UNDP launches human development report
In an ideal world, the term human development would mean no one would go without an education, everyone can receive adequate health care and every person would be able to realize the full potential of their abilities. That world doesn’t exist but it doesn’t mean it can’t. But to start solving the problems, it might help to know what the situation is. For the past year, that’s just what the National Human Development Advisory Committee has been trying to do.
Orlando Puga, National Consultant
“While quite a bit has been done in the past, up to now, in the process of increasing human development for the population, what the report shows is that a lot more needs to be done to be able to bring more human development to the people.”
Q: “Is more money the solution for that problem?”
Orlando Puga
“More money in itself is not the solution. More money is only a means to help achieve the goals for human development.”
Today the National Human Development Advisory Committee, N.H.D.A.C. presented another “mean” to achieve the goals of human development. While the National Human Development Report 1998 outlines alarming statistics, like the fact that thirty-three percent of the population of Belize is poor, there are also proposals for bringing about change. By having the most up-to-date facts, N.H.D.A.C. hopes to show what needs to be done.
Moises Cal, Programme Officer, UNDP
“There are some basic recommendations that are being proposed, as it was said, one in terms of developing a human development agenda. In the absence of a national development plan for Belize, we need to have planned, we need to have a forecast, we need to have a vision… where it is that we want to be in the next fifteen years. I think that’s perhaps the most, if you want to call it the most quote unquote radical, that is what we really need in this country.”
While empty prisons, a job for everyone, a clean environment and happy children might be the goal set for the future, the Government of Belize says the information in the report will be used immediately.
Said Musa, Prime Minister
“It will help us now, as a government and as a people to set our targets and to really plan and set the strategies to bring out, well, to eliminate absolute poverty in our country and to push economic growth and development.”
Janelle Chanona for News Five.
The report can be obtained from any of the agencies represented on the committee which include the Ministries of Economic Development, Education, Human Development, Rural Development, Finance and Health. NGOs include the UNICEF, the UNDP, SIF, BEST and the Belize Red Cross.
