has been considerably reduced to 6 in 1997. However, 3 deaths were recorded from 1985 to 1989 and five between 1990 and 1994.

Governance

Saint Lucia's political system is based on the British traditions of democracy geared to popular elections at least every 5 years.

Universal adult suffrage was introduced in 1951 and has been enshrined in the country's constitution since its independence in 1979. Since 1951, 12 general elections have been held in Saint Lucia, the last 8 were contested by the 2 major parties of which the United Workers Party has won all but 2.

Legislative System

Saint Lucia's Legislative System consists of a bicameral Parliament, which, subject to the provisions of the Constitution, is the only law-making body. The lower chamber, the House of Representatives, is composed of 17 members popularly elected in whom is vested the authority to constitute the executive arm of Government. The upper chamber, the Senate, comprises 11 members of whom 6 are appointed by the governing

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 129 party, 3 by the opposition party, and 2 by the Head of State. The House of Representatives constitutionally holds legislative supremacy over the Senate since bills passed by the former may still become law if the latter fails to endorse them. Statutory provisions are made for Local Authorities but none are active.

The Executive System

The Executive System of Saint Lucia consists of the Queen, who is Head of State, represented by the Governor General, the Cabinet of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister and the Civil Service.

Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries are drawn from elected members and Senators. The Prime Minister presides over the State's Executive functions, which also determines the size of the Cabinet. Appointments to the Civil Service are made by a Services Commission, which theoretically exercises its functions independently of the political directorate. However, appointment to senior level posts involves the Prime Minister either by way of consultation or direct power of appointment. Decision-making is centralized with power ultimately vested in the Ministers of Cabinet and Civil Servants are given administrative responsibilities for implementing ministerial decisions.

Public sector reform has been advocated since the early 1990s. It has focused on restructuring the functions of the sector, with emphasis on improved budgeting, monitoring and accountability for Central Government expenditure. In some cases, decentralization is a critical component of the reforms (as in health); in other instances, public sector reform is equated with increased privatization of public enterprises and statutory agencies. There is a large number of NGOs and other community groups. No formal provision has been made to increase their roles in the decision-making system as the voice of civic society. However, they do have access to the media and other public forums and are consulted on issues related to their activities. National consultations and policy forums have not yet been incorporated as forms of governance.

Judicial System

Saint Lucia's Judicial System comprises the British Privy Council, a Court of Appeal, a High Court of Justice and the Magistrates Courts. As is the case in all Commonwealth Caribbean Countries, the British Privy Council has been retained from the pre-independence period as the final Court of Appeal in all civil and criminal matters. Saint Lucia shares a Supreme Court with the other 5 independent members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The Supreme Court is made up of a Court of Appeal and a High Court of Justice. The Court of Appeal, comprising the Chief Justice and 3 Justices, decides on civil appeals from Magistrates Courts, and both

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 130 civil and criminal appeals from the High Court. The High Court comprises 9 Puisne Judges with 2 based in the country. Court is held before 1 Judge at least once a month in civil and criminal matters. Magistrate’s courts consist of a Chief Magistrate and up to 4 others as appointed.

Human Rights Policy

A declaration of individual rights and freedoms is entrenched in the Constitution of Saint Lucia. These rights include, life, personal liberty and security, freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly, privacy, freedom from unlawful search, freedom of movement, protection from discrimination, and protection for the criminally accused such as fair trial, trial by jury and the right to appeal. Saint Lucia is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Rights; the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination; and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Legal Aid Services

While Saint Lucia does not have a formalized Legal Aid Service, legal representation is provided in murder cases. However, NGOs and the Catholic Church make Legal Aid Services available.

The Environment

The Government of Saint Lucia has given priority to sustainable environmental development as part of the Caribbean Environmental Health Improvement Project. The Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) is located in Saint Lucia. The main emphasis of the environmental programme is the improvement in sewerage disposal, solid waste disposal, and increasing access to potable water. According to the National Survey (1995) 37 per cent of households had access to septic tanks and 45 per cent to pit latrines. High levels of faecal bacteria have been detected through monitoring selected sites. These faecal levels have been shown to be way above the safe levels recommended by the USEPA and the WHO. More attention is being given to the development and regulation of sewerage disposal as, for example, most hotels have their own systems which include disposal in the sea.

Banana production poses a threat to the water reserves of the island. The use of pesticides and weedicides in banana production can contaminate river water. In the Roseau River, pesticides used in banana production have been shown to contaminate the water (OECS, 1994).

The national survey also points to the need for regularizing the disposal of garbage collection and the avoidance of leaching into the areas approximate to the site as

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 131 is now the case at the Ciceron dump. The outreach programme on the environment, launched by the Ministry of Education is one example of social marketing and public education outreach intended to influence public attitudes. Saint Lucia's topography poses a problem for the distribution of water in several areas. The survey indicates that diarrheal complaints, the third largest category of illness, are associated with deficient supplies of potable water.

Conclusion

The Saint Lucian economy has suffered from the decline in agricultural activity (especially in the area of bananas). The sector is a main employer of labour and earner of foreign exchange. Over the years the Government has sought to diversify economic activity by promoting the manufacturing sector and the services sectors (mainly tourism and informatics). Poverty is a problem, but a poverty reduction fund and programme has been put in place to ease the poorest of the poor. While health status is relatively good, chronic non-communicable diseases pose a major health worry, along with the emergence of some communicable diseases. The Government has put a lot of emphasis on human resources development (education and training) since its thrust into new technology and services-sector would require adequate levels of well-trained persons. High unemployment, especially among the youth still remains a problem. Environmental concerns (sewerage, access to potable water and solid waste management) are still facing the Government. The NGO movement has played a key role in supporting the call for better environment management.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 132 SUMMARY SAINT LUCIA

GOVERNMENT-STATED ISSUES PRIORITIES ASSESSMENT OF NEED(S) STRATEGIES Economy Prospects are reasonably good but Restructuring the technical and Improve the impact of Government Strengthening the capabilities of the need to restructure is necessary managerial aspects of the banana policy aimed at increasing the OECS in light of global market trends industry; reviewing the incentives to viability and expand medium- and attract foreign investors into industry small-scale enterprises and encouraging the development of infomatics Privatization Maintain Governments Programme Administering fiscal incentive Expand the programme for targeting Strengthen the role and impact of the with minimum dislocation and scheme to attract foreign investment. small and micro-enterprise National Research and Development maximum benefits to the public development. Foundation sector Poverty Reduce poverty by making Increasing safety nets and social Develop mechanisms for targeting Inter-agency support for National provision for increased income- investment funds to assist the and implementing programmes Plan for the Eradication of Poverty generating and skills-training indigent and to sponsor micro- with UNDP as lead agency programmes enterprises; increasing access to quality education and health care Establish a Poverty Reduction Fund. Health Upgrading health care delivery Strengthening preventive and Introduction of national health Sharing of services with OECS and services to ensure that equity and primary health care while insurance and training of health CARICOM States financial sustainability are achieved establishing secondary and tertiary professionals (laboratory care in response to current and technicians, radiographers, etc.) projected health needs

Education

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 133 Improve quality and focus of Rationalizing post-secondary Strengthen the Sir Arthur Lewis Operate within and benefit from education in response to education, improving teacher Community College to play a vital OECS Education Reform Strategy development needs training and schools management role in linking tertiary, technical and vocational education. Child Development Juvenile delinquency rates and drug Developing support programmes to Strengthen the counselling services Develop and implement social abuse among the youths prevent delinquency and and educational programmes marketing and appropriately target detoxification procedures that do not education programmes exclude the poorer clients Women Unemployment and violence against Increase job opportunities for Develop facilities such as day-care Utilize NGOs and provide incentives women women services, pre-school activities for specialized counselling services and programmes that will prevent violence and increase sanctions on the perpetrators. Governance Public sector reform and Improved implementation and New forms of participation of civil Foster national consultations on decentralization in some sectors monitoring of the budget and society in the process of specific issues accountability for public expenditure Government Environment Sewerage and waste disposal Development and regulation of Education and social marketing of Operating with the OECS agrochemical wastes sewerage disposal environmental sustainability and Programme for Environmental implementing regulations Management and benefiting from the experience of member countries what about improving housing (toilet) facilities, land use policies, environmental laws

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 134 ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES : GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Introduction

During the period 1998, the economy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines performed impressively with real GDP growing by 5.7 per cent as compared with 3.1 per cent in 1997. The growth rate for 1998 was a result of the recovery in the agricultural sector, a strong performance in the construction sector and increased output in the services sector. In the tourism industry however, economic activity contracted after an expansion in 1997. There was an acceleration in the rate of inflation with average prices increasing by 3.3 per cent in 1998 compared with 0.8 per cent for the previous period. Central government finances remained strong, as a current account surplus of EC $36.1 million (4.2 per cent of GDP) was recorded compared with one of $31.9 million (4.0 per cent of GDP) in 1997. Liquidity conditions in the banking sector improved significantly during the year.

