SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY
In
The British Virgin Islands.
Introduction / Definition:
Social Welfare Policy can be defined as a clearly articulated statement
of the government describing a course of action/s to be implemented in
order to achieve set goals and objectives as far as social welfare is
concerned. The aim of the Government of the British Virgin Islands is to
build a socially cohesive, a thriving community through integrated
social and economic policies which seek to strengthen community
relations, minimise social tensions, strengthen families, and eradicate
poverty.
Objectives:
The long term objectives of the government is to establish a policy and
institutional framework which will promote the rights of poorer and more
vulnerable members of society, enhance their livelihood opportunities
and increase their access to social services. Therefore the Government
needs to formulate community development and social welfare policy
guidelines particularly as regards issues affecting children, juveniles,
the elderly, the disabled, the poor families and gender.
Situation Analysis:
The government provides a wide range of services for the less fortunate
and senior members of the society. These include, social security
benefits, home care for the aged, children with special problems, as
well as help for women affected by domestic abuse, rehabilitation
facilities and programmes, a learning centre for children with the
special needs and free and subsidised health care. The free and
subsidised health care is supposed to cover a number of groups that are
exempted from charges. These include persons aged 65 years and over,
school children, the mentally ill, the indigent, prisoners, public
sector health workers etc.
In the absence of a national health insurance scheme, the Social
security Board (SSB) plays a significant role in financing health care
in the territory. Under the social security scheme to which
contributions are mandatory, all employees over the age of 15 are
covered for a range of health related benefits. The SSB also allocates a
portion of its income to improvements in public health services on an ad
hoc basis. While the welfare system has been expanding in recent years,
its efficiency and effectiveness are hampered by the absence of clear
policies and inadequacy of the database. Therefore to provide better
services we need to develop clear policies in respect of procedures,
rules, benefit payments etc. Also we need to strengthen and improve the
database. In addition the quantity and quality of human resources need
to be improved.
Social Services For the Vulnerable Group;
- Women;
The Women Desk is part of the government machinery for the
advancement of women in the BVI. The desk was established at the
instigation of the national women’s group and works closely with
NGO’s and church organisations including the Family Support Network, a
group which provides services for the victims of domestic violence.
Other groups are the Methodist Women’s Guild, BVI Community Agency on
Drugs and Alcohol (CADA), Lions Club of Tortola, etc.
The major responsibilities of Women’s Desk are;
- Sensitise government ministries and departments to gender issues
in the planning and execution of certain programmes / projects.
- Coordinate the activities of groups which represent various
aspects of women’s affairs in the territory.
- Organise and facilitate education programmes and projects for
improving the economic welfare of women.
- Liaise with the external funding agencies for obtaining financing
for specific programmes.
- Facilitate the implementation of the Convention for the
Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
- Ensure the on-going work and progress of women’s health and
development.
- Promote the legal framework to support and enhance the welfare of
women.
Indicators of women’s status in the BVI.
These indicators were prepared by the fourth World Conference on Women,
as guidance to assess all countries including the BVI.
- The sharing of power and decision-making at all levels.
Goal: To sensitise and educate women so that they will be
freed from their internalised oppression and both support other women
who are willing to be involved in political office and administrative
positions and also prepare themselves to share power and decision making
level.
Action / Measures: The Women Desk in collaboration with the
government organised several seminars / workshops designed to enhance
women’s knowledge about their rights. The seminars featured several
topics, including developing your platform, leadership skills, Caribbean
Politics and the role of women, public speaking, fundraising and running
a successful campaign, etc. Because of this and more media education
campaigns, two women were elected as members of the Legislative Council,
one of them is the Minister for Health, Education and Culture and she is
the Deputy Chief Minister. There are a substantantial number of women in
prominent positions in BVI. Forty percent of the permanent secretaries
are women and almost half of the government departments statutory boards
and other agencies are headed by women.
- Mechanisms to promote the advancement of women:
Goal: To widen the influence and scope of the Women’s
Desk by increasing staffing and resources, thereby enabling the desk to
impact on women in all the islands of the territory.
