Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper - UNDP Barbados and the OECS ...

Intangible elements include the existence of strong kinship ties, community linkages,
and community organizations. These can take the form of shared child care
arrangements, informal lending opportunities and communal labour. Where these
aspects of social infrastructure exist, persons have a greater ability to maximize
scarce resources, thus creating a buffer against poverty.
Tangible elements include the physical infrastructure within which the poor have to
operate. These may range from a good network of roads to the availability of
adequate structures for such activities as education and healthcare. One that requires
much attention is the area of housing. There is a lack of adequate housing for low
income families or families with no income. Linked to that are the supporting
services required such as water supplies and electricity particularly in the rural areas.
Another area, which must be mentioned, relates to the area of violence in the society.
As violence and crime increase, the social cost resulting from breakdowns in
traditional family structures lead to a further deterioration in the social infrastructure,
contributing to poverty. The drug users and abusers are immediate victims who often
become part of the poverty statistics. Mental health cases are often linked to such
activities. In addition the focus of the society on money and wealth as opposed to the
moral and ethical values of productive labour feeds the links between violent crime
and the financial gains to be made from illegal activities. This impacts particularly
upon youth and the resulting attitudes to work.
Social services are very significant for providing support to persons being impacted
by poverty. They also provide a channel out of poverty in many cases whether it be
through improved educational opportunities or through accessing social benefits in a
timely manner. Social protection services may also prevent those chronically poor
from becoming indigent and provide some measure of relief from absolute poverty.
Final SVG I-PRSP Revision June 2003
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