Via Nalita Gajadhar, National Organisation of Women, Barbados —

Barbados is a small country in the Caribbean, with a population of 250,000. Our Government statistical department reports that there are about 30 percent of the population living in “poverty”. Poverty has been defined here by the quality of housing, inborne toilet facilities, access to electricity and water.Over the past two years, the Government has placed on its agenda “Poverty Alleviation”, which has now moved to “Poverty Eradication”. To solve some of the problems identified, like inadequate housing, a Committee was established called the Poverty Alleviation Committee which allowed, in theory, for quick response to the public with urgent needs. This committee will assist with housing and the provision of immediate needs.

Another committee established was the Urban and Rural Development Commission. Here members of the public can again apply for immediate assistance to housing, and similar emergencies. There is also a component which will assist with small loans for the creation of micro businesses.

There has also been attempts by Government to provide money to Community Based Organisations that have skill training components to assist with the issue of poverty in the community.

It is, however, my opinion that there is a reluctance to admit that to solve the problems of poverty one must first tackle the issue of women in their reproductive age, providing them with life skills, issues of self-esteem and further opportunities for education to break the cycle of poverty.

A large number of Barbadian households are headed by single women, and within them is a large percentage of children with multiple fathers, (one mother, six children, seven fathers). New pregnancies from new relationships are seen as opportunities to get support for the children of old relationships and the very serious and tragic cycle continues, as the young girls in these homes usually start having children in their teens as a result of early sexual relationships to “alleviate” their economic hardship. Education of these young people is critical to end this cycle.

I should state that education up to tertiary level is free for every one in Barbados. Yet a large number of our students are leaving schools with out any level of certification. The students who are in most need for a number of reasons which must be clear to you fall through the very large cracks in the system.

In the area of housing there is a need for the creation of special development areas, this area not defined geographically, but defined by other means can give many women the opportunity to raise the standard of living.

Historically, Barbadian women have always endeavored to own their own homes, and over the years many homes have passed from one generation to the other, however, the houses are quick to fall into a state of disrepair if there is not adequate income to maintain the home. Policy to assist these home owners by providing some concessions and discounts for repairs will greatly assist these people who are not able to benefit from claims on tax refunds for mortgage interest and home repairs.

Teen pregnancy must be tackled seriously as this too contributes to the cycle of poverty. I must say that although it is not considered a serious problem, the consequence and the contribution to the level of poverty makes this issue serious.

Students are permitted to return to schools after their pregnancy but a large number of them do not and are not encouraged to do so even though the law states that children must be in schools until age 16. The development of a facility which takes into consideration the needs of this group will greatly assist in solving some of the problems.

Employment opportunities are very few for women without education. Efforts have been made to attract foreign business to the country but in the main areas have been in data processing where the wages are extremely low and the conditions of work to say the least, challenging. At the international level and with the move towards globalisation and free trade, policy and rules must also take into account the actions of these companies who leave their countries where certain rules and conditions apply and go into “less developed” countries and ignore not only the rules of their own country but try to break or ignore the local rules, labour laws and rights of workers to join unions.

In the most part our people will not call themselves poor, and it is my observation that a large number of them will wait until they are very desperate before appealing for welfare assistance, and even when they do so they appeal only for assistance to send their children to school.

Welfare assistance then is given way too late, and taken away as soon as the women make attempts to make their lives better by trying to find some kind of work. There needs to be a “weaning” period from welfare, and there is also a need for the department to look at its methods of assessment of clients.

Antillean · Bridgetown, Barbados

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