Action / measures: The Women’s Desk, is run by the senior
administrative Officer only, but she is being supported by different
departments and many NGO’s. Under her leadership, the impact on women
in the territory has been noticeable.
- Awareness of, and commitment to, internationally and nationally
recognised women’s rights.
Goal: To eliminate all forms of discrimination against
women and children by providing a legal framework that will act to
protect their welfare.
Action / measures; The BVI has adopted the 1985 United Nations
Convention on the Elimination of Forms Of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
The recommendations made by the Law Reform Committee are an attempt to
bring the BVI law into closer conformity with the Convention. The Law
reform Committee sought to review laws pertaining to women and children
and to reform discriminatory legislation. The committee used a 1988
report by Oswell Legall, former senior crown counsel, titled “ Women,
Discrimination and the Law” as the basis for the review.
- Poverty:
Goal: To improve the circumstances of all women to provide
a better measure of social, political and economic equality.
Action / measures; The recognition of the disadvantaged status of
low-income earners in general and low-income immigrant women in
particular prompted the Women’s Desk to launch a campaign for the
establishment of a Low Income or Domestic Workers’ Association. The
project was carried out in collaboration with the Labour Department with
assistance from Social Security Board and the Immigration Department.
The Desk is experienced some difficulties in getting this project off
ground, mainly because of the fear of repercussions by many of the
domestics, and immigrant women in particular. Also because these workers
have to work long hours and devote the remainder of their time to care
of their children and households. Indications are that the awareness
campaign associated with the project has been effective in that it has
drawn the attention of the public to the problem and in addition, many
cases of labour exploitation are being brought to the attention of the
Women’s Desk.
- Access to and participation in the determination of economic
structures and polices and reproductive process.
Goal: To eliminate the cultural, institutional, behavioral
and attitudinal discrimination which prohibit or limit women’s access
to land, capital and other productive resources.
Action / measures; The Women’s Desk have been educating all
women on these issues and encouraging them to be more involved in
entrepreneurial projects. More workshops focusing on craft, management,
entrepreneurship, marketing and personal development are needed to build
women’s perceptions of their ability to be successful entrepreneurs.
- Access to education, health, employment and other means to
maximise awareness of women’s rights and the use of their
capacities.
Goal: To provide equality in access to education, health
and employment.
Action / measures: The available data indicated that women
outnumber males in enrollment at secondary and tertiary levels. Further
statistics indicate that women are more academically qualified than
their men counterparts. On health, more women are being educated on
their health through the media, health clinics and workplace. The
Women’s Desk in collaboration with the Health Department have special
programmes to educate women example of such programmes are, Cancer
awareness, one month is devoted to educate women on cancer (Cancer
Awareness Month), HIV and AIDS programmes for women. Family Planning
Services are also available to every women and is being sponsored by the
health department and the BVI Family Life Association. The family
planning services are provided on a daily basis except week-ends. The
Desk in collaboration with Labour Department are working together to
decrease discrimination against women in the work place.
- Violence Against Women:
Goal: To control prevent and reduce the impact of violence on
women.
Action / measures; The Women’s Desk have organised several
seminars related to the problems of domestic violence and rape. Women
learned how they can prepare for an attack, what to do during an attack,
and how to plan for a better life free from abuse or the threat of
abuse. The domestic Violence Act, was passed in March1996. The purpose
of the Bill is to introduce protective measures against domestic
violence and provides legal remedies in dealing with such violence. It
is hoped that this Act will be a way forward in the efficient and
effective curbing of acts of domestic violence in the territory and it
will serve as a useful working tool for law enforcement agencies.
Development Policies on Women and Gender issues:
The future development will require an integrated approach of
development, which means all public and private institutions, NGO’s
and all stakeholders should be involved in the development process. The
government will continue to assist the Women’s Desk by providing
additional personnel and financial resources to support women
development. From time to time policies and the legal framework will be
reviewed to support the empowerment of women and participation in all
decision making process. In this regard the BVI Government will take the
following strategy / measures.
