Government needs to craft a poverty reduction programme

Dear Editor, The United Nations has designated October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This is a good time for policy makers to reflect on the state of poverty in their respective countries and to come up with solutions to eradicate poverty.

To say that the level of poverty in the world today is alarmingly high is to put it mildly. Too many people, including women and children are dying due to lack of basic amenities such as food, clothing and shelter. The statistics show that there are over one billion people who are forced to live in a state of abject poverty.

The Government of Guyana need to craft a poverty reduction programme which should be targeted and area specific. It is no secret that Amerindian and rural populations experience a much higher level of poverty than those who reside on the coastal belt.

This is not to suggest that there is not a significant level of poverty on the coastal belt. The closure of the sugar estates and the consequential contraction of the economy has put many people on the breadline. People are not poor because they are lazy. Poverty is structural and is the result of bad policies and programmes by those in positions of power and influence.

China, and to a lesser extent India have managed to reduce poverty by significant levels. However, there are far too many people who remain poor.

What is needed is a new global human order where the interests of the poor are placed ahead of profits for the few.

Yours faithfully, Hydar Ally