Although public sector investment has been financed increasingly with domestic resources, external debt has risen from US$20.9 million in 1983 to US$87.4 million in 1996. This represents an increase in the ratio to GDP from 22.1 per cent to 45.2 per cent. In general, decades of social investment are now at risk of being wiped out, for high public deficit and reduced growth rates will make it difficult to sustain the current level of social expenditure. This situation is already creating some hardship in the sub- region where the provision of social services has either remained the same or fallen over the past few years, while real wages and incomes have stagnated or lost purchasing power. A substantial proportion of the external debt has been contracted on concessional terms and this has helped to restrain the growth in debt servicing costs. Consequently, the debt service ratio, which fluctuated between 3.0 per cent in 1983 to 2.6 per cent in 1989, rose to 5.5 per cent in 1996. Additionally, the rate of growth of exports of goods and non-factor services and in recurrent revenue has enabled the debt to be serviced without difficulty.

Agriculture

Agriculture, predominantly the banana industry, has been the main source of foreign exchange earnings and employment, and is a major contributor to GDP. The banana industry, benefiting from preferential trading status in the European Market, provided significant value added. Real value-added in the agricultural sector grew by 8.3 per cent in 1998 following declines averaging 9.7 per cent in 1996-97. Consequently, agriculture’s contribution to GDP increased to 12.4 per cent in 1998 from a contribution of 12.1 per cent in 1997. This increased performance was due to the

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 135 robust recovery in the banana industry where banana output increased by 31.0 per cent to 40,621 tonnes in 1998 compared with the total in 1997. It also accounted for 28.1 per cent of the total production for the ECCB region as a whole. The growth of banana output resulted from an expansion of the Certified Growers Programme, the use of new varieties and the success of the banana irrigation project. In the rest of the agricultural sector, value added in the other crop sub-sectors grew by 10.9 per cent; this reflected increases in production of some vegetable and root crops.

The livestock sub-sector plays an important role in food security. In 1997, the sub-sector continued its slow but constant growth to reach the level of EC$5.19 million. About 40 per cent of farmers were estimated to own livestock. The present livestock population is estimated at 7,000 cattle, 13,000 sheep, 7,000 goats and 10,000 pigs. The majority of small stock is owned by women and small holders, though an estimated one-third of livestock owners farm on plots less than 2 acres or are landless. In the fishing sub-sector value added increased by 3.0 per cent as fish landings rose to 2.0 million pounds. Marijuana cultivation is also a sub-sector of the agricultural sector. The illegality of this sub-sector however makes it difficult to estimate its contribution to the economy.

In view of the creation of the single European Market and the removal of preferential trade arrangements by the year 2002, urgent attention needs to be given to restructuring Agriculture, especially, the banana industry, to make it more efficient and competitive. The Government's medium-term strategy for the agricultural sector involves policies for restructuring the banana industry along with diversification away from a single crop towards increased production of non-traditional crops.

Industry

Manufacturing activity, which continues to be dominated by the production of, milled rice, flour and animal feeds, has not fully recovered from the closure of enclave industries between 1989 and 1992. Value-added declined by 5.6 per cent in 1998 compared with a contraction of 0.9 per cent in 1997. Export demand fell; this was the result of the weak performance of the sector reflected in the decline in some of the major products including flour and feeds. The sector’s share of GDP fell to 7.3 per cent in 1998 from 8.2 per cent in 1997. Further, the emergence of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the prospective Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) are expected to place additional pressures on the sector as Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) advantages disappear. Government's policy objectives for manufacturing include facilitating diversification of the sector, targeting industries with new technologies, and skills development in order to maximize output and employment opportunities.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 136 Services

Tourism, an important source of employment and foreign exchange is the main service industry in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Government has estimated that, since 1993 earnings from the sector have exceeded those from bananas. An increase in industry receipts of 12.5 per cent in 1994-95 has resulted from rises in total visitor arrivals of 33 per cent, stay over visitors of 9.5 per cent and cruise ship passengers of 21 per cent.

Investment in the industry has been growing significantly, with tourism plant expanding from 1,109 rooms in 1991 to 1,263 in 1994, an increase of 13.9 per cent. Higher levels of direct foreign investment, which increased from four per cent of GDP in 1990 to 13 per cent in 1993, though declining to 11 per cent in 1994, have facilitated this expansion. The majority of these investments have been undertaken in the Grenadines. Further expansion in the sector is expected with the completion of a major activity comprising a marina yard cruise ship berthing facility on the mainland and luxury hotel developments in the Southern Grenadines. In anticipation that tourism receipts will expand at a faster rate than other sector earnings, Government's strategy includes provision of incentives to enhance foreign investment and public/private collaboration.

Despite a 3.2 per cent growth in stay-over visitors in 1998, value-added in the hotel and restaurant sector, declined by 4.2 per cent following a 4.5 per cent increase in 1997. Consequently, its share of GDP fell marginally to 2.3 per cent in 1998. The contraction in value was attributed to a 5.7 per cent decline in the number of visitors staying in hotels and other paid accommodations. Stay-over visitors amounted to 67,228 in 1998 and accounted for 8.0 per cent of the total stay-over visitors to the ECCB region as a whole. Stay-over visitors from the UK rose by 13.1 per cent and from the Caribbean, 12.3 per cent. These increases can be attributed to the hosting of international cricket matches in St Vincent and the Grenadines in the first half of the year. There was a decline in visitors from the USA (2.7 per cent) and Canada (5.6 per cent) during the year. Cruise ship passengers increased by 11.1 per cent, reversing the declining trend of the previous two years, while yacht visitors grew by 5.1 per cent compared with 16.0 per cent in 1997. By contrast, the number of excursionists declined by 24.8 per cent.

In the services sector, higher rates of growth in value added were recorded for the communications sector (8.2 per cent), electricity and water services (7.5 per cent) and government services (4.1 per cent) for 1998.

Informatics is a new area on which attention is now being focussed. To this end Government is reviewing the tax rates structure in order to create facilitating regulatory and incentives frameworks.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 137 Other Areas

Economic Infrastructure

Over the medium term the Government has targeted the overall enhancement of economic infrastructure as a high priority. The objectives include fostering an environment that facilitates private sector development. Investment in transportation and energy account for 30.2 per cent and 21.3 per cent respectively of activity in the area of economic infrastructure. Transportation projects encompass road, airport and seaport improvements. Increased electricity generation and transmission dominate activities in the energy sub-sector with a strong emphasis on rural electrification. In order to address a major constraint to tourism and export development, Government continues to explore the possibilities for a new international airport to accommodate medium-haul jet aircraft.

Trade

St. Vincent and the Grenadines experienced unfavorable trade balances ranging from US$37.0 million in 1990 to US$65.9 million in 1996. The net balance on services has however been increasingly favorable but not large enough to result in a surplus on the current account.