- Review the Labour Code to ensure that wages and work conditions
are based on competency and experience and not gender.
- Ensure that employment policies are framed to protect women in the
workplace from sexual harassment.
- Create a National Childcare Network and ensure that high standards
are implemented and child support regulations are rigorously
enforced.
- Ensure that the Health Care system is at a level to ensure the
special care needs of women are fully integrated.
- Ensure that violence against women is not tolerated in the society
by ensuring that the laws are reviewed, strengthened and vigorously
enforced to reduce the incidence of domestic violence.
- Develop a crisis centre for women who have been victimised by
domestic violence.
- Review the constitution to ensure that it is gender neutral and
that equal protection is granted to women.
- Dis-aggregate all national statistics by gender to ensure that a
package of indicators on the progress and status of women is
available.
- Children and Youth:
The World Summit for Children held September 1990, committed to the
international community to improve the situation of children and women.
The BVI being a member of the international community has been and will
continue to improve the situation of its children. The Government has
taken the following measures.
- Reduction of infant and under five-child mortality rate.
- Reduction of maternal mortality rate by half.
- Reduction of severe and moderate malnutrition among under five
children.
- Universal access to safe drinking water.
- Universal access to sanitary means of excreta disposal.
- Universal access to basic education and completion of primary
education.
- Reduction of adult illiteracy rate.
- Improved protection of children in especially difficult
circumstances.
In 1992 UNICEF conducted one of the most significant studies to date
on the situation of children and women in the territory. The
recommendations from this study have resulted in a series of activities
designed to improve the status of women and children in the context of
UNICEF. These activities are being carried out through the Ministry of
Health. The Department for International Development (DFID) is also
assisting the government with a comprehensive programme of activities to
improve the delivery of health care to all residents in the territory.
These include the areas of maternal health care, health policy
adjustment and sexual and reproductive health.
Regarding Youth in the territory, different aspects of youth work are
addressed at different at different level within the government
machinery. The various areas include the Social Development Department,
Ministry of Health, Education and Welfare, the Department of Education
and Culture, and Sports Division. In addition, a number of organisations
have made a significant contribution to development of youth in the
territory. For example, the Boy Scouts and Girl scouts provide boys and
girls with opportunities for sports, social activities, and many other
forms of recreation. Churches also play a major role in youth
development. The main problems and basic needs of the BVI youth emerging
from the exercise include, inadequacies in education, unemployment,
teenage pregnancy, juvenile delinquency and increase in crime, substance
abuse, insufficient recreational facilities, and youth habouring
feelings of being marginalised in their relationships with the
“significant others”. There is a feeling of lack of empowerment.
Many youth display symptoms of low self-esteem and even express such
feelings openly.
Policies on Children and Youth in BVI:
The government will continue to support all programmes aimed at
improving the social welfare of children and youth. The government will
facilitate participation of all parties involved in child and youth
development programmes. More important the government will formulate
policies, which will provide guidance and direction to ensure the full
development and protection of children and youth. The following are
policies and strategies, which has been recommended.
- Review all laws, which are meant to protect the rights of children
and the youth in the territory.
- Put in place a National Youth Policy, which identify the needs of
the youth and strategies on how to achieve their needs. This is in
pursuit of optimum development in preparation for fulfillment of
their role and function in the national community specifically and
in society in general.
- Establish a National Youth Council as a focal point of central
representation for individuals and groups. This will provide greater
participation in decision making and national politics.
- Assist and support the creation of child-care network to ensure a
nurturing while parents are working.
- Restructure the education system and ensure the full development
of relevant and extensive education facilities and programmes to
prepare children competition in the world market place and expand
community based parenting education, which targets youth and
families.
- Strengthening youth participation in decision-making concerning
their affairs and research on youth development affairs and
unemployment problems.
- Provide maternal and child health services include ante-natal
care, post-natal care, family planning, and child health clinic.
