CARIBBEAN FORUM ON POPULATION, MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA9-10 JULY 2013

Population Dynamics, Population Policies and the

Reduction of Poverty

Presented by

Paulette Bynoe, PhD

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Aims of Presentation

To emphasise the nexus between population dynamics and the reduction of poverty;

To highlight some achievements (of Guyana) in respect of the Cairo Programme of Action (1994); and

To make recommendations to bridge perceived gaps in the process of policy-making.

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Population Dynamics and Poverty Reduction: Emphasising the Nexus

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Implications 4

Lack of formal education= lower paying jobs =reinforcement of underground economy=limited capacity to be mainstreamed into formal economy

Remittances through informal means; delinquent labour market efforts, especially among youths

Deportees are not fully integrated into the society: this may lead to establishment of new criminal enterprise ideas

Implications 5

Internal migration =population pressures for housing, public services such as health, and education, and social facilities; environmental stress.

Brain drain/High human capital flight: limited skills for research and development.

Population structure: large working age population= increased unemployment among youth (e.g. in Guyana in 2006:12% nationally; youth of working age =36%

Increased number of adolescent mothers lack of education and the impact on communities and nation.

Some Achievements of Guyana in Area of Poverty Reduction

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Poverty (Gendered) Women’s Entrepreneurs Network that advances women empowerment in Guyana and promote gender equality. 2008, Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, in collaboration a commercial bank, launched Women of Worth (WOW) micro-credit scheme for single parents to enable them to access low interest loans and micro-credits facilities to undertaken small business projects.

National Policy on Women and a National Action Plan for Women 

Spatial Distribution of Population Provision of School Uniform Vouchers (PRSP)

Amerindian Development Fund (12 million US$) as component of the Low Carbon Development Strategy

Establishment of Small and Medium Size Enterprises

Some Achievements of Guyana in Area of Poverty Reduction

7Age distribution: Elderly A geriatric facility, free health services provided at all government facilities including provision of free eye care, hearing aids, and psycho-social support to elderly 14% increase in old age pension in 2012, food assistance, housing assistance, a reduction in land rates and taxes, a reduction in water rates, and subsidised electricity.

High Teenage Pregnancy Adolescent Health Strategy; National Sexually Transmissible Infection (STI) Strategy; HiVision 2020 (a plan to eliminate HIV transmission by 2020); treatment incorporated in Family Planning and Contraception Programme; National Health Plan (2003-2007)= new financial resources and re-allocation of existing resources in a more equitable manner

= access at 5 levels: health posts, health centre; district hospitals, regional hospitals; tertiary level with specialist services.  

Some Achievements of Guyana in Area of Poverty Reduction

8High Teenage Pregnancies (NGO efforts)

Women Across Differences, with financial support from UNFPA, works with adolescent and teen mothers to reduce unplanned pregnancies through empowerment programmes that focus on personal development sessions, literacy, vocational, life and income earning skills.

Mobility (High Human Capital Flight)

Remigrant Scheme (administered by Ministry of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with Guyana Revenue Authority.

Exemption from duty and Value Added Tax (VA T) are given on the following:(a) A reasonable quantity of personal effects.(b) A reasonable quantity of household effects including domestic and electricalappliances(c) A limited amount of tools of trade(d) Motor Vehicles, Motor cycles and leisure boats

Recommendations to Bridge Gaps9

Need for a population policy to promote social development. Human beings are at the centre of sustainable development.

Embrace a more participatory process of decision making for genuine sustainable development (educate to inform; then consult)

Greater investment in human resource development (knowledge and skills): re-tooling persons to respond effectively to new and emerging challenges and to be absorbed into local economy. Bridge the gap.

Recommendations to bridge Gaps10

Further reduce regional imbalances (skewed development) associated with resource allocation to stem the flow of migrants from rural to urban or urban to urban areas for example through Regional Investment Policy (e.g. infrastructure) to address problems in lagging regions.

Address issue of spatial location of population, vulnerability to natural and human-induced hazards in the context of poverty reduction, as a disaster exacerbates poverty.

Recommendations to bridge Gaps11

Greater integrated planning among sectors and institutions (horizontal and vertical)

Integrate sustainability issues with development in ‘upstream’ decision making, using Strategic Environmental Assessments to ensure harmonious balance between environmental protection, social equity and economic growth is maintained.

Enforce policy regarding education to school drop outs (boys and girls) due to teenage pregnancy etc. to combat unemployment problem and to reduce problem of underground economy

Recommendations to bridge Gaps12

Create viable and attractive opportunities in rural areas with the aim to re-directing educational systems towards the needs of rural development.

Policies should be informed by a comprehensive situational analysis (evidence based) as well as a multi-disciplinary and coherent approach. We cannot continue to operate in silos and ‘intellectual compartments’.

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Thanks for listening!!!!!

Email: paulette.bynoe@uog.edu.gy

Tel: 592 -222- 4180