The emphasis on strategies for supporting the export sectors underscores the importance of trade in the economic development of the country. Increasing foreign exchange earnings through export growth is critical for sustaining development, improving living standards and servicing external debt.

Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods

The National Survey showed that 30.5 per cent of all households and 41.9 per cent of the population lacked the necessary level of expenditure to maintain a healthy existence. A poverty assessment completed in 1996 revealed that 30.6 per cent of the households and 37.5 per cent of the population were living below the poverty line, making poverty most prevalent in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The indigence levels for the country were also high, with 20.4 per cent of the households and 25.7 per cent of the population living below the indigence line. In other words, they were unable to meet their basic food requirements (Kairi Consultants 1996). According to the National Survey, poverty is slightly higher in the rural areas (43.3 per cent) than in the urban areas (39.6 per cent). The Poverty assessment reached similar results, and also indicated that the youth and females are more likely to be poor than the elderly or males. Nevertheless, the poverty figures for both males and the elderly are relatively high. There is a consistency between poverty and other social indicators: poor households

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 138 received lower levels of education and training than non-poor households and had more children, more persons below the working age and more unemployed members.

The poverty gap in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the highest among the countries of the OECS for which extensive poverty assessments have been conducted. The poor in St. Vincent and the Grenadines require 12.6 per cent of the value of the poverty line to bring them on par with the poverty line. This figure is more than doubled what the poor in Grenada require. Not only is the absolute numbers of the population high, but the severity of poverty experienced in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is also high.

Appropriate poverty reduction strategies need to be informed by the causes of poverty. The Survey associated poverty with the decline in economic fortunes mainly in banana exports and of wages in the light manufacturing and assembly operations.

Based on the information in the National Survey, there is need for appropriate safety nets and more viable community organizations that focus on income-generating activity and development of skills, a review of the legislation on the social welfare system. The introduction of an old age pension and national health insurance schemes. Old age pensions are already in place, and added to it is a non-contributory pension. The vulnerability of the youth also needs to be addressed, since this has serious implications for the availability of human resources.

The Carib community in St. Vincent and the Grenadines constitute an economic minority on the islands. This sector is well scattered throughout the island, but pockets of Carib habitat remain, and are perceived as among the poorest of the communities.

Sectoral Issues

Health

The people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines enjoy reasonably good levels of health. This is reflected in increased life expectancy to 73.4 (1998) and a low and consistently declining infant mortality rate (IMR) of 18 in 1997. Communicable childhood diseases have been virtually eliminated by a comprehensive immunization programme and improved access of the population to sanitation and the provision of safe water. Ninety-nine percent of children under 1 year of age were immunized against measles in 1997, also, for 1998 93 per cent of the population had access to safe water and 98 per cent had access to sanitation. Iron deficiency anemia is the most significant micronutrient deficiency being experienced. Between 1988 and 1991 there were 10 cases of tuberculosis, 15 of measles and a few of tetanus, though no polio. The principal causes of death have shifted to the chronic, non-communicable diseases of the elderly, in particular heart, cerebrovascular and hypertensive diseases. A rise in the number of

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 139 psychiatric problems due to drug abuse has placed increased pressure on the facilities of the mental hospital. Until very recently, AIDS mortality was virtually non-existent within the 1-5 age groups, as only two deaths among these children occurred since the disease came to the attention of the authorities. In 1996 there have been 4 such deaths already; signifying the increasing incidence of the disease.

Health Care

Primary health care is mainly preventative and is provided at community level. St. Vincent and the Grenadines are divided into 9 health districts served by 39 health centers. Each center has a trained nurse/midwife, a nursing assistant and a community health aid. Environmental health and dental officers are also provided and a District Medical Officer visits at least once a week. On average, each center serves approximately 3,000 persons and provides services in emergency, medical, ante- and post-natal care midwifery, child health and immunization, family planning and communicable and chronic disease control. Post-natal home visits are an important part of the service. There are also 5 small rural hospitals.

The health centers are linked to the Kingstown General Hospital, the center for secondary health care. Despite Government efforts to decentralise health provision through the adoption of the District Health Team approach, the central hospital continues to be the population's favored choice, especially for maternity patients. The hospital has 207 beds and is serviced by 40 doctors and full complement of nursing staff. There are also a psychiatric and a geriatric hospital and the Government National Family Planning Programme. Three additional hospitals, a laboratory and several doctors also provide private medical care. Nevertheless, St. Vincent and the Grenadines ranks relatively low within the region in terms of physicians and hospital beds per head of the population (Table 6, p. 158).

Budgetary provision for health is comparably good (Table 1, p. 153), at 11.8 per cent of Government recurrent expenditure (1994). Approximately one-third of this is allocated to the Kingstown General Hospital. Government has instituted a hospital costing study to determine methods of cost recovery and reduce the heavy public subsidy to the health sector. In 1995, user-fees were revised. The Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines has sought to explore the use of national health insurance. A study to examine the feasibility of introducing a National Health Insurance Scheme, based on the National Insurance Scheme, was undertaken in 1998-99.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 140 Child Health

Marked improvement has occurred in the health of young children in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The neonatal mortality rate is down to 8.59 per 1000 births. Perinatal conditions are the cause of mortality in infants under one year. The IMR has declined from 23 per 1,000 live births in 1985 to 18.2 in 1997. In children 5 years old and under, levels of gastroenteritis have been reduced to a minimum, though there has been some fluctuation in the last 2 years. Of concern is the increase in reported cases of worm infestation and a tripling of cases of respiratory disease between 1989 and 1994. In 1994, 24 cases of tuberculosis were reported, though only 2 of measles and none of polio or tetanus. The incidence of malnutrition has been reduced from 12.6 per cent in 1985 to 4.25 in 1991, although there was an increase to 6.3 per cent in 1994 (reference).

Education

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines devoted 16.3 per cent of the 1994 budget to education (Table 7, p. 159). The allocations in 1995 and 1996 remained stable. There is, however, an urban bias in the provision of education. A total of 56 of the 61 primary schools are public and at secondary level, 10 of 21 schools are totally Government operated with the remainder run mainly by religious denominations and receiving financial assistance from Government. Public secondary schools accounted for 54 per cent of enrollment in 1994. Tertiary technical and vocational education is provided at the St. Vincent Technical College and the Technical Education Center in Kingstown. In addition, 5 Multi-Purpose Centers have been established and cater mainly to children who do not enter secondary schools. Although the level of adult literacy is relatively high (Table 7), an NGO group, New Horizons, offers courses in basic and functional literacy as well as vocational and basic academic training. The Adult Education Unit of the Ministry of Education functions as a support agency for both Government and NGO programmes.

With high levels of literacy achieved, Government has for the last two decades focussed attention on primary schools. The bulk of educational expenditure continues to be allocated to developments in primary education. In 1993, this amounted to 58 per cent of total educational expenditure. Since 1984, primary schools have benefited from the United Nations World Food Programme project which caters to about one-third of the pupils. Government is enhancing the sustainability of the project by encouraging community participation. PTAs, however, function in only a few schools. The shortage and high cost of basic texts continues to be problematic and the poor physical condition of many schools has sparked protest in certain communities.

The insufficiency of places at secondary level is receiving official attention. In 1992, only 35 per cent of eligible children were admitted to secondary schools. Those who do not achieve high scores in the fiercely competitive Common Entrance

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 141 Examination remain at the all-age classes of the primary schools until age 15. Although pupil-teacher ratios compare favorably (Table 7, p. 159), teacher training levels are relatively low, especially at secondary level. Government has identified this as a priority policy issue. A 2-year programme, which trains to Qualified Assistant Teacher level, is offered at the Teachers' College and has markedly improved the proportion of trained teachers in primary schools, estimated in 1994 to have reached 48.3 per cent. Pre-school education remains entirely in private hands, although Government provides a small annual subvention and has appointed staff in supervisory roles.

