The 2022 Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) Programme should serve as an important pivot point in the country’s efforts to eradicate poverty.
This was the view shared by Independent Senator Dr Chelston Brathwaite in his brief remarks during Wednesday’s sitting of the Senate, where resolution on the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) Plan 2022 was being discussed.
Though Dr Brathwaite praised the economic benefits of the most recent version of the programme, he said the rate of poverty on the island, exacerbated by the experience with the COVID-19 pandemic, is in critical need of attention from Government and other stakeholders.
“Globally, 200 million people who were not in poverty before COVID, have gone into poverty. Getting people out of poverty therefore, must be the objective of a post COVID agenda. The elimination of poverty, and the promotion of individual responsibility must be a characteristic of our time.”
The senator emphasised that though the numerous social services offered to citizens were necessary in a developing state, the cost in the long term will continue to be a heavy burden on the country if poverty and its causes are not addressed.
“I therefore believe that the time has come for the development and implementation of specific strategies to eliminate poverty from Barbados. Around the world, many countries are including poverty eradication as part of their development agenda…Eradicating poverty in all its forms remains one of the greatest challenges facing humanity.”
He added: “It’s important to recognise that poverty can be the source of many ills in our society including things like domestic violence, antisocial behaviour, crime, malnutrition, poor infrastructure, social tensions that threaten to divide the nation into the haves and the have nots. In addition, poverty supports the prevalence of disease, poor health, low productivity, creates anxiety, depression, and low self esteem.”
Senator Crystal Drakes mirrored the sentiments, noting that despite the growth outlook for the country because of the BERT programme and other initiatives, the widening class structure in the country has worryingly led to a stark increase in inequality.
“When we look at what is happening in terms of certain indicators there is a clear disparity and widening of inequality that is happening, despite growth. Growth is not an end in itself, but it has to be that it breaks down the strongholds of the class structure, and it has to be development for all..” (SB)
