Trinidad publishes poverty survey report for 2005

from Caribbean Net News

By Stephen Cummings
Caribbean Net News Trinidad and Tobago Correspondent
Email: stephen@caribbeannetnews.com

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Social Development on Wednesday published its Survey of Living Conditions final Report on Trinidad and Tobago for 2005.

The Survey, in collaboration with the Social Development Ministry, was done under the European Union-Sponsored Poverty Reduction Programme.

Such surveys are usually conducted every two to three years. At the end of 2005, the level of poverty in Trinidad and Tobago was put at 16.7 percent, while the indigent was put at 1.2 percent. The poverty line was at TT$665 per month per capita. An IDB commissioned report for an earlier period 1998 placed the poverty level at 24 percent. This was based on household budgetary survey data for 1998.

Three types of poverty levels were identified: Chronic poverty, which occurs when one is trapped in poverty over generations, structural poverty that arises when one loses a job or employment and is unable to find new work because of structural changes within an economy, and the third being transitory poverty that arises because of dynamics taking place in the economy. This may occur even with full employment in the country where an individual may be out of a job on a temporary basis and may need to find work in another part of the country.

The next Living Conditions Report on Trinidad and Tobago is to be commissioned within the next two years.