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About Our Country> National Population Report:Index>National Population Report: Part 7 |
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NATIONAL REPORT FOR THE ICPD - Continued 7. NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE FUTURE Not surprisingly so the national blueprint for action, addressing the emerging concerns arising out of demographic analysis, policy evaluation and operational interventions, is highlighted by research on demographic indicators and the impact of population growth, manifested in immigration, on social services and infrastructure, the environment and the economy in general. 7.1 Emerging and Priority Concerns Immigration policies and strategies together with the subsequent impact on the economic, social, environmental and political realities have emerged as the most urgent priority for the attention of policy makers and the community in general. Concern for immigration issues are followed closely by recent concerns over crime, the eroding of families and family values and the deteriorating behavior of the youth. The increasing evidence of the commencement of social disintegration particularly related to children, women and young persons in general. Propensity to involve themselves with criminal, anti-social and non-traditional behavior of young males are becoming a serious concern. Public health concerns related to the spread of HI/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's) and sexual and reproductive health have emerged as priority issues together with the perception that immigration regulations are contributing to incidences of these witnessed. Contraceptive prevalence nationally seems acceptable but decomposing between nationals and immigrants reveals a significantly higher non-prevalence rate for immigrants. Measures and strategies to overcome cultural, religious and sexual barriers to the use of contraceptives and other associated family planning devices to address sexual and reproductive health concerns form a significant part of the National Plan of Action. Despite the presence of some affected measures implemented in Information Education and Communications, concerns among health professionals and relevant NGO's are that much more has to be done to overcome the resistance and ignorance found in the immigrant population. Traditional demographic indicators are underestimated given immigration policies which restrict the entry of dependents except spouses. As well, authorities do not require enough detailed information to permit the analysis necessary to prescribe policy measures. Emerging concerns are that there should be more sophisticated research to permit selective immigration and the formulation of more meaningful strategies. The rapid increase in population has been translated into demand of housing and recreation services meaning that environmental impacts includes the use of land for housing and recreation. Additional housing meant that limited agricultural land had to be made available for housing construction, infrastructure, utilities and parks. Fish stocks normally consumed by residents have demonstrated depletion and the housing construction resulted in the downing of trees, the excavation of land and the consequent runoff of silt when the rain came. Increased population use of the natural assets such as beaches and parks placed more load on the already fragile areas which were generally reserved and used by residents as opposed to tourists. Most recently, the status of women in terms of protection against abuse, sexual assault and unequal treatment under the law have gotten the attention of authorities as manifested in the creation of a Woman's Desk to fully examine these issues and recommend strategies and measures to solve these problems. The priorities in this area seek to make the legal framework gender neutral, to provide stronger laws against abuse and to ensure that women's legal rights are guaranteed. The final major concern is the restricting of the children of un-naturalized immigrants born in the BVI from becoming nationals under the provisions of the British Nationality Act (BNA) of 1981. This affects a significant part of the school-age population and is assisting in the building of social tensions between resident nationals and non-nationals. Policies and measures under the Local Immigration Act will focus on addressing these issues as we have no influence over the provisions of the BNA. 7.2 Outlining of Policy Framework To define the nature and character of the population policy framework, it is expected that immigration policies complemented by policies in human resources development particularly labour, education and health will be the primary focus. Secondary level policies will be designed to improve the status of women, children and adolescents. Finally the policy framework will address the unfavorably links between environment, population, economy and social phenomena related to housing, recreation, agricultural and fisheries. Policy in this regard will encompass the concept of sustainable development particularly related to production and the environment. The policy framework described above cannot be developed unless there is a full and comprehensive integration of population affairs and concerns in the development process. This policy framework is the essence of the fiscal, economic, environmental, social and population strategies enveloped in the National Integrated Development Plan (NIDP), 1995-1999. This framework, which seeks to determine an overall strategy to achieve the goals of longer, more productive and healthier lives for British Virgin Islanders, is derived from a consultative process between all social actors (the public and private sectors, the communities