Elaborated by:Elaborated by:

Alexander, Jemma C.Alexander, Jemma C.

James, Elke R.James, Elke R.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ( SVG) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ( SVG) lies between Saint Lucia and Grenada in lies between Saint Lucia and Grenada in

the Windward Islands of the Lesser the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, an island arc of the CaribbeanAntilles, an island arc of the Caribbean

Sea. Sea.

It’s It’s a small multi-island State with an a small multi-island State with an approximate size of 150.3 square miles, approximate size of 150.3 square miles, comprised of a main land, St. Vincent, comprised of a main land, St. Vincent, and a chain of thirty-four islands and and a chain of thirty-four islands and

cays known as the Grenadinescays known as the Grenadines

GOVERNMENT:GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary DemocracyParliamentary Democracy

HEAD OF STATE: HEAD OF STATE: Queen Elizabeth IIQueen Elizabeth II

GOVERNOR GENERAL :GOVERNOR GENERAL : Sir Frederick BallantyneSir Frederick Ballantyne

PRIME MINISTER :PRIME MINISTER : Hon Dr. Ralph E. GonsalvesHon Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves

INDEPENDENCE:INDEPENDENCE: October 27, 1979.October 27, 1979.

SUBDIVISIONS:SUBDIVISIONS: Six parishes.Six parishes.

POLITICAL PARTIES:POLITICAL PARTIES: Unity Labour Party (ULP) Unity Labour Party (ULP) New Democratic Party(NDP)New Democratic Party(NDP)SVG Green Party (GP)SVG Green Party (GP)

The Parliamentary term of office isThe Parliamentary term of office isfive years. five years.

SVG is aSVG is a participating member of: participating member of: Caribbean Community(CARICOM)Caribbean Community(CARICOM) Organization of Eastern Organization of Eastern

Caribbean States (OECS)Caribbean States (OECS) CARICOM Single Market and CARICOM Single Market and

Economy (CSME)Economy (CSME)

POPULATIONPOPULATION: : 118,149 (June 2008 est). 118,149 (June 2008 est).

Economic summary:Economic summary: GDP/PPPGDP/PPP (2007 est.): (2007 est.): $1.042 billion; per capita $9,800$1.042 billion; per capita $9,800

Real growth rate: Real growth rate: 6.6%. 6.6%.

Inflation:Inflation: 6.1%. 6.1%.

Exports:Exports: $193 million (2006):. $193 million (2006):.

Imports:Imports: $578 million (2006): $578 million (2006):

Unemployment :Unemployment : 21.1% 21.1%

Life Expectancy Life Expectancy MMen 69 years; women en 69 years; women 74 years74 years

Birth RateBirth Rate 16 /100016 /1000

Infant Mortality RateInfant Mortality Rate 17/100017/1000

Adult literacyAdult literacy 88.1%88.1%

School Drop out rate School Drop out rate (2007)(2007)

1.391.39

Access to Potable Access to Potable Water Water

95%95%

The area of social insurance is the responsibility of National Insurance Scheme ( NIS).

Benefits: sickness, invalidity, maternity, age,survivors, retirement, funeral and employment injury.

The Maximum Insurable Earnings- $4333 permonth or $1000 per week, total Contribution rate – 8 % (3.5% Employee’s – 4.5% Employers)

The NIS expanded its service in 2007 The NIS expanded its service in 2007 to include voluntary contributors, self- to include voluntary contributors, self- employed coverage and employment employed coverage and employment

injury.injury.

It has also made contributions in the field of It has also made contributions in the field of education and health, constructed two education and health, constructed two

centres for the elderly and instituted a Non- centres for the elderly and instituted a Non- Contributory Assistance Age PensionContributory Assistance Age Pension

( NAAP). ( NAAP).

There is a need for a National HealthThere is a need for a National HealthInsurance Programme in SVG.Insurance Programme in SVG.

SVG faces serious structural SVG faces serious structural limitations to its social and economic limitations to its social and economic

development. development.

Critical among these are Critical among these are Its open economy, adverse terms of Its open economy, adverse terms of

trade, vulnerability to natural disasters, trade, vulnerability to natural disasters, rising crime rate and increasing globalization. rising crime rate and increasing globalization.

On the other hand, there is clearly aOn the other hand, there is clearly apositive trend towards economic growth, positive trend towards economic growth,

strengthening of governance and strengthening of governance and political will to address frontally the critical political will to address frontally the critical

challenge of poverty faced by a large challenge of poverty faced by a large segment of the population. segment of the population.

The economy of SVG is fuelled by The economy of SVG is fuelled by agriculture and tourism. Development agriculture and tourism. Development in the World Trade Organization and in the World Trade Organization and

trade liberalization havetrade liberalization have severely severely reduced income from the banana reduced income from the banana

industry.industry.

Although there has been a decline in Although there has been a decline in the contribution of agriculture to GDP the contribution of agriculture to GDP

in recent years, it is still the most in recent years, it is still the most important productive sector in terms important productive sector in terms of its contribution to employment and of its contribution to employment and

the government’s fight against the government’s fight against poverty particularlypoverty particularly in rural areasin rural areas..

