In a ceremony held on the grounds of the Post Office on Tuesday, October 2 at 10 a.m., the 2007 Country Poverty Assessment was launched. Sanford Richardson, chairman of the ceremony, introduced the various speakers and presenters while providing his own colourful remarks and famous quotes that dealt directly with poverty based themes.

Hon. Victor Banks (front row), Government Officials and others

In 2002, Anguilla conducted its first Country Poverty Assessment (CPA) with the assistance from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The result of that assessment was that 20% of the 3,730 households in Anguilla were living in poverty. With the estimated population in 2002 of being 12, 200 persons, that meant that 23% of Anguilla’s population were impoverished with 2% being classified as living in severe poverty.

Sanford Richardson ceremony chairman with the Combined Schools’ Choral

The ceremony began with the National Anthem and was then followed up by the National Song performed by the Combined Schools’ Choir. After their beautiful rendition of the song, Reverend Dr. Clifton Niles gave the invocation and was followed by Dr. Aidan Harrigan’s welcoming remarks. Mrs. Serene Carter-Davis, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development, gave a very informative speech. According to Mrs. Carter-Davis, “Poverty can be defined as a multidimensional human experience meaning that it is associated not only with insufficient income or consumption but also with insufficient outcomes with respect to health, nutrition and literacy and with deficient social relations, insecurity and low self-esteem and powerlessness.” The 2007 CPA exercise will be conducted over a nine month period.
This CPA is being done as it is in the Ministry of Social Development’s mandate which includes analyzing societal trends in order to implement appropriate programmes, assign the appropriate human resource provision and secure funding for service delivery. Therefore, this CPA is justified as a means by which government can plan for action in the future.

Various persons including students at Opening Ceremony

Ms. Anne Marie Chandler, representative of the CDB, also spoke about the exercise and highlighted Kairi Consultants Limited, the company responsible for conducting the CPA. She spoke highly of its capacity and ability to do a proper and professional survey of Anguilla’s poverty level. Dr. Ralph Henry, owner of Kairi, also was invited to give remarks. Dr. Henry mentioned, “This is not a study in which people come and do research, write a report, and go away. It is one in which we are all involved together in documenting, reviewing, researching and developing a report so that when we leave you will not only have a rich store of information but information that you will use in order to make a better future for Anguilla.”
The final speaker of the event was the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Victor Banks. He said. “The title of the project, Country Poverty Assessment, conjures up for many persons, I am sure, some notions about the need for such a project, the objectives for conducting it, and the purposes to which the findings will be applied. The responses which I have overheard range from the viewpoint that there is no poverty in Anguilla hence the conclusion that this is a wasteful exercise … to the opposing viewpoint that the present Government is taking the country along the course of rising poverty hence the CDB is being called in to make way for the IMF to take over. Obviously, none of the above opinions are accurate but I believe that from the standpoint that perception forms reality --- it is important that any misinformation is put aside at least by the conclusion of this launching ceremony. I will do my best to outline a part of the Government’s position.”

Various persons including students at Opening Ceremony

Mr. Banks went on to mention aspects of the United Front’s Manifesto, which is the basis onwhich the government makes its policies, and spoke about how the CPA was essential for planning ahead. Here is an important excerpt of the speech which touches upon some issues facing Anguilla.

“From a macroeconomic standpoint one may say that Anguilla is experiencing a period of rapid growth and prosperity and we may seek to measure poverty on the basis of salaries or wages --- but when factors of inflation, the cost access to basic social services, increasing utility costs, rents, etc. are put into the mix our conclusions may be quite different.

“We have situations in Anguilla as we speak where people are being evicted by landlords in order to charge higher rents offered by tenants in higher income brackets. Many Anguillians have to take on multiple jobs to meet the normal increased cost of living. And there is a real challenge and concern that social development has not kept pace with the rapid economic growth which we are experiencing.

“These challenges manifest themselves in a tight labour market, education and skills shortages, youth alienation, crime and pressure on social and health services. All these issues affect the ability of Anguillians to maintain a reasonable standard of living and impacts the determination of what constitutes poverty. Obviously in responding to all of the above, Government if it wishes to meet the lofty objectives of its Mission Statement, must be able to decide with a high degree of accuracy what “safety nets” or programs need to be implemented to alleviate these hardships and achieve that mission.”
In closing the ceremony, the CPA banner was unveiled by Omari Banks along with Sanford Richardson. To commemorate the ceremony, a cultural presentation was performed by the All Ah Wee Young Theatre Players. Dr. Lana Hoyoung gave the vote of thanks and then ceremony finished shortly thereafter. The Anguillian will follow the results of the CPA closely and make every effort to disclose its findings to the public.

-Jason Allen

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