Budget Analysis for Investments in Children in Saint Lucia BUDGET ANALYSIS FOR INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN IN SAINT LUCIA Published by UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area First Floor, UN House Marine Gardens, Hastings Christ Church Barbados Tel: (246) 467 6000 Fax: (246) 426 3812 Email:
[email protected] Website: www.unicef.org/easterncaribbean This Study was commissioned by the UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area and UN Women Multi-Country Office - Caribbean The contents do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of the organizations. Authors: Zina Nimeh, Arthur Van de Meerendonk, Franziska Gassmann, Jouke Wortelboer, Eli Stoykova and Daphne Francoise Nimeh, Z., Van de Meerendonk, A., Gassmann, F., Wortelboer, J. and Stoykova, E., Francoise, D. (2015). Budget Analysis for Investments in Children in Saint Lucia, UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area. All rights reserved. 2015 Budget Analysis for Investments in Children in Saint Lucia CONTENTS Acknowledgments x Executive summary 2 1 Introduction 12 1.1 Structure of the report 13 1.2 Government actors 13 1.3 Data and methodology 13 1.4 Limitations 14 1.5 Process 14 2 Economic and Social Context 16 2.1 Economic and fiscal environment 16 2.2 Fiscal operations and management and the social budget 19 2.3 Demographic trends 21 2.4 Labour market 23 2.5 Poverty and child well-being 25 2.6 Conclusion 30 3 Education 32 3.1 Short overview of the education system in Saint. Lucia 32 3.2 Policies and planning 33 3.2.1 Laws and other basic regulations concerning education