SOCIAL PROTECTION IN THE CARIBBEAN :- BARBADOS

Presenters :- Angela Mendez Chief Welfare Officer Dianne Haynes Project Co-ordinator Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment, Urban and Rural Development

OVERVIEW Barbados is an Island of approximately 166sq miles with a population of approximately 280,000 Political System Westminster model Democratic parliamentary system Two political parties Philosophy: moderate socialism. No major differences in the political ideology of the two parties. NATIONAL CONTEXT

National Context (cont’d) Elections are held every five years Island divided into thirty constituencies There are 30 members of parliament Both political parties are represented

Economy Diversified economy Gross domestic product in 2008 was Bds$7 billion Tourism and the Financial services sectors being the main drivers. Sectors contribution to GDP Financial services 19% Tourism 12% Manufacturing 6.6% Construction 6.4% Agriculture : - Sugar………… Bds$34 million - Non-Sugar…..Bds$127 million

SOCIAL REALITY Barbados has a comprehensive social development policy Ranked on the scale of the Human Development Index at No 31 Provides a wide social protection network for its citizens

SOCIAL REALITY (cont’d Every citizen has easy access to water, electricity, natural gas & communication services 75% of the population is black, 15%white, Indian 5% & Other 5% Social partnership established in 1991 between government, the employers representative and the employees representative Rate of unemployment in 2008 was 8%

SOCIAL REALITY (cont’d Strengths A stable Democratic Society High literacy rate of 98% Smooth transfer of governance from one political party to the other Comparatively low crime rate Emphasis in the development in human capital.

SOCIAL REALITY (cont’d Physical Infrastructure Flat land scape allows for :- Good road & transportation system Good communication network ie. Telephone, internet and radio

Institutional Mapping Education Free education from primary to tertiary level for all nationals Health Free health care for all nationals A centrally located general Hospital 10 community based medical facilities (polyclinics) managed by trained health professionals in public Health, antenatal and postnatal care

Institutional Mapping Health (cont’d Reference unit established specifically to handle HIV and Aids Disaster risk reduction Department of emergency management has oversight for coordination in relation to risk reduction and conducts workshops to educate and sensitize..

Institutional Mapping Social Welfare Provided through various agencies under the ministry of Social Care Target groups:- vulnerable persons including the elderly & the disabled

Structure of Government Governor General as Head of State Prime Minister Upper and lower houses of Parliament Respective ministry – Ministry of Social Care, Constituency empowerment, Urban and rural Development Agencies: Welfare Department, Urban & Rural Development, National Assistance Board, National Disabilities Unit, Office of Constituency empowerment, Bureau of Social Policy

Targeting Mechanisms Cash transfers to individuals Relief in kind to families Training through the “welfare to work program” Home Care Service for the elderly Housing renewal through the urban and rural development. A new study is been conducted by the bureau of Social Policy for the assessment of living condition in the island (Last study conducted in 1996) Structure of Government

Ministry of social care constituency empowerment urban and rural development National assistance program Cash transfer and relief in kind Home care program for the elderly. Poverty alleviation program. Housing program through the Urban and Rural commission

Focus of the National Strategy Lowering the cost of living Improving access to property ownership Improved health care service for all Education for the 21 st Century Families First Social security (Tax reversal credit etc.) Enhancing the role of women

Registry system All persons born in Barbados are supposed to be registered. Children born to single mothers must be registered by mother Children of married unions are registered by fathers or both parents Information required Registration no. of parents Marriage certificate Documentation from the hospital

Registry system (cont’d National registration is done by electoral and boundaries commission for purpose of facilitating voting as part of the democratic process and to facilitate access general and social services eg transportation and health care services For general statistical and demographic information

Structure of Government (cont’d The establishment of 30 community councils to further the improve the democratic process at the community level