Child Education

Educational provision in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is good at the primary, but inadequate at the secondary level, with just over a third of eligible children receiving a place. Although education is not compulsory, there is a high rate of enrollment in primary schools, estimated at 92 per cent in 1994. Boys slightly outnumber girls in primary schools. This is reversed at secondary school where female students comprise 60 per cent of enrollment. Performance at CXC has been consistently below 40 per cent, averaging 35.6 per cent in 1989. In 1995, there was little, if any improvement in results in English and Mathematics (Table 8, p. 160). A gender bias is evident with 16 per cent higher female student entry and a 6 per cent higher female pass rate.

Multi-Sectoral Issues

Child Rights and Development

Children and Families at risk

There are no accurate records of child abuse in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, although the social welfare department reported a total of 255 cases in 1994, up from 240 in 1989. The majority of these were cases of physical abuse (30.2 per cent), followed by negligence (28.6 per cent). Sexual abuse accounted for a relative low proportion (16.1 per cent) of all cases. No information is available for the age and sex of children involved. Although some counselling is provided for the victims, there is no official children's home and "unwanted" children are left abandoned at the hospital or the social welfare department and subsequently put up for adoption in private homes. The Liberty Lodge Training Center started by the police force, houses 23 boys and deals with a further 6 who attend during the day. Information on disability among children is unavailable though there are three special-needs schools.

The use of child labour "on banana" days has declined and street children and child prostitution are not considered to be problems in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 142 Reported cases of juvenile delinquency have declined in recent years, from 209 in 1991 to 137 in 1994. The greater proportion (88.3 per cent) of the perpetrators were male and their crime mainly burglary and theft. In 1995, St. Vincent and the Grenadines established the Family Court, which deals with juvenile offenses as well as maintenance cases. A trained family counsellor is attached to the court, but there is no comprehensive rehabilitation programme.

Drug abuse among children has increased and infiltrated into the schools. Between 1990 and 1991, a total of 101 persons between the ages of 15 and 19 were arrested for drug offenses. Most were young males.

Child Protection

St. Vincent and the Grenadines ratified the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in September 1993 and in 1995 established a governmental committee to discuss and report on the Convention.

Existing legislation deals with many of the CRC issues. The Status of the Children Act, 18/80, establishes the equality of all children before the law irrespective of birth, and the Maintenance Act, 1989, extends maintenance provisions to age 16, and over if the child in question is disabled. However, the Criminal Code, 1988 (Section 198) makes it an offence to abandon a child under the age of 2, making no mention of children over that age or of providing an adequate standard of living. The Code also deals with child abduction, abuse and incest, but specifies girls, not boys. Also there is no compulsory education act stipulating a child's right to an education of more than 2 years duration.

Human Resource Development

Illegal drug and substance use, abuse and production in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is especially problematic. The country is one of the major growers of marijuana in the OECS, thus, it is readily available for use in the country. A 1993 CAREC survey sampled 1,428 primary and secondary students and found that 11.5 percent claimed to have used marijuana and 0.9 percent to use cocaine. Other addictive substances consumed by the sampled children included alcohol and tobacco. Like the pattern in the other islands, males tended to be more prone to substance abuse than females (UNICEF 1998, p.122).

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 143 The link between substance and drug abuse in St. Vincent and the Grenadines can be linked to the structure of the education system, whereby secondary education is access by the payment of school fees. Equally important the number of children in the secondary school age far exceeds the capacity of the secondary schools. Thus there is not enough room for all children in secondary school. Given that males tend to be marginalised within the education system, they usually seek alternative ways of securing a livelihood. In many cases, the activity chosen is illegal and drug-related.

The fact that youth are one of the groups most vulnerable to poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is of special concern. Not only is drug and substance abuse a problem for them, but so too is the lack of adequate educational opportunities and facilities. Primary education, although provided freely primarily by the Government, is not mandatory. Furthermore, secondary education is accessed through the payment of fees, restricting those who cannot afford to pay. Education, from primary to tertiary, is a large part of human development, a part which St. Vincent and the Grenadines fails to provide adequately for. Not only is secondary school capacity insufficient to accommodate the entire secondary school age population, but a structural problem, affecting only males, exists in the education systems through the OECS. St.Vincent and the Grenadines allocated in excess of the recommended total Government expenditure to GDP according to the 20/20 compact, but its social allocation ratio, social priority ratio and its human development priority ratio are short of the recommended amounts. The human development priority ratio is a little more than a half of what it should be (UNICEF 1998, p.30). If St. Vincent and the Grenadines are to improve their human development, and develop a comprehensive programme to eradicate poverty, the Government must try to at least reach the targets set in the 20/20 compact.

Environmental conditions and housing conditions like access to adequate water and waste disposal facilities should also be addressed in a programme of human development.

Advancement/Empowerment of Women

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines ratified the 1979 UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and, in 1984, established a Women's Desk. This was upgraded in 1987 to a Department of Women's Affairs with three staff members. Funding however is inadequate. High on the Department's agenda are proposals to educate and train women, to reduce teenage pregnancy, to improve the status of women in agriculture and to increase their involvement in the political arena. The Department works closely with the National Council of Women (NCW) and several non-Governmental organizations, including the Rose Hall Community Working Group's programme for the integration of women in rural development, the YWCA's skills training programmes and Projects Promotion (PP), a grassroots development group.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 144 Status of women

For the first time the Cabinet of St. Vincent and the Grenadines includes 2 women, in the Ministry of Health and Environment and the Ministry of State in the Prime Minister's Office (Table 9, p. 161). The civil service is predominantly male. Although 2 of the permanent secretaries are female, women hold only 7.7 per cent of the senior posts. Overall, there has been little change since the 1980s and women continue to work behind the scenes rather than in the front line.

Women constitute only 17.5 per cent of the economically active population and their unemployment rate of 28.1 per cent is considerably higher than the male rate of 7.4 per cent. Women workers are concentrated in the traditionally female service and commercial sectors of the economy. They dominate the inter-island trade, constituting an estimated 86.7 per cent of the traders, and are increasingly finding employment in the recently established Export Processing Zones. Women have made inroads into the previously male dominated legal profession. One of 2 high court judges and 1 of 3 magistrates is female.

Households headed by women constitute nearly 40 per cent of the total (Table 10, p. 162). Many of these women hustle for a living in the insecure circumstances of informal sector employment and are among the poorest of the population. Correlating with this, marriage rates are low at all age levels, as are divorce rates (Table 10).

Violence against women

Violence against women is increasing and in the majority of cases, the victims are common law wives. Between 1986 and 1989, 702 cases were reported; though only 15 per cent resulted in convictions. The Department of Women's Affairs and the National Council of Women have been active in increasing public awareness, but counselling services are limited and there are no shelters for abused women.

Law Reform

Significant legislation includes the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act, which protects against exploitation in the workplace, in particular night work. The Equal Pay Act, 1994 and the Wages Regulation Orders mandate equal pay for equal work. There is also protection for women and children in the Maintenance Act and the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1989 which permits divorce on grounds of irretrievable breakdown.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 145 Population and Reproductive Health

The population of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is small with 115,000 though the density is quite high with 285.92 persons per square mile. Both the crude birth rate and crude death rate have been reduced in recent years, although the population remains a relatively young one, with the youth ratio at 37.2 per cent compared with low old-age ratio of 6.5 (Table 11, p. 163).

Reproductive Health

Teenage pregnancy in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is relatively high, contributing 19.8 per cent of total births (Table 12, p. 164). The rate, however, has fallen since 1989 when it was 24.8 per cent. In 1993, adolescents gave birth to 531 babies, 19 of which were to girls aged 10-14 years. The health problems of these teenagers are compounded by low attendance at clinics due in part to shame, the reluctance to make a public appearance, but also to the charge of a user fee for those under 18 years of age who are pregnant.