The Tourism sector had experienced The Tourism sector had experienced decline in visitor arrivals in the last ten decline in visitor arrivals in the last ten

years. years.

The government has embarked on the The government has embarked on the

development and expansion of a robust development and expansion of a robust

security system as its multi island ports of security system as its multi island ports of

entry to attract tourist from North America entry to attract tourist from North America and Europe. and Europe.

The data presented by the 2001 The data presented by the 2001

Population and Housing Census Population and Housing Census

indicates, an increased unemployment indicates, an increased unemployment

rate of 21.1% from 1991 with a higher rate of 21.1% from 1991 with a higher

rate among males .rate among males .

Despite the thrust of the Government Despite the thrust of the Government

towards Poverty Reduction, it is fair to towards Poverty Reduction, it is fair to

say that tackling nationalsay that tackling national

unemployment will continue to be aunemployment will continue to be a

long term challenge. long term challenge.

The GOVSVG has launched specific The GOVSVG has launched specific initiatives :initiatives :

To generate employment opportunities To generate employment opportunities for poor and vulnerable persons in for poor and vulnerable persons in Tourism, Agriculture and the Small and Tourism, Agriculture and the Small and Micro-enterprise sector. Micro-enterprise sector.

Investment in human capital through Investment in human capital through education and training .education and training .

Instituted an educational strategy Instituted an educational strategy aimed at providing secondary school aimed at providing secondary school education to all primary school leavers .education to all primary school leavers .

Low income housing programme.Low income housing programme.

Improvements in airport development, Improvements in airport development, transportation, water, telecommunications transportation, water, telecommunications and electricity services. and electricity services.

Investments in disaster preparedness.Investments in disaster preparedness.

Broad macroeconomic policies. Broad macroeconomic policies.

ImplementationImplementation of the of the Interim Poverty Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (IPRSP). Reduction Strategy Paper (IPRSP).

The Government of SVG and, in particular, The Government of SVG and, in particular, The Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social The Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social

Development, Youth and Sports has Development, Youth and Sports has commissioned this Social Sector Plan (SSP) commissioned this Social Sector Plan (SSP)

as a strategic tool to guide its work until as a strategic tool to guide its work until the year 2011. the year 2011.

General Objective:General Objective:

To develop the social infrastructure of To develop the social infrastructure of SVG.SVG.

To empower the poor and the vulnerable.To empower the poor and the vulnerable.

Name of Name of ProgrammeProgramme

Area of Area of FocusFocus

Persons Persons targetedtargeted

Social WelfareSocial Welfare

VoteVoteHealthHealth Persons who are Persons who are

unable to pay for unable to pay for health carehealth care

Social Welfare Social Welfare AssistanceAssistance

HealthHealth OrphansOrphans

Public AssistancePublic Assistance HealthHealth Organization Organization

Nutrition Support Nutrition Support ProgrammeProgramme

HealthHealth National National

ScaleScale

Name of Name of ProgrammeProgramme

Area of Area of FocusFocus

Persons Persons targetedtargeted

School Feeding School Feeding ProgrammeProgramme

EducationEducation Primary SchoolPrimary School

Book Loan Book Loan SchemeScheme

EducationEducation Secondary SchoolSecondary School

School School TransportationTransportation

EducationEducation Children living in Children living in rural arearural area

Early Childhood Early Childhood Education Education

ProgrammeProgramme

EducationEducation National scaleNational scale

Adult Education Adult Education and Illiteracy and Illiteracy ProgrammeProgramme

EducationEducation Adults whoAdults who

need educationalneed educational

enrichmentenrichment

Name of ProgrammeName of Programme Persons Persons targetedtargeted

Public Assistance:Public Assistance:

Educational assistance ,Educational assistance ,

Day care services, meals, Day care services, meals, transportation transportation

Co-facilitate the re-entry of teen Co-facilitate the re-entry of teen mothers into educational mothers into educational

institutionsinstitutions

  Provision of Low-Income Provision of Low-Income Homes and No Income Homes and No Income

HomesHomes

Needy children in Needy children in primary and primary and

secondary schoolsecondary school

Teenage MothersTeenage Mothers

Poor and Indigent Poor and Indigent PersonsPersons

Name of Name of ProgrammeProgramme

Persons targetedPersons targeted Type of Type of InstitutionInstitution

ServicesServices

CooperativeCooperative

Development Development

Programme Programme

PoorPoor

CommunitiesCommunitiesPublic Public

NGO’sNGO’s

PrivatePrivate

Community Community Empowerment Empowerment

ProgrammeProgramme

Household and Household and communitiescommunities

Public Public

NGO’sNGO’s

PrivatePrivate

Social Safety Social Safety Net Net

ProgrammeProgramme

Vulnerable Vulnerable individualsindividuals

PublicPublic

Name of ProgrammeName of Programme Persons Persons

targetedtargetedType of Type of

InstitutionInstitution

ServicesServices

Home Help for the ElderlyHome Help for the Elderly ElderlyElderly Public Public NGO’sNGO’s