and individuals) in a consensus building atmosphere to identify the quality and quantity of interventions necessary. The goal of human development, living longer, healthier and more productive lives, is the general objective of the NIDP, which in its final form is based upon the concept of Strategic Vision. Strategic visioning, in the context of the NIDP, is an eight-step process of integrating social, economic and environmental policies including (i) analyzing the future environment of the BVI; (ii) analyzing the BVI's resources and capabilities; (iii) clarifying management values; (iv) developing a mission statement; (v) identifying strategic goals and objectives; (vi) generating and selecting options; (vii) developing the vision statement and (viii) conducting reality checks. Policy related to immigration will seek to rationalize the numbers and the selection process to ensure that objectives for development of local human resources (education, labour, health, etc) are not frustrated and that the social system and that the socioeconomic infrastructure are not overburdened. Policy will seek to ensure that the unfavorable links between population and environment in terms of food production, housing and recreation areas are not further deteriorated but are solved through creative intervention. Health policies related to HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and family planning will continue to provide universal access and concentrate on information, education and communication as the primary measures to achieve objectives. Improving the status of women is an expressed and articulated policy of government to be primarily addressed through an enhanced legal framework. The population policy framework will be developed by the National Population Committee, an advisory committee of high level government experts, private sector organizations, NGO's and private individual in the context of the formulation of NIDP co-ordinated by the Development Planning Unit, the national economic planning agency. Relevant government agencies and line ministries will become part of the process through their involvement in the formulation of the NIDP. Although there will be no legal instrument which amounts to a population policy legal framework, the National Population Policy document will be approved by the Council of Ministers in executive session and tabled in Parliament. On the other hand, immigration, labour, health and eduction policies will be implemented through amendments to the existing legal framework. The draft Population Policy Statement, which is attached as Appendix I, establishes targets and objectives for population growth, structure and distribution in a qualitative rather than a quantitative way given that immigration, the major element in population growth, is dependent upon the level of economic activities and the shortage of domestic labour. Given that immigration is the highest priority measures will be put in place to regulate and ensure that it is co-ordinated with supply and demand measures of the labour market and the training component of the human resources development strategy. The major initiative to enhance the significance of population intervention in the context of integrating population and other development policies is of course the NIDP. The NIDP development process is to benefit form the United Nations Department of Social and Economic Development (UNDSED), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), UN Office of Social Development and the ECLAC sub-regional office in the Caribbean. Unfavorable linkages between environment and population addressed in our National Report for United Nations CED and strategies detailed therein are the basis for the policy framework in this area. 7.3 DESIGNING OF PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES The programmatic activities of a multi-sectoral nature are highlighted by the integration of population policies and strategies with social, economic and environmental policies and strategies. The development of a comprehensive population plan and a population policy statement together with the preparation of demographic data are, as well, salient elements of population activities. Programmatic activities include preparation, evaluation and implementation of projects for all major areas of population activities. The National Population Committee (NPC) is to serve as the policy advisory body and the Development Planning Unit (DPU) will be the co-ordinating & executing agency respectively in view of the integration process through the NIDP. The implementing agencies will be line ministries and departments such as Chief Minister's Office, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Education and Culture, Departments of Social Development, Health and Education and the Departments of Immigration and Labour. The policies and strategies pertaining to immigration will be implemented through laws and regulations by the relevant agencies co-ordinated through the Chief Minister's Office. Financing of implementation is guaranteed in that immigration, health, labour and family planning policies are part of social policies and are financed through the annual budget. Prioritization of population activities favours migration, integration of policies, health issues (sexual and reproductive), family planning, women's affairs and Population Information, Education and Communications (IEC) programmes. The activities are found in the formation of a National Population Unit (NPU) with key involvement of the private sector an Non-governmental Organizations (NGO's) In addition and until formation of the NPP, project components will be seen in the NIDP and the national Recurrent Budget. Programme formulation will be a co-ordinated effort arising out