Overall attendance at clinics during pregnancy, however, is good and an estimated 90 per cent of births take place in hospital attended by trained medical personnel. The maternal mortality rate has been reduced to 0.98 per 100,000 live births, with only one death recorded between 1988 and 1991 (Table 12).

Governance

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines political system is based on the British traditions of democracy known as the Westminster model. Philosophically, the system is grounded in the principle of fair and free popular elections, regularly undertaken. Accordingly, general elections are constitutionally due every 5 years but may be held earlier at the discretion of the head of Government.

Universal adult suffrage was introduced in 1951 and is enshrined in the country's constitution since its independence in 1979. Exercise of the franchise is restricted to nationals and British Commonwealth citizens 18 years and over, who are resident in the country and have registered accordingly.

Twelve general elections have been held since 1951 and 3 parties - 2 major and 1 minor - currently participate in the political process. The 2 main parties have each won at least 3 of the elections. As of January 2000, the opposition lost a vote of no confidence against the incumbent government.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 146 As in the case of the other OECS countries, public sector reform, greater involvement of NGOs and community groups in the decision-making process have been identified in Government’s plans.

Legislative System

St. Vincent and the Grenadines legislative system consist of a unicameral Parliament, The House of representatives, which, subject to the provisions of the constitution, is the only law-making body. The House is composed of 16 members popularly elected, and 5 Senators, of whom 3 are appointed by the governing party and 2 by the opposition party. The authority to constitute the Executive arm of Government is vested in the membership of the House of Representatives.

Although the nation incorporates the mainland, St. Vincent, 8 smaller islands and numerous islets, the system of Government is unitary. Local Government laws exist on the statue books in the Establishment of Operation of the Kingstown Board and other Local Boards in St. Vincent. However, these systems are inactive as their operations are suspended. There are no provisions for local councils in the Grenadines but local administrative functions are executed by Civil Servants.

The Executive System

The Executive System of St. Vincent and the Grenadines consists of the Queen who is Head of State represented by the Governor General, the Cabinet of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister and the Civil Service.

Appointments to the Civil Service are made by a Services Commission, which theoretically exercises its functions independently of the political directorate. However, appointment to senior level posts involves the Prime Minister either by way of consultation or direct power of appointment. Decision-making is centralized with power ultimately vested in the Ministers of Cabinet and the Civil Servants have administrative functions for implementing ministerial decisions.

Since 1989, efforts have been directed toward the administrative reform programme involving a comprehensive review of the legislation governing the civil service, job classification, salaries, and conditions of service and performance evaluation. The Government is committed to continuing efforts to improve the efficiency of the public sector delivery of services, internal management systems, especially those related to finance and budgeting, financial accountability and management by objectives.

Government’s prudent fiscal management already referred to has resulted in a current GDP surplus averaging 3.7 per cent (1992-95). This reflects Government’s success in restraining public service expenditure. Within the overall public service, a

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 147 continuing problem is inadequate levels of trained manpower. This in turn accounts for the lack of capacity to deliver the new forms of public services efficiently and effectively.

Judicial System

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Judicial System comprise the British Privy Council, a Court of Appeal, a High Court of Justice and the Magistrates Courts.

As is the case in all Commonwealth Caribbean Countries the British Privy Council has been retained from the pre-independence period as the final Court of Appeal in all civil and criminal matters. St. Vincent and the Grenadines share a Supreme Court with the other 5 independent members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The Supreme Court is made up of a Court of Appeal and a High Court of Justice.

The Court of Appeal, comprising the Chief Justice and 3 Justices, decides on civil appeals from Magistrates Courts, and both civil and criminal appeals from the High Court.

The High Court comprises 9 Puisne Judges with 2 based in the country. Court is held before 1 Judge at least once a month in civil and criminal matters. Civil matters are heard without jury and jury tries criminal cases.

Magistrates’ courts consist of a Chief Magistrate and up to 4 others as appointed. Their jurisdiction covers civil and criminal matters without jury.

Human Rights Policy

A declaration of individual rights and freedoms is entrenched in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Constitution. These rights include, life, personal liberty and security, freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly, privacy, freedom from unlawful search, freedom of movement, protection from discrimination, and protection for the criminally accused such as fair trial, trial by jury and the right to appeal.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Rights; the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights; the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination; the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women; and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 148 Legal Aid Services

St. Vincent and the Grenadines do not have a formalized Legal Aid Service. Provision is made for legal representation in murder cases.

The Environment

The main environmental problems to be addressed are inadequate garbage collection and disposal, drainage and lack of adequate toilet facilities, especially in the poorer communities, where poor sanitation is increasingly being associated with the increasing number of persons affected with diarrheal diseases. Another major problem, is the sub-standard water supply especially in the poor communities where standpipes are the main source of water supply.

There is no system of house-to-house truck collection of household waste materials. Instead, large bins (skips) are placed throughout the country to collect garbage. The system however is inadequate and thus, people resort to throwing garbage into the rivers. Streams or on open land. There is a system of sewage disposal in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Unfortunately however, it does not include treatment. Toilet facilities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines changed little over the last decade. The percentages of the households using water closets increased very little while the percentage using pit latrine decreased by less than 10 percent. In 1991, the percentage of households using pit latrine was 61 percent. When we consider that many of the households of St. Vincent and the Grenadines access their water from public standpipes (30 percent), or from other sources, it is evident that many households would be unable to facilitate water closets.

The banana industry in St. Vincent and the Grenadines poses a threat to the water resources of the islands. Of the 14 water sources in the island, only 5 are in excellent condition, while 6 are in unsatisfactory condition. Nine of the catchment areas are threatened by agro-chemicals and 8 by erosion, resulting from improper land use practices (CCA 1991).

The Government has initiated the Environmentally Sustainable Physical Development Planning Programme with the assistance of UNCHS/UNDP assistance. The focus is to:

a. Strengthen Governments institutional capacity to effectively integrate economic development and environmental management, regulate land use and national resource mobilization; and

b. Assist in capacity building in the development of integrated physical development and improved coastal area planning and management

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 149 Conclusion

Agriculture and tourism are the main sources of employment, output and foreign exchange earnings in St Vincent and the Grenadines. These sectors however have been under pressure in recent years. The Government has sought to diversify the economy by encouraging non-traditional agriculture, informatics and small-scale manufacturing. By providing the necessary fiscal incentives and social infrastructure, the government hopes to facilitate privates sector investment in key economic areas (e.g. tourism). According to recent poverty assessments conducted on the OECS, St Vincent has the highest level of poverty among the young and the elderly. While the country has achieved a reasonably good health status in terms of infant mortality and life expectancy, the incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases has increased in recent years. Emphasis has been placed on preventative and community-based health care. In the area of human resource development, secondary school level education is limited. There is universal primary level education but a capacity constraint exists at the secondary level. Drug abuse has become a major problem especially among the young males.

