Poverty Assessment finds silver lining

A recent report is revealing alarming statistics that show that poverty increased significantly in the past eight years. According to the report, economic, health, education, social and political causes were the main factors. And while the country has regressed, there are some programs that generally contributed to the quality of life in some areas. News Five’s Jose Sanchez revisits the report.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting

The Country Poverty Assessment Report revealed an increase in poverty from thirty-three to forty-three percent of households from 2002 to 2009.  Joe Wood of the Halcrow Group, that collaborated with the government on the report says that there are several difficulties faced by communities that led to the increased levels.

Joe Wood, Leading Consultant, Belize CPA

Joe Wood

“There were also a number of problems, both economic and social has been identified in our research. Several of these are related to issues related to families and youth where the family situation makes it more likely that youths will indulge in antisocial and criminal behavior and that once they start getting caught up in this type of criminal behavior it can lead to a cyclical and ever increasing cycle of poverty.”

Even though Belize has plunged to one of the poorest countries in the Caribbean, Woods said that there are several programs that should be applauded since they have improved the quality of life.

Joe Wood

“One of the great positives is that currently in Belize, there is a very range of programs operated by government and NGO’s to address virtually all the issues and the types of difficulties that are faced by communities and are leading to poverty and reduction in the poverty quality of life. The NHI has been successfully rolled out in Belize City south side and this is one of the greatest areas of urban poverty in the country. It is now further plans are to roll it out in Toledo that are proceeding at the moment. Another single example that we would see as a positive activity is the Yabra Policing Center again in Yarborough. And we see this as very positive, not only because it provides permanent police presence in the area and you have to remember that that is a sort of reducing the direct impact of crime on the local population is the thing they want most of all, but also the Yabra Center is being used as a means of sort of developing community policing and police outreach activities.”

Douglas Hyde of the Yabra Community Policing Unit says that their initiatives, in particular their feeding program for over one hundred primary school students, is a prime example of how their outreach helps the community.

Douglas Hyde

Douglas Hyde, Program Coordinator, Yabra Community Police

“The feeding program over two years now has been a success in the center, specifically. We focus on a hundred young kids from the neighborhood. These children have been identified by their principals and teachers who work closely with the ZBLO officers that visit the schools daily. The principals and teachers identify these children with needs and of course refer them to the feeding program. The feeding program is a collaborative work within the Police Department and also a faith based organization, Unity Outreach, specifically Sister Jones who has been working very closely with us. They prepare the food and then we here in the department we work closely in terms of serving the food and also keeping a log on the kids that participate. The community policing offers thirteen programs; thirteen programs that focus on communities likewise families, children young persons whether it be in school or out of school. These programs range from SROs, the feeding program, after school programs, our counseling program, ZBLO programs and the whole list of the other things.”

The Southside Poverty Alleviation Action Project has been commended for improving housing in some of the worst areas. Minister of Works Anthony Martinez’s boots have walked in stride with the program’s success.

Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez, Minister of Works

“Home repairs, land filling and construction of new houses where it is necessary. That part of the program has been extra successful, especially in creating employment in the area. For example, when we work in the Collet Division, we employ people from the Collet Division who enjoy the benefits of the home repairs and the land filling, including using less machine time. For the filling, we try to give it to the local people to run in with wheel barrow and the ordinary home repairs we have small contractors and people from the area have been doing those kinds of things.”

Jose Sanchez

“So essentially the people in the area get the jobs and benefit within the area itself.”

Anthony 'Boots' Martinez

Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez

“It’s a two-fold thing. The community benefit the actual work, the home repairs or the new home and the people from the area benefit from the employment. A major component of that south side project is the sanitation aspect; the septic tank project. To date I can say ninety-five percent of the people on the south side have a septic for basic use.”

Jose Sanchez

“How many people is this program see employed currently?”

Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez

“This program sees employed almost three hundred and fifty people on a weekly basis.”

Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.

According to Boots Martinez, the sustainability of the program depends on funding, which is yet to be identified.