Ramphall (1994)posits that Caribbean development as it is currently conceptualized and practiced, is not the solution to Caribbean poverty but one of its major causes." A similar view is advanced by Duncan (1995) who indicated that "Western development ideology and practice is one which generates and increases poverty,dis-empowers individuals and households, marginalizes women, debilitates and progressively depreciates the environment, and introduces values which corrupts and corrode human psyche and cultural variety. (class notes).
Since development is pursued from an economical perspective these ideologies have not been working for many countries of the Global South. Structural adjustment policies have totally eroded any chance for future developments of these economies and has instead created dependency for some Caribbean countries which has filtered down on the poor causing continued poverty and marginalization. Third world countries have a flawed ideology of development and has thus continued along the same path of its colonizers.
JULIET PORTILLO
How can we can as a country alleviate poverty?
ReplyDeleteI often wonder if our leaders truly has our best interest at heart. Why aren't we aggressively focusing on sustainable development? In my view we can alleviate poverty via agriculture. Agriculture can be done on a large scale (eg. farming) and on a small scale (eg back yard gardening)
Our country's leaders to create a greater awareness of poverty alleviation by providing training, education, and financial support to the general population.
I visited St. Vincent recently, and I observed that most households had a variation of fruit trees and vegetables planted in their yards. I also found it very difficult to locate a KFC outlet (yes I loveeeee my KFC). Although St.Vincent may not as economically advanced as Trinidad and Tobago, they grow most of their food.
I am fortunate that my parents brought with them their Vincentian heritage as my yard is garnished with a variation of fruit trees and vegetable crops. It is such a pleasure to sit under my pomerac tree and have a few or to even one of our julie mangoes as my breakfast.
S.Lawrence