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 150 SUMMARY ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

GOVERNMENT-STATED ISSUES PRIORITIES ASSESSMENT OF NEED(S) STRATEGIES Economic Maintain growth rate and Restructure bananas, promote Strengthen regulatory and Benefit from OECS support economic diversification non-traditional crops. incentive frameworks Improve infrastructure to bolster tourism and provide incentives to increase foreign investment Poverty Poverty reduction Develop and implement Review and strengthen Benefit from implementation appropriate safety net and job legislation on old age pension of national plan for poverty creating activities and NIS schemes eradication Health Decentralization and financial Cost of health and hospital Develop mechanisms to Collaborate to share services sustainability services maintain access by the poor with other OECS partners Education Address quality and Skills training and better Strengthen teacher training Benefit from OECS maintenance of standards schools management with and improvement of physical Education Strengthening participation of community facilities Project Children Reemergence of some Developing preventive Counselling programmes, Strengthen monitoring childhood diseases, and drug programmes educational outreach and capabilities abuse rehabilitation services

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 151 Women High unemployment, Strengthening the Department Targeted employment Pay special attention to the especially single-headed of Women Affairs and other programmes with skills issues in the context of female households; increasing support programmes training UNDP’s role in poverty violence against women; and eradication plans and teenage pregnancy programmes

Environment Inadequate waste disposal, Improve coastal management Strengthen capacity to UNCHS/UNDP assistance to water supply and sanitation and regulate land use integrate economic expand the sustainable development and Physical Development environmental management Planning Programme

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 152 TABLE 1: BASIC SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS OF SELECTED CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES

Total Infant Daily Adult GNP per capita Populat Dependency Life Mortality Calorie Illiteracy Student Enrollment (1997) ion Ratio Expectancy (per 1,000 Intake Rate (%) (1997/8) (US$) Country Size (100 pop) (1998) Live (1996) (1997) (1998) (1998) Births)1 (1997) Primary Secondary Higher

Antigua & 67,000 63.1 74.3 17 2365 5 12,666. 5,382 1.0 7380 Barbuda

Dominica 71,000 47.0 77.3 17 3093 6 13,636. 5,455 0.6 3040 81.6 Grenada 93,000 71.4 24 2731 4 n.a. n.a. 0.5 3140

St. Kitts/Nevis 41,000 74.1 67.6 30 2240 10 5,928 4,548 1.1 6260

Saint Lucia 148,000 68.0 70.4 24 2822 18 30,536 11,405 0.6 3510

St. Vincent & 115,000 64.8 73.4 18 2434 18 21,347 7,775 0.5 2420 the Grenadines

Source: OECS, Statistical Booklet 1998 PAHO, Health Situation Analysis Programme, Division of Health and Human Development Basic Indicators 1998 UNDP. Human Development Report. 1999, New York: Oxford University Press World Development Indicators, The World Bank n.a.: Not Available

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 153 TABLE 2: OECS COUNTRIES: SHARES OF KEY INDUSTRIES IN GDP

1990-94 1994-96 1997

Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Restaurants 13.3 13.43 15.24 Agriculture 4.1 3.73 3.57 Manufacturing 3.0 2.23 2.49

Dominica Hotels and Restaurants 2.3 2.8 2.51 Agriculture 22.9 20.6 20.3 Manufacturing 7.8 7.2 6.15

Grenada Hotels and Restaurants 7.5 10.33 7.87 Agriculture 15.0 11.2 9.47 Manufacturing 5.4 7.33 7.03

St. Kitts and Nevis Hotels and Restaurants 8.9 9.96 7.06 Agriculture 6.4 5.6 6.97 Manufacturing 12.2 10.53 11.66

Saint Lucia Hotels and Restaurants 9.4 11.83 13.46 Agriculture 13.0 9.8 6.93 Manufacturing 7.7 6.6 6.36

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Hotels and Restaurants 2.4 2.53 2.57 Agriculture 17.6 12.6 10.8 Manufacturing 8.9 8.7 8.36

Source: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Economic and Financial Review (unpublished, 1996) OECS, Statistical Booklet 1998 CDB: Social & Economic Indicators 1996. Borrowing Member Countries Volume V111

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 154 TABLE 3: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LABOUR FORCE IN OECS (1995)

Antigua and St. Kitts and St. Vincent and the Characteristic Barbuda Dominica Grenada Nevis Saint Lucia Grenadines

Unemployment Rate 6.7 23.1 17.0 12.0 16.2 19.8 Labor Force as % of total Population 48.3 37.0 29.4 24.2 38.6 39.1 Women in Labor Force as % of Total Labor Force 45.4 34.5 N/A. 43.9 44.1 35.9

Unemployment Rate 6.7 23.1 17.0 12.0 16.2 19.8 Labor Force as % of total Population 48.3 37.0 29.4 24.2 38.6 39.1 Women in Labor Force as % of Total 45.4 34.5 N/A 43.9 44.1 35.9 Labor Force

Type of Worker Paid Employee-Government 27.5 17.7 26.2 N/A. N/A. 20.7 Paid Employee-Private 55.3 43.8 49.1 N/A. N/A. 53.3 Unpaid Worker 0.7 2.9 1.7 N/A. N/A. 2.3 Employer 4.1 7.2 3.7 N/A. N/A. 5.6 Own Account Worker 7.9 26.2 15.9 N/A. N/A. 17.9 Not Stated 4.5 2.2 3.4 N/A. N/A. 0.2

Industry Group Agriculture 3.9 30.8 16.9 13.8 25.7 24.8 Mining 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.2 --- 0.3 Manufacturing 5.4 8.2 7.7 14.0 12.1 8.4 Transport, Utilities Construction 10.5 6.3 8.0 7.4 6.1 8.6 Commerce 11.6 11.8 12.9 11.6 8.6 10.8 Financial Services 31.8 15.4 21.0 23.8 20.6 19.5 Other Services 5.4 3.4 3.5 5.9 4.2 4.3 Not Stated 29.0 20.9 25.5 21.0 18.6 23.3 1.9 2.9 3.9 2.4 4.0 0.0

Source: Compiled from Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Economic and Financial Review inputs, 1996 and CDB Annual Report Annex, 1996 N/A.: Not Available

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 155 TABLE 4: WELFARE MEASURES IN THE OECS

Head Count Integrated Index a Human* Poverty Index Basic Needs (percentage Development (severe poverty) Index (very Country poor) Index / 0.40 needy, /0.50)

Antigua and Barbuda 12 0.828 0.223 0.892

Dominica 33 0.776 0.501 0.782

Grenada 20 0.777 0.192 0.862

St. Kitts and Nevis 15 0.781 0.282 0.800

Saint Lucia 25 0.737 0.355 0.773

St. Vincent and the Grenadines 17 0.744 0.396 0.776

Source: World Bank Poverty Reduction and Human Development in the Caribbean. 1996 UNDP: Human Development Report 1999, New York: Oxford University Press

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 156 TABLE 5: COUNTRY SAFETY NET PROGRAMMES

COUNTRY

TARGET GROUP PROGRAMME St. Vincent and Dominica Grenada Saint Lucia the Grenadines

Children School Feeding x x x x Travel to School x x x Uniforms, Books, Assistance x x x x

Low Income Families Social Assistance (cash) x x x x Benefits in Kind x x x

Unemployed Unemployment Benefit x Youth Training x x x x Public Works x x x x Small Business Development x x x x

Elderly Non-contributory Pension x x x x NIS Pension x x x x In-Kind assistance x x Homes for the Aged x x x x

Disabled NIS x x x x Social Assistance x x x x Residential Care x x x x

Source: (a) Compiled from Country Reports prepared for the CGCED Meeting June 1996; (b) Data collected for IDB/PAHO Caribbean Regional Health Study, PAHO/IDB, 1996

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 157 TABLE 6: HEALTH IN THE OECS 1990-1997

Country 1 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 8 a b

Antigua and 74.3 14.5 93 13 95 100 11.2 n.a 5.9 Barbuda

Dominica 77.3 16.4 99 14 94 84 4.93 35.9 12.9

Grenada 71.4 14.3 92 18 80 - 4.9 54.9 11.5

St Kitts and 67.6 22.9 97 6 100 100 11.7 64.1 7.1 Nevis

Saint Lucia 70.4 17.9 95 11 98 - 4.7 33 10.9

St Vincent 73.4 18.2 99 6 93 98 8.7 n.a 11.8 and the Grenadines

Source OECS: Statistical Booklet 1998 PAHO: Socio-economic Indicators PAHO, Washington, D.C., 1995 PAHO: Health Situation Analysis Programme, Division of Health and Human Development Basic Indicators 1998 UNDP: Human Development Report.1999 New York: Oxford University Press