PrivatePrivate

  Foster Care ServicesFoster Care Services 200 abused and 200 abused and abandoned childrenabandoned children

Public Public

NGO’sNGO’s

PrivatePrivate

Child Care and ProtectionChild Care and Protection

  Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation and reintegration of street reintegration of street

childrenchildren

Abandoned and Abandoned and neglected childrenneglected children

Public Public

NGO’sNGO’s

PrivatePrivate

Family EmpowermentFamily Empowerment FamiliesFamilies Public Public NGO’s NGO’s PrivatePrivate

Name of ProgrammeName of Programme Persons Persons

targetedtargetedType of Type of

Institution/Institution/

ServicesServices

Gender DevelopmentGender Development

ProgrammeProgrammeMen and womenMen and women Public Public

NGO NGO PrivatePrivate

Programme for Programme for

Persons with Persons with DisAbilitiesDisAbilities

Persons with Persons with disabilitiesdisabilities

Public Public

NGO’sNGO’s

PrivatePrivate

Poverty Reduction Poverty Reduction

ProgrammeProgramme

Poor householdsPoor households

CommunitiesCommunities

Public Public

NGO’sNGO’s

PrivatePrivate

Programme for the Programme for the Elderly Elderly

ElderlyElderly Public Public NGO NGO

PrivatePrivate

NAME OF PROGRAMME NAME OF PROGRAMME PERSONS PERSONS TARGETEDTARGETED

Community Outreach ActivityCommunity Outreach Activity

Persons with HIV/ Persons with HIV/ AIDSAIDS

CommunitiesCommunities

Disaster AssistanceDisaster Assistance Victims of natural or Victims of natural or man-made disasterman-made disaster

Children Against PovertyChildren Against Poverty Primary school Primary school children with low children with low

academic academic achievement.achievement.

Youth Empowerment ProgrammeYouth Empowerment Programme 700 Youths700 Youths

Liberty Lodge Boys Training CentreLiberty Lodge Boys Training Centre Boys from poor , Boys from poor , dysfunctional and dysfunctional and

disadvantage familiesdisadvantage families

Estimated Total Public Expenditure (2009) : 71.600 000Estimated Total Public Expenditure (2009) : 71.600 000

Social Welfare Vote

$275 000

Social Welfare Assistance$600 000

Public Assistance

$50 000

Nutrition SupportProgramme$849 774

Allocation of funds

TargetingMechanism:

• Self selection Targeting

• Certain organizations

Estimated Total Public Expenditure ( 2009) : Estimated Total Public Expenditure ( 2009) : $98, 185 ,960$98, 185 ,960

School FeedingSchool Feeding

ProgrammeProgramme

$2,221, 853$2,221, 853

Book LoanBook Loan

SchemeScheme$ 1,500,000$ 1,500,000

School School

TransportationTransportation

Adult & Continuing Adult & Continuing Education Education ProgrammeProgramme$2, 435, 044$2, 435, 044

TargetingMechanism:

• Self selection targeting

Estimate Total Public Expenditure : $17, 725,616Estimate Total Public Expenditure : $17, 725,616

AdministrationAdministration

$1,096 800$1,096 800Family Affairs Family Affairs

DivisionDivision$11,732, 982$11,732, 982

Liberty LodgeLiberty Lodge

Boys Training Boys Training

CentreCentre

$72, 102$72, 102

Cooperative Cooperative DivisionDivision

$491, 699$491, 699

CommunityCommunityDevelopmentDevelopment

$719, 273$719, 273

Home Help for the Elderly

$1,026, 722

Youth AffairsDivision

$464, 167

Gender AffairsDivision

$214, 437

Sports Division

$1,258, 434

Targeting Mechanisms:Targeting Mechanisms:

Eligible Persons are identified Eligible Persons are identified via various stakeholders.via various stakeholders.

Self selection targetingSelf selection targeting Community based targetingCommunity based targeting

Geographical targeting Geographical targeting

Who is registered?Who is registered?

All persons born in St. Vincent and All persons born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. the Grenadines.

When they are registered?When they are registered?

Within 1 yr after birth.Within 1 yr after birth.

By whomBy whom? ?

By parents or guardians at the By parents or guardians at the Registry or at Revenue Offices Registry or at Revenue Offices

(applicable to births in some rural (applicable to births in some rural areas and the Grenadines.)areas and the Grenadines.)

Information RequiredInformation Required::

The date of the birthThe date of the birthWhere the baby was bornWhere the baby was bornThe baby's full name The baby's full name The mother's and father’s full nameThe mother's and father’s full nameOccupation of mother and father.Occupation of mother and father.Age of motherAge of motherOrder of birthOrder of birthSex of the childSex of the childDate registered Date registered

For what purpose?For what purpose?

To record the number of births in To record the number of births in a given year and vital events of a given year and vital events of

its citizens. its citizens.

To create a data source for the To create a data source for the compilation of vital statistics.compilation of vital statistics.