- Take steps to improve the access of the youth to employment and
assess the impact of youth employment initiatives. Finance
employment and training programmes in a sustainable manner.
- Adopt school curriculum that includes about sex education, drug
education, community ethics, health, parenthood, work ethics, etc.
Put in place clear and concise policies to deal with issues of
school-girls who become pregnant as to where or how they may go
about continuing their education.
- Ensure the development and maintenance of improved sporting and
recreational facilities in all communities.
All these development policies / strategies will provide guidance to
the children and youth development programmes and projects in the BVI.
- The Elderly:
According to the statistics available, it shows that the aging
population has increased in recent years. This is due to rise in life
expectance to 74 years and general increase in population. This will
require the expansion of social services including higher national
insurance payments and special recreation targeted at an aging
population. This aging of the population as well as the entry of more
women into the formal labour force has created the need for
institutional care for the elderly. As more women, the traditional
care-givers, are now in the formal labour force they are no longer
available to provide the full time care for aging relatives.
The government has been providing care for the aging including homes for
institutional care in 3 major population centres. The Adina Donovan Home
for the Elderly in Road Town, Alm-house in Virgin Gorda and Long Look.
The Social Development Department also administers a senior citizen
programme in the Sea Cows Bay, East End / Long Look and Carrot Bay
communities. Health care is provided free for persons 65 years and
older, and welfare grants are given to those persons who qualify in
addition to the benefits from national insurance system (Social
Security). Private sector health care and pharmaceutical items providers
offer substantial discounts to persons 65 years and over.
Social Security is a insurance scheme designed to protect the insured
persons from financial distress. The age benefit is awarded to an
insured person who has reached the age of 65 years and may be paid as a
pension or grant. Many of the aged are not covered by the social
security scheme because it was fairly recently established in 1980.
Civil servants who have worked a minimum of 25 consecutive years are
entitled to receive a monthly pension from the government.
Feature Development Strategies:
The government in collaboration with private sector and NGO’s will
continue to work together to provide necessary requirement for the
elderly. To achieve this objectives, the government will develop the
following policies and strategies.
- Develop additional research to assess the present condition of the
elderly in the territory and the extent to which they are able to
access the programmes develop to aid them.
- Review the Pension plan and legal framework to include persons who
served but were never covered under the Pension Act.
- Provide additional human and financial resources to this
sub-sector to improve the services to the elderly and protect the
solvency of the Social Security System.
- Provide additional nursing home facilities to supplement the
facilities at Adina Donovan Home, and upgrade the Virgin Gorda and
Long Look Almshouse to total care facilities.
- Encourage relatives to visit their family members at the home
frequently.
- Provide wheelchair, walking stick and other necessary equipment
for use in care of elderly.
- Expand the recently instituted Home Care Programme.
- People with Disability:
According to 1991 census report, 4.4% of the population of the BVI, had
one form of disability or another. Of all persons with disabilities,
4.6% reported mental retardation and 12.6%, 3.1% and 2.9% indicated
sight, hearing and speech impediments respectively. A number of other
impairments were reported by 76.8% of all disabled persons. Just over
59% of disabled were females. Almost 80% of all disabled persons had
education levels at or below primary level. Almost 24% of all disabled
persons and 41.4% of those in the active age group ( 15 – 64 years)
reported being formally employed. Nearly 25% of them were relegated to
home duties, 18% were retired and 20.5% were completely incapacitated.
Children with Special Needs; The Esylen Henley Richard Children
Center is the main center of service provision for children with special
needs. The objective is to help the children to function as normal as
possible and to be as independent as they can be. Another objective is
to foster independent living skills and to develop basic academic skills
as far as possible. The center is under the Ministry of Education and
Culture. A volunteer-group, called “ The Friends of Esylen Henley
Richard ” gives assistance by providing funds for meals and helping to
arrange medical care, etc.