of the regular work programme of the agencies of the Central Government. Population Programme formulation comes under preparation of the NIDP and as such is a key component of social policy. As indicated earlier the NIDP, PPRAC and the annual budget exercise, encapsulating the national planning process, represent the mechanisms under which programme formulation will take place. Monitoring and implementation of programme activities will primarily be decentralized, in the first instance, to the implementing agencies as it would be in the Financial Instructions of the regular budget. At the secondary level monitoring of population programmes, especially expenditure, will be carried out by line ministries and the Auditor General. Monitoring at the national level for effective implementation of population programme activities will be executed by the Population Unit of the DPU on behalf of the NPC. It is further planned that co-ordination of programme functions will be under PU of the DPU in a framework which permits continuous exchange of information between Government Officials, the private sector and NGO's. Population programmes co-ordination is to become a regular item on the PPRAC agenda. The immediate or short term programme activities were established in consultation with the ECLAC/CELADE after a five (5) day mission to the BVI March 22-25th, 1993. The recommendations (taken from the consultant's report) together with some rationale are listed immediately below. Summary of Recommendations The Government of the BVI recognizes the important role of population in the development process and makes a strong commitment to ensuring harmonization amoung population, social and economic policies. High priority is placed on the integration of population issues in development planning and the implementation of related programmes. The Government has decided to allocate staff and other resources towards achieving this goal. It has been recommended and accepted that the Government adopt a comprehensive rather than piecemeal approach towards realization of its goals. This would comprise (a) the establishment of a Population Unit; (b) preparation and evaluation of data, including research and analysis of data; (d) dissemination of data and research results; (e) policy formulation and planning; (f) policy implementation; and (g) monitoring and evaluation. In this regard, the following national population programme has been agreed to as a first stage: 1. Data Generation/Preparation/Evaluation (a) Establishment and maintenance of integrated population statistical databank -
(i) One consultant
for four days to design and set up system; 2. Research/Analysis (a) Population
Projections;
(i) Consultant for
14 days to assist in preparation of population projections, demographic estimates, and
review and revision of final draft of projections. 3. Information/Dissemination
(i) One consultant
for five days for training in design and development of information/education materials. 4. Integration of Population in Planning This activity would include sector policy formulation, implementation, and the incorporation of policy issues in macro development plan.
(i) Consultancy services up to a total of 18 days to assist in above activities. (as detailed in the relevant section above). 5. Establishment of National Population Unit
(i) Consultancy services for up to a total of 7 days to assist in establishment of Unit, preparation and initiation of action on Work Plan, design and conduct of institution building and awareness creation seminars. 6. Training Training programmes should constitute two types: (a) Workshop for strengthening
capacities for preparation and analysis of data for planning - targeted to statisticians
and other data users and producers. Details of other population programme activities both ongoing and planned are attached as Appendix II. It is estimated that over the period 1994-2000, activities categorized as the National Population Progranmme will amount to US $21.77m or an average of US $3.11m annually. These activities which take into account expenditure or established programmes and interventions, (ii) consultancies and (iii) new and long term projects as identified in section 7.3 "Designing of Programmatic Activities. Average annual expenditures are projected to be US$2.83m (82%), US$0.19m (6%) and US$0.36m (12%) for established programmes and interventions, consultancies and new and long term projects, respectively. From the Central Government annual budgets, it is expected that approximately 75% or US$16.33m compared with the US $4.44m (20.4%) and the US$1.0m (4.6%) that is being sought from external donor financing agencies and domestic (as well as foreign) NGO community, respectively. Resources from the Central Government budget will mainly cover activities related to international migration, sexual and reproductive health, public assistance, maternal and child health care and IEC activities. The resources sought from international donor financing agencies are intended to cover consultancies in population, research, computer databases development and policy formulation. The NGO grouping is expected to assist with information, education and communications related to areas such as family planning, sexual and reproductive health and activities for the Youth Programme including counselling on drug use and abuse. The programme as envisaged calls for a significant amount of resources approximating 13% of the annual operating budget. This level of resources is justified given the criticality of population issues in the development process. Co-ordination between external and domestic sources of financing will be achieved through the DPU, the NPC and the regular budgetary process.
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