Only 'minimal' success from poverty reduction papers -PM

from Stabroek News

The success rate of the poverty reduction strategy papers over the last five years has been minimal with no significant reduction in moderate and extreme poverty levels countrywide.

It is against this backdrop that Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, at the opening of consultations yesterday, charged the participants, for the 2008-2012 paper, to find out why there have been such poor results and to make recommendations about what can be done to correct shortcomings. The Region Four round kick-started the process which will continue in all ten regions over the next two weeks.

Hinds told the participants that the results in two poverty status surveys conducted in 1999 and 2006, following the implementation of the first Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), have been marginal. He said the 1999 report showed that the national moderate poverty level was 36% and extreme poverty levels stood at 19%.

At the end of 2006 when another assessment was done, Hinds said, the implementation of the programmes set out in the paper had only showed marginal reduction in the poverty levels. The moderate poverty level only declined by 3% and to 33% and extreme poverty, by 1% to 18%. "I am not knowledgeable of the procedure of measuring the levels, but on the surface, the improvement is marginal," the prime minister told the gathering. "We have to see what has been accomplished so far and why results have not been better and what could be done to see more reduction in poverty levels," he added.

Hinds also disclosed that higher levels of poverty were found in Regions One, Seven and Nine. He said too that the other regions had experienced some degree of poverty reduction. The prime minister said that the assessment showed that 75% of Amerindian communities were considered poor.

Meanwhile, Hinds said his government has implemented economic policies and reforms in many sectors and has maintained a sound macroeconomic framework although economic growth has not been very significant. He also said that though the government has invested heavily in the education and health sectors, their returns would not be seen in the short term but as the programme progresses. He posited a similar view as regards infrastructure.

However the prime minister also said that citizens have a role to play in the growth and development of the country. He said that the government had implemented many programmes sector-wide as it works to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by the 2015 target. He said too the PRSP is the people's document for development.

Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette chaired the proceedings. The audience later formed informal groups to continue discussions. The Government Information agency (GINA) said this final round of consultations is to further address issues related to implementation of the second PRSP and subsequent developments.

GINA quoted Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, as saying that consultations on specific thematic areas would also be held. They are expected to address areas such as rural development, gender, governance, security, social protection and health.

It had been reported too that many of the issues and recommendations from the public consultations held in 2001 had been incorporated into the PRSP and in addition the consultations have assisted in the sequencing of programmes and re-allocation of resources. The next round of consultations will take place over the weekend in several areas in all ten regions.

The consultations were held at the Ocean View International Conference Centre.