1. Life expectancy at birth (years)(1998) 2. Infant mortality rate (IMR)(per 1000 live births)(1997) 3. Vaccination under 1 year of age (combined figures for DPT3, Oral Polio, Measles)(1997) 4. Reported AIDS cases in adults and children (per 100,000 of the population)(1996) 5. Population (per cent) with access to a. safe water b. sanitation (latest available year 1998) 6. Physicians per 10,000 population (around 1998) 7. Hospital beds per 1,000 population (1998) 8. Health as percentage of total Government expenditure (1994)

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 158 TABLE 7: EDUCATION IN THE OECS 1990-1997

Country 1 2 3 4

Antigua and Barbuda 89 19 18 14.3

Dominica 82 22 17 22.3

Grenada 98 19.5 20 16.6

St. Kitts & Nevis 98 23 14 8.8

Saint Lucia 82 27 18 12.9

St. Vincent and the 96 20.3 18 16.3 Grenadines

Source: OECS Reports 1990, 1994, 1996 UNDP. Human Development Report 1999 New York: Oxford University Press

1. Adult literacy rate (per cent)(latest available year 1997) 2. Pupil-teacher ratio - Primary (1994) 3. Pupil-teacher ratio - Secondary (latest available year between 1992-1995) 4. Education as percentage of total Government expenditure (1993-1996; Antigua and Barbuda 1990)

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 159 TABLE 8: CXC ENTRY AND PASS RATES IN ENGLISH A AND MATHEMATICS IN THE OECS COUNTRIES

Country 1a 1b 2a 2b

Antigua and Barbuda 465 51.4 352 34.7

Dominica 668 41.0 452 31.4

Grenada 926 27.9 456 34.0

St. Kitts and Nevis 318 49.4 171 37.4

Saint Lucia 1435 36.7 1140 41.3

St. Vincent and the Grenadines 470 41.1 490 39.4

Source: OECS Report 1996

1. English A (English Language) General Proficiency a. Number of candidates writing the exam (1995) b. Percentage pass at Grades I and II (1995)

2. Mathematics General Proficiency a. Number of candidates writing the exam (1995) b. Percentage pass at Grades I and II (1995)

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 160 TABLE 9: EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN THE OECS

Country 1a 1b 2a 2b 3

Antigua and 0 11.1 18 26.7 1980 Barbuda

Dominica 5 19.4 5 25 1980

Grenada 1 6.0 NA NA 1979

St. Kitts and Nevis 1 13.3 1 16.7 1984

Saint Lucia 4 14.3 6 5 1986

St. Vincent and the 2 4.8 9 19.2 1984 Grenadines

Source: CARICOM Report - Towards Equity in Development: Status of Women in Sixteen Commonwealth Caribbean Countries (ND) UNDP: Human Development Report 1999, New York. Oxford University Press.

1. Participation in Parliamentary Assemblies (Seats held by women) a. Number (1992) b. Percentage (1996) Data as at 5 February 1999 2. Participation in Government a. Number (1992) b. Percentage (1996) 3. Date of establishment of National Machinery

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 161 TABLE 10: WOMEN AND FAMILY IN THE OECS

Country 1 2 3 4

Antigua and Barbuda 46.1 31 63 1.9

Dominica 37.0 29 59 0.8

Grenada 45.2 26 69 0.8

St. Kitts and Nevis 43.9 26 66 1.9

Saint Lucia 40.4 30 60 0.5

St. Vincent and the 39.0 25 70 0.8 Grenadines

Source: CARICOM Report - Towards Equity in Development: Status of Women in Sixteen Commonwealth Caribbean Countries (ND)

1. Percentage of households headed by women 2. Percentage of women aged 25 and over that are married 3. Percentage of women aged 60 and over that are not married 4. Percentage of women aged 25-44 who are divorced

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 162 TABLE 11: POPULATION IN THE OECS

Country 1 2 3 4 5 6

Antigua and Barbuda 66 158.12 20.72 6.61 30.5 8.2

Dominica 74 100.70 17.7 6.8 33.2 8.7

Grenada 96 289.24 21.3 7.9 38.4 8.0

St Kitts and Nevis 41 152.58 21.5 9.7 34.2 12.8

Saint Lucia 159 278 22.4 6.6 35.3 6.3

St Vincent and the 112 285.92 20.8 6.6 37.2 6.5 Grenadines

Source: OECS Statistical Booklet 1998 PAHO Health Situation Analysis Programme, Division of Health and Human Development Basic Indicators 1998 PAHO Basic Country Health Profiles for the Americas, Summaries 1999

1. Population size ('000) (1997) 2. Population Density (persons per sq. km) (1997) 3. Crude Birth Rate (per 1000 of the population 1997) 4. Crude Death Rate (per 1000 of the population 1997) 5. Youth Dependency Ratio (percentage of total population aged 0-14 years) 6. Age Dependency Ratio (percentage of total population aged 65+ years)

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 163 TABLE 12: REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN THE OECS

Country 1 2 3 4

Antigua and 15.8 149 53 100 Barbuda

Dominica 12.9 40 50 100

Grenada 16.6 0 54 100

St Kitts and Nevis 16.7 240 41 100

Saint Lucia 17.3 0 47 100

St Vincent and the 20.5 78 58 100 Grenadines

Source: PAHO Basic Country Health Profiles for the Americas, Summaries 1999 PAHO Health Situation Analysis Programme Division of Health and Human Development Basic Indicators 1998

1. Births to teenage mothers as a percentage of total births (Dominica, Grenada and Saint Lucia1994, Antigua, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Vincent (1997) 2. Maternal mortality rate per 100,000lb. (1997) 3. Percentage of women using contraception (1990-1998) 4. Percentage of births attended by trained medical personnel (1998)

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 164 TABLE 13: THE 20/20 COMPACT IN THE OECS

The National Dimension of the 20/20 Compact Percent, 1991-1995 20:20 ANT (a) DMI (b) GRN STK STL (c) STV (d) (1) PER (TGE/GDP) 25.0 25.4 32.9 35.7 36.0 30.0 33.3 (2) SAR (SSE/TGE) 40.0 29.6 32.7 42.2 N/A 33.0 32.5 (3) SPR (BSS/SSE) 50.0 54.2 51.1 41.2 N/A 60.0 37.7 2*3 HDPR (BSS/TGE) 20.0 16.0 16.7 17.6 N/A 19.0 12.2

Source: UNICEF - The State of Eastern Caribbean Children 1998 - Child Survival, Protection and Development in Seven Caribbean counties

(a) SAR: 1991 (b) FY 1992/93 (c) PER: 1993 (d) HDPR: General hospitals and secondary schools not included

PER - Public Expenditure SAR - Social Allocation Ratio SPR - Social Priority Ratio HDPR - Human Development Priority Ratio TGE - Total Government Expenditure SSE - Social Sector Expenditure BSS - Basic Social Services

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 165 TABLE 14 CORE UN INDICATORS FOR BARBADOS

CONFERENCE INDICATORS

BARBADOS 1990 1998 Income-Poverty Poverty head count ratio (% of population below $1 a day) ------Poverty head count ratio (% of population below national poverty line) 23 20 Poverty gap ratio ------Poorest fifth's share of national consumption --- 6

BARBADOS Food Security and Nutrition 1990 1998 % of children under age 5 suffering from malnutrition ------% of population below minimum level of dietary energy consumption ------% of household income spent on food for the poorest quintile ------

BARBADOS Health and Mortality 1990 1998 % of population with access to primary health-care services 100 100 Estimated HIV adult prevalence rate* 61 130 HIV prevalence in pregnant women under 25 who receive antenatal care in capital cities/ major urban areas ------Infant mortality rate 15.5 7.8 Under 5 mortality rate 12 0.4

*Number of Reported AIDS Cases

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 166 BARBADOS Reproductive Health 1990 1998 Maternal mortality ratio 74 0 % of births attended by skilled health personnel 93 100 Contraceptive prevalence rate 67 55