The BVI services is a vocational rehabilitation programme which was
established in 1982. It is the government’s effort to establish the
disabled or re-establish recovering adults into the society. The BVI
services fall under the direction of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
This Programme shapes and sharpens the skills of its workers for
re-entry into the workplace, and at the same time, offers the community
a number of services. The services include stuffing and sealing
envelopes, counting and packing T-shirts and other merchandise, cutting
material, sewing, counting and packing cloth bags, car wash, washing and
ironing laundry, re-strapping tropic-tone furniture, preparing bicycle
license plates, etc. the programme generates income to cover the
participant’s salaries and materials. There is another group called
“ Caregivers of Children with Special Needs” This group is currently
developing a register of children with special needs and they see the
need for a register of persons on island who have any skills / knowledge
which can be utilised in local multi-level training programme.
The BVI has another programme under Social Security called “ Social
Security Invalidity Benefits”. The invalid benefits are payable to the
insured person who has become permanently incapable of work (either as
an employee or as a self-employed person) because of some physical or
mental illness, has received sickness benefit for 26 weeks, and has
become medically certified as being likely to remain incapacitated.
Invalid benefits may be paid in the form of a grant or pension,
depending on the number of contributions paid into the scheme.
Development Strategies for People with Disabilities:
There is no clear national policy and legislation regarding promoting
the rights of people with disabilities. Also there is a lack of data on
people with disabilities. Apart from these problems, the government has
been supporting any move to promote the well-being of the people with
disabilities. Further action is needed to promote the people. The
following development policies strategies should be implemented in order
to promote the rights of the people with disability;
- To enact a legislation relating to people with physical and mental
disabilities, by taking into account their special needs as a class
and the need to facilitate their access to rights and freedoms
enjoyed by other members of the society.
- Develop dis-aggregated a database on people with disabilities and
special needs.
- Put in place national policy promoting the rights of people with
disabilities, which will involve the full and active participation
of local people with disabilities and their organisations with
assistance from CARICOM member states, which have already worked on
national policies.
- Establish a council for people with special needs. Reorganise the
mental health association and have a wider representation.
- Coordinate with and obtain membership in the Caribbean Association
Of Mental Retardation and other Development Disabilities (CAMROD).
- Enact a law, which requires all public buildings and publicly used
space holding more than 150 persons must be equipped with the
requisite wheel chair access, toilet facilities, evacuation plans
and other physical facilities.
- Empower disabled people to find productive employment.
- Provide enough trained human resources in this area and provide
sufficient funds to run disability programmes.
- Facilitates the involvement of private sector and NGO’s in
providing services to the people with special needs.
General Poverty:
The available data suggest that the incidence of poverty in BVI is very
low. The data suggests that a majority of households have access to the
basic facilities and amenities. That means poverty is not a big problem.
But this does not mean that poverty does not exist. Recent findings,
have shown that, poverty in the society is beginning to emerge,
especially among the immigrant population, single parent families and
among the senior citizens. This trend of poverty could cause a serious
social problem in future. The rapid economic development of the BVI in
the last decade has generated potentially serious social problems and
there is the danger of creating a permanent social underclass of
immigrant workers, particularly among the women.
The government needs to put in place an adequate policy framework to
deal effectively with the problems of poverty that is linked to
immigration and population policies. The immediate concern of the
government is to come up with strategies that address the problem in a
comprehensive integrated manner. The government should workout and
determine the extent and incidence of poverty prior to the development
of appropriate welfare programmes and policies.
The government needs to look into the welfare of women and eliminate all
forms of discrimination and violence against women. Also the government
needs to look the welfare of the children and ensure that child support
regulation are enforced and create a national childcare network. Another
group which needs attention is the elderly and the disabled. The social
welfare programmes should be extended to all vulnerable groups in the
society, (as indicated in sections i to iv).
Strategic Vision of Social Welfare Policy:
Despite the low incidences of poverty in the territory, the integrated
approach to sustainable development related to social development and
welfare needs to be placed on the national agenda. The strategy will
help to reduce alienation and address concerns of the vulnerable groups,
including poor immigrants workers and the youth, as well as facilitating
greater community participation in the process of development.
