Poverty

Poverty

We are lucky in Anguilla when it comes to poverty. The UNDP says we have none. We know differently.

World leaders agreed on the Millennium Development Goals at the Millennium Summit in 2000. There are now recognised 8 goals, 18 targets, and over 40 indicators. I leave you to look them up and decide for yourselves how many apply to us.

The following UNDP poverty profile shows Anguilla having the second best Gini Co-efficient in the region. The higher the figure for the Gini co-efficient, the greater is the degree between high and lower income households. Only the BVI scores better than us in being more egalitarian.

Poverty Profile in OECS Countries

Country	% Below the Poverty Line	Gini Co-efficient
Anguilla	n/a	0.31
Grenada	32	0.45
St Kitts	31	0.40
St Lucia	19	0.50
St Vincent and the Grenadines	33	0.56
Dominica	33	0.49
Antigua	n/a	0.53
BVI	n/a	0.23

Because we have no statistically significant percentage of households living below the poverty line does not mean that we do not have poor households in Anguilla. There are at least 50 homes that the Welfare Department have certified as deserving free public water because the heads of those households cannot pay the minimum bills. To put this in proportion, there are probably 3,000 households in Anguilla.

We may not have the deaths from starvation we see on Television, and that we may associate with “real” poverty. Our poverty has a different, less obvious face. We have homes with a poor standard of living, homes where the adults suffer from low education and low skills, and are employed in low income jobs. We have old and vulnerable persons without access to social services. There are many homes that have difficulty meeting the weekly grocery and the monthly telephone bills. With our tourism-based industry, when hotel business dries up, as it does periodically, people are let go from their jobs. The result is that loan payments become overdue. Homes are wrecked by the stresses that result. We see the periodic spates of advertisements by banks of sales of distressed properties. Our citizens have weak voices and limited power to influence the forces that affect our lives. We are at the mercy of so many forces that are outside our control. In all these ways many of us in Anguilla can be said to be impoverished.

Environment

Environmental versus People Concerns: Guest Editorial. One of my readers has asked me to publish this note. It strikes a chord in me. But, I have some reservations. I am not sure about its premise.

Recently in Anguilla, and indeed further a field, we’ve noticed an upswing in the amount of emphasis being placed on matters pertaining to the sustainability of the physical environment. I cannot say, however, that I have seen a concomitant equivalent emphasis being placed on matters directly pertaining to people and people issues. While I am not anti environment, how about our government and other agencies placing greater emphasis on such matters as poverty alleviation and protection of the poor and other development strategies, thereby ensuring that people are looked after as well or better than the physical environment? I do not think that has been happening.

Well, it’s one point of view. What about you? Do you think we ought to be more concerned about where the trucks that carry the contents of Anguilla’s septic tanks empty their loads? Should we show greater interest in the question, where does Delta Petroleum dump its toxic oil waste? Or, how efficient is Cap Juluca’s human waste disposal? Do these questions deserve a lesser emphasis than alleviation of poverty or protection of the poor? What do you think? If the answer is yes, why do you think so?

Banking: Guest Editorial 1

“Public Debt”. Our local banks seem not to be in tune with what’s going to be important to our local indigenous people with respect to long-term financial survival and viability. Their main focus seems to be more putting cars on the roads and into the hands of some who don’t really need them. And in addition there are quite a few who can’t really afford to have these vehicles. All told, this is not an asset that our people are being encouraged to invest in, but rather a liability. In addition, now with the Christmas Season, we are also being encouraged to spend on consumer goods, most of which are not necessities, but wants. In my opinion, it would be much more important for the locals to invest in real estate: complete unfinished houses; build-out upstairs on existing flat roofs; build bungalows; invest in affordable land for future development. Presently, there is a housing shortage, and we should be making efforts to rectify and take advantage of this potential. The country’s real estate assets are being rapidly sold and given away to expatriate companies, and we are in danger of losing that all-time important fundamental, ie, owing our land and country. It is of paramount importance that we make every effort to retain as much land assets as possible, and to maximize the potential of our real estate assets.

Our local banks should be giving special attention to the promotion of real estate investments and borrowing. Real assets for local people, not further burdens and liabilities. Our governments have all failed in promoting local interests. They have missed the boat big-time. They have failed to foresee today when we are short of houses for expatriate workers. They have failed to encourage local investment in real estate. They have not supported the concept of maximizing the potential of our real estate assets while at the same time retaining them for future generations, eg, by leasing as opposed to selling.

The long-term viability of our local banks will depend on the solvency of the local customers and shareholders. The banking authorities should be mindful not to encourage short-term and easy gains by putting people in financial jeopardy, and losing out in the long term by creating a large pool of bankrupt customers.

Presently, our banks are not in tune with what’s important to us in the long term, and therefore I think we should “Dial again!”