CDB Official Says Without a Poverty Survey Governments are ‘Shooting in the Dark’
by A & B Government News
Posted: Dec 14, 2005 11:45 UTC
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua - An official from the Caribbean Development Bank, CDB, has said that without current results for a country poverty survey Governments are basically 'shooting in the dark'.
Operations Officer for Project Financing Division at CDB, McDonald L. Thomas, made the comment while being interviewed by Communications Officer at the Ministry of Housing, Culture & Social Transformation, Collin Jno-Finn. Mr. Thomas is paying a courtesy call to the island to get a first hand view of the progress of the Survey of Living Condition/Country Poverty Assessment (SLC/CPA), while at the same time hold meetings with stakeholders of the project. According to Thomas, without current results of a SLC/CPA, Governments cannot realistically target the groups that are really in need of the assistance.
"I think that a country that does not have a CPA puts them at a disadvantage…They do not have the baseline data upon which they can use to influence their own social and economic policies". Thomas added that, "Without the CPA you a shooting in the dark. You have programmes to reduce poverty but you do not know who these people are, what characteristics they have and what kind of conditions they live under."
This is the first time that Antigua/Barbuda is conducting a SLC/CPA as the CDB only assist countries with the survey that makes a plea for assistance. The CDB is assisting the Government of Antigua/Barbuda by providing equipment for analyzing the survey and funding the overall cost for technical assistance. According to Thomas, "It will help us (CDB) in planning our own strategies for the countries…we consider it helpful to the entire CDB member countries." Presently enumerators and research facilitators are conducting interviews through home to home visits and community group sessions.
The National Assessment Team which is comprised of representatives from across the private and public sectors is spearheading the project and the organizers are encouraging residents to lend their support to the survey, which will have great benefits for the country and any Government in office.
For further information contact:
Collin Jno-Finn Communications Officer
Ministry of Housing, Culture & Social Transformation
Dickenson Bay Street St. John's, Antigua
(268) 562-5698/771 4006
collin.jno-finn@antigua.gov.ag
by A & B Government News
Posted: Dec 14, 2005 11:45 UTC
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua - An official from the Caribbean Development Bank, CDB, has said that without current results for a country poverty survey Governments are basically 'shooting in the dark'.
Operations Officer for Project Financing Division at CDB, McDonald L. Thomas, made the comment while being interviewed by Communications Officer at the Ministry of Housing, Culture & Social Transformation, Collin Jno-Finn. Mr. Thomas is paying a courtesy call to the island to get a first hand view of the progress of the Survey of Living Condition/Country Poverty Assessment (SLC/CPA), while at the same time hold meetings with stakeholders of the project. According to Thomas, without current results of a SLC/CPA, Governments cannot realistically target the groups that are really in need of the assistance.
"I think that a country that does not have a CPA puts them at a disadvantage…They do not have the baseline data upon which they can use to influence their own social and economic policies". Thomas added that, "Without the CPA you a shooting in the dark. You have programmes to reduce poverty but you do not know who these people are, what characteristics they have and what kind of conditions they live under."
This is the first time that Antigua/Barbuda is conducting a SLC/CPA as the CDB only assist countries with the survey that makes a plea for assistance. The CDB is assisting the Government of Antigua/Barbuda by providing equipment for analyzing the survey and funding the overall cost for technical assistance. According to Thomas, "It will help us (CDB) in planning our own strategies for the countries…we consider it helpful to the entire CDB member countries." Presently enumerators and research facilitators are conducting interviews through home to home visits and community group sessions.
The National Assessment Team which is comprised of representatives from across the private and public sectors is spearheading the project and the organizers are encouraging residents to lend their support to the survey, which will have great benefits for the country and any Government in office.
For further information contact:
Collin Jno-Finn Communications Officer
Ministry of Housing, Culture & Social Transformation
Dickenson Bay Street St. John's, Antigua
(268) 562-5698/771 4006
collin.jno-finn@antigua.gov.ag