Programmes should be developed to deal with stress-related problems of a
more affluent society, such as childcare, gender support and
rehabilitation. The focus of this component of the strategy will be on
considerations of equity and effective targeting of potential
beneficiaries. Essential elements will include the establishment of
comprehensive data base to facilitate ongoing analysis of social issues
and the implementation of measures to improve the social and economic
status of the less fortunate individuals in the society.
The government will formulate economic and social policies to address
the whole range of factors that contribute to poverty. Among other
things, these policies will seek to improve the availability and quality
of shelter and basic services, generate opportunities for employment and
sustainable livelihoods for the vulnerable. Also there is a need to
empower women and men through access to assets and productive resources,
such as land, credit, technology, training and markets and enable people
to participate in the political forces that shape their lives.
The government will develop an adequate legal and policy framework to
deal effectively with the problems of social welfare linked to
vulnerable groups and poverty that is linked to immigration and
population policies. The immediate concern is to come up with strategies
that address the problem in a comprehensive integrated manner.
Recommended Detailed General Policies and
Strategies:
(On vulnerable groups and poverty eradication)
The focus of the social development and welfare policies will be on the
expanding scope of the programme and improving the efficiency of
delivery of services. In order to facilitate these improvements, the
government of BVI is expected to undertake the relevant social surveys
to produce a set of reliable and up-to-date socio-economic data and
indicators as a basis for policy and programme formulation. The plan of
action will identify issues and actions of welfare policies as follows
- Promotion the rights of the poorer and more vulnerable members
of the society by addressing the factors contributing to improvement
or social inequities;
The following strategies are recommended to achieve this policy.
- Design and adapt a system, which supports the integration of
social and economic strategies and ensure social planning, avoids
planning not only for welfare but is directly focused on
development.
- Ensure that government maintain its commitment in provision of
health care reform initiatives.
- Identify the circumstances of all vulnerable groups by providing a
better measure of social, political and opportunities and providing
the legal framework to protect their welfare.
- Ensure that the government retains its responsibility for free
universal access to basic health services and health care services
for the poor and unemployed including services such as national
child-health, family planning, immunisation, sanitation, control of
communicable diseases, maternal and child health care etc.
- Ensure provision of free primary education for the poor and
implement educational reform, which focuses on education for living
in the school curriculum.
- Ensure provision of shelter for vulnerable groups especially
low-income families, single mothers, handicapped, elderly etc. by
providing sites and services as well as lines of credit in the area
of housing.
- Promote the rights of the poorer and more vulnerable members of
the society and enhance their livelihood opportunities.
- Expand social welfare scheme and improve database collection and
establish relevant poverty indicators as a priority in the Social
Development Indicators Programme.
- Review the present pension and retirement schemes for the benefit
of retired workers especially poorer group with the view to account
for increases in the cost of living.
- Incorporate the gender dimension into actions for poverty
eradication by increasing the use of gender analysis in policies and
programmes.
- Ensure sustained economic growth and promotion equal access to
employment opportunities, so as to enhance better living standards.
To ensure achievement of the above policy objective the following
strategies will be developed;
- Integrate the policies and programmes for economic growth and the
maintenance of macroeconomic balance with the promotion of equity
and social justice.
- Increase opportunities for employment and sustainable livelihoods,
empower women and men through access to assets and productive
resources, such as land, credit, technology, training and markets
and enable people to participate in the political forces that shape
their lives.
- Increase full and equal participation of poor men and women in the
labour market and promote equal opportunity in employment,
occupational terms and conditions, training and guidance.
- Ensure access to free or lower cost legal services, design to
reach the poorer especially poor immigrant women.
- Develop a policy framework to deal with effects associated with
problem of poverty linked to population and immigration policies and
increase access to basic human needs and social services to all,
especially the poorer and more vulnerable members.
Strategies for implementing the above policy will be as follows;
- Encourage policy-makers and planners to develop and analyse
macroeconomic and social policies from a people centered
perspective.