BARBADOS Child Health and Welfare 1990 1998 % of 1 year old children immunized against measles 77 92 % of children < age 15 who are working ------

BARBADOS Education 1990 1998 Net primary enrollment or attendance ratio ---- 97.4 % of pupils starting grade 1 who reach grade 5 ------Adult literacy rate 98.8 97 Literacy rate of 15-24 year olds 98.8 97

BARBADOS Gender Equality and 1990 1998 Women's Empowerment Ratio of girls to boys in secondary education 51.2 50.9 Females share (%) of paid employment in non-agricultural activities --- 46.8 Number of seats held by women in national government, including parliament 7 8

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 167 BARBADOS Employment and Sustainable 1990 1998 Livelihood Employment to population of working age ratio --- 59.4 Unemployment rate 15 12.3 Informal sector employment as % of total employment ------

BARBADOS Housing & Basic Household 1990 1998 Amenities and Facilities Number of persons per room, or average floor area per person ------% of population with (sustainable) access to safe drinking water 100 100 % of population with access to adequate sanitation 100 100

BARBADOS Environment 1990 1998 Carbon Dioxide emissions (per capita) 4.5 3.2 Biodiversity: Land area protected ------GDP per unit (BOE) of energy use --- US$1073 Arable land per capita --- 1199 sq. m % change in km2 of forest land in past ten years ------% of population relying on traditional fuels for energy use ------

Drug Control and Crime BARBADOS Prevention 1990 1998 Area under illegal cultivation of coca, opium poppy and cannabis ------Seizures of illicit drugs ------Prevalence of drug abuse --- Yes Number of crimes per 100.000 inhabitants --- 10,097

CONFERENCE AND CONTEXTUAL

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 168 INDICATORS ON GOVERNANCE

International Legal BARBADOS Commitments for Human 1990 1998 Rights Status of ratification of reservations to and reporting obligations under international human rights instruments Yes Yes Status of follow-up to concluding observations if UN human rights treaty bodies Yes Yes

BARBADOS Democracy & Participation 1990 1998 Periodicity of free and fair elections Every Five Years Recognition in law of the right to freedom of expression, association and assembly Yes Yes

BARBADOS Administration of Justice 1990 1998 Recognition in law of guarantees for independent and impartial judiciary and fair trial Yes Yes Recognition in law of the right to seek judicial remedies against state agencies/officials ------

BARBADOS Security of Person 1990 1998 Recognition in law of the prohibition of gross violations of human rights affecting the security of person Yes Yes

CONTEXTUAL INDICATORS

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 169 BARBADOS Demographics 1990 1998 Population Size 260.8 266.8 Total fertility rate 1.8 1.7 Life expectancy at birth 75.1 76.5

Economy GDP per capita (factor cost,'000) 11.5 13.5 External debt (US$) as % of GNP 31.4 20.2 Decadal growth rate of GNP per capita (US$) ------Gross domestic savings as % of GDP 16 ---- Share of exports in GDP 57.0 63.0 Share of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in GDP ------% of public expenditure on social services ------

--- data not available All data refer to the most recent available year during the period specified in the column heading. Source: Basic Country Health Profiles for the Americas, Summaries 1999 PAHO. Caribbean Development Bank Report 1991, 1998; Caribbean Development Bank Social and Economic Indicators, vol. 2 1989 and vol. 7,1996; Digest of Caribbean Labor Statistics, 1998. International Labor Organization Caribbean Office; Freedom House: Freedom in the World, Political Rights and Civil Liberties; Health Conditions in the Caribbean PAHO 1998 Health in the Americas Volume 1 1998 Edition PAHO; Health Situation Analysis Programme, Division of Health and Human Basic Indicators 1998 PAHO Development Basic Indicators, PAHO 1998 Health Statistics from the Americas 1998 Edition, (Health during early childhood, Registered Mortality) PAHO; Human Development Report 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999; New York Oxford University Press.

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Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 173 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

ACP African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (EU) ALP Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party ART Agency for Rural Transformation (Grenada) BAMP Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners BDDC British Development Division (Caribbean) Bds Barbados BIDC Barbados Investment and Development Corporation BIMAP Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity BLP Barbados Labour Party CANSAVE Canada Save the Children Fund CAREC Caribbean Epidemiological Center CARICAD Caribbean Centre for Development Administration CARICOM Caribbean Community CBI Caribbean Basin Initiative CCA Caribbean Conservation Association CDB Caribbean Development Bank CDERA Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women CEHI Caribbean Environmental Health Institute CFNI Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute CGCED Caribbean Group for Cooperation in Economic Development CIDA Canadian International Development Agency CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child CXC Caribbean Examinations Council CZMU Coastal Zone Management Unit (Barbados) DBMC Dominica Banana Marketing Corporation DEXIA Dominica Export Import Agency DFIC-C Department for International Development (Caribbean) DLP Democratic Labour Party (Barbados) DNCW Dominica National Council of Women DOMLEC Dominica Electric Company DOWASCO Dominica Water and Sewage Company Limited EC Eastern Caribbean ECCB Eastern Caribbean Central Bank ECM European Common Market EDF European Development Fund EED Environmental Engineering Division (Barbados) EU European Union FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FTAA Free Trade Area of the Americas GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 174 GDP Gross Domestic Product GFNC Grenada Food and Nutrition Council GMDSS Global Maritime Distress and Safety System GRENCODA Grenada Community Development Agency GRENLEC Grenada Electricity Services GRENTEL Grenada Telephone Company Limited GROW Generating Resources for Women (St. Kitts and Nevis) HCEC Historical Conservation and Environment Commission (Antigua and Barbuda) HDI Human Development Indicators HDR Human Development Report, UNDP HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome IBC International Business Companies IDB Inter-American Development Bank ILO International Labour Organization IMF International Monetary Fund IMR Infant Mortality Rate ITU International Telecommunication Union LBW Low Birth Weight LUSAVE Saint Lucia Save the Children Fund MAREMP Marine Resources and Environmental Management Programme (Barbados) MBS Medical Benefits Scheme (Antigua and Barbuda) NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement NCW National Council of Women (St. Vincent & the Grenadines) NCWVO National Council of Women’s Voluntary Organizations (Saint Lucia) NDC National Development Corporation (Saint Lucia) NDI Net Disposable Income NDP National Democratic Party (Barbados) NEAP National Environmental Action Plan (Grenada) NGOs Non-Government Organizations NRDF National Research and Development Foundation (Saint Lucia) NRMU Natural Resource Management Unit (OECS) NWO National Women’s Organization OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OECS Organization of Eastern Caribbean States PAHO Pan American Health Organization PHC Primary Health Care PLM People’s Liberation Movement (Antigua and Barbuda) PPP Programmes and Projects and Promotion (St. Vincent & the Grenadines) PRG People’s Revolutionary Government (Grenada) PUWS Percentage Units within specifications SJPP Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (Barbados) SLCAC Saint Lucia Child Advocacy Committee

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 175 SPAT Small Projects Assistant Team (Dominica) SRCA Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS SSE Social sector expenditure STABEX Stabilization of Export Earnings (EU) SWSPU Solid Waste and Sewage Project Unit (Barbados) TGE Total government expenditure UNCHS United Nations Centre for Human Settlements UNDAF United Nations Development Assistance Framework UNDCP United Nations International Drug Control Programme UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNECLAC United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNFPA United Nations Population Fund UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund UNIC United Nations Information Centre UNIFEM United Nations Fund for Women UPU Universal Postal Union USAID United States Agency for International Development USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency UWI University of the West Indies UWICED University of the West Indies Center for Environmental Health VAT Value Added Tax WHO World Health Organization WIBDECO Windward Islands Banana Development and Exporting Company WTO World Trade Organization YWCA Young Women’s Christian Association

Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS 176