- Incorporate population and immigration issues in development
planning process strategies for poverty eradication. Population and
immigration policies should guide and direct the use of resources
towards the goal of poverty eradication.
- Use population data for socio-economic planning, health and
education reforms, human development strategies, economic
restructuring, etc.
- Enhance and expand the quality of services and facilities offered
by the health education and welfare systems.
- Empowering communities, promoting strategies for sustainable
livelihoods;
In order to achieve the above objectives the following strategies
will be adopted;
- Support the empowerment of women and community participation in
all decision making process, (e.g. planning and implementation of
social programmes).
- Develop comprehensive regulatory guidelines and policies that
protect the interests and livelihood of the vulnerable population.
- Eliminate all forms of violence against women and children and
provide education on adverse effects of violence through mass media
communication.
- Create laws aimed at prevention of violence against women and
children and their protection. Also sensitise the judicial and
social system and institutionalise support mechanism.
- Involve all social stakeholders especially the vulnerable groups
in integrated, indicative and strategic planning for social sector.
- Develop a sustainable National Health Financing Strategy and
investigate the feasibility of instituting a National Health
Insurance Scheme.
- Formulate a National Youth Policy by fostering greater
consultation with the intended beneficiaries in the development and
execution of youth development programmes.
- Formulation of an integrated social and economic strategies and
policy framework to deal with problems associated with poverty.
In an endeavor to achieve the policy and subsequently the
objective, the following strategies will be implemented;
- Improve, and strengthen the integration of social and economic
strategies and adapt systems, which support the integration.
- Establish an appropriate monitoring and evaluation system for
social welfare and economic development and increase allocation of
resources for basic data collection, research and the derivation of
policy indicators.
- Revise the benefits of pensioners very often, because of
inflation, which can reduce their purchasing power.
- Facilitate and encourage private sector and NGOs involvement in
support, sponsorships or partial funding for high demand social
welfare programmes / projects.
- Provide the young generation with greater opportunities for
meaningful participation in the development process.
- Expansion of social welfare schemes and development of
structural and institutional mechanisms for effective poverty
eradication.
In order to ensure achievement of the objectives, the following
strategies will be pursued;
- Enhance coordination and linkages between and among institutions
working for poverty eradication, by instituting permanent official
mechanism for consultation, collaboration and coordination between
the private sector and the government.
- Establish a national comprehensive poverty assessment survey and
situation analysis of the conditions of women and children.
- Undertake institutional strengthening and improvement of
administrative arrangement and procedures (Management Information
System) within the relevant institutions, like Social Security
Board, Social Development Department, Community Health etc.
- Create opportunities for active community participation by
revising the present planning process to include community members.
- Develop a nursing home to supplement the residential facility that
Adina Donovan Home. Provide and encourage the development of “
Golden Age” help age movement / service to help the elderly.
- Increase public awareness and understanding of poverty issues
through educational programmes via the media and community outreach
with the participation of target group.
- Improve the efficiency and impact of social welfare programmes /
projects by providing training to professionals in governmental and
NGOs in the formulation and evaluation of social welfare programmes
/ projects.
The above policies and strategies will lead to an improvement in the
management and operation of social welfare services in the territory.
The government efforts should be supported by private sector and NGOs.
Therefore, there is a need to strengthen and support NGOs in their role
as facilitators for the involvement of the poor in the development
process in general and more in particular in social welfare development.
More important the financial and human resource should be allocated to
this important sector.
References;
- The Government of British Virgin Islands, National Integrated
Development Plan. April 1999.
- The Government of the British Virgin Islands and the
Government of the United Kingdom, Memorandum of Cooperation and
Partnership, September 8, 1998.
- UNDP Advisory Note to the Government of the British Virgin
Islands, sixth Programme, (1997-2000), UNDP- Barbados, December
1996.
- The Government of the British Virgin Islands, BVI Recent
Economic Development 1992-1996. Development Planning Unit,
September1997.
- Harney, Roett, Samuel, The Situation Analysis of Children and
Women in the British Virgin Islands, July 1994.
|
The
