Barbados Country Assessment of Living Conditions 201 Vol 4 by Barbados Labour Party

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Conditions 2010: Volume 4: The Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA) Activities Conducted in the Communities Listen to Their Voices

Submitted to the Government of Barbados, National Assessment Team (NAT) and The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) on behalf of the Team of Consultants (TOC)

Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, Barbados July 2012

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Conditions 2010: Results of the PPA in Communities TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.

Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 4 1.1.

Objectives of the PPA .................................................................................................................. 4

1.2.

The Design, Management, and Implementation of the PPA........................................................... 5

1.3.

Components of the PPA ............................................................................................................... 6

1.4.

Outline of the Report .................................................................................................................... 8

The Research Design ................................................................................................................. 9 2.1.

Methodology ................................................................................................................................ 9

2.2.

Selecting the Key Informants...................................................................................................... 10

2.3.

Data Collection .......................................................................................................................... 13

2.4.

Challenges, Constraints and Problems ........................................................................................ 18

The Findings ............................................................................................................................ 19 3.1.

Overview of the Communities .................................................................................................... 19

3.2.

Living Conditions and Life in the Communities .......................................................................... 21

3.3.

The Physical and Material Dimension ........................................................................................ 21

3.4.

The Economic Dimension .......................................................................................................... 42

3.5.

The Social Dimension ................................................................................................................ 50

3.6.

The Political Dimension ............................................................................................................. 62

3.7.

The Cultural Dimension ............................................................................................................. 64

3.8.

Wealth and Poverty .................................................................................................................... 66

3.9.

Coping and Survival Strategies ................................................................................................... 72

3.10.

Quality of Life and Sense of Well Being ................................................................................. 72

3.11.

Community Needs .................................................................................................................. 75

3.12.

The Groups ............................................................................................................................ 77

3.13.

The Households ...................................................................................................................... 84

3.14.

Individual Life Stories .......................................................................................................... 106

3.15.

Themes and Issues ................................................................................................................ 122

3.16.

Data Analysis and Interpretation ........................................................................................... 124

3.17.

Other Important Issues That Have Emerged .......................................................................... 129

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

3.18. 4.

Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 132

Recommendations.................................................................................................................. 133

References ..................................................................................................................................... 134 TABLES Table 1: Number of Participants in Workshops .......................................................................................... 15 Table 2: Environmental Problems .............................................................................................................. 27 Table 3: Facilities ...................................................................................................................................... 34 Table 4: Success of Government Institutions Identified in Six Communities .............................................. 39 Table 5: Health Problems .......................................................................................................................... 54 Table 6: Social Problems ........................................................................................................................... 60 Table 7: Some Initiatives taken to improve living conditions and to alleviate poverty ................................. 75 Table 8: Community Needs ....................................................................................................................... 76 Table 9: Persons with Disabilities .............................................................................................................. 87 Table 10: Diseases/Illnesses of Adult Household Members ........................................................................ 91 Table 11: Financial Resources Available and Used .................................................................................... 95 Table 12: Type of Household and Poverty Level ...................................................................................... 100

iii

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Conditions 2010: Results of the PPA in Communities

Introduction

Participatory Poverty Assessments (PPAs) are now regarded as an essential component of any research intended to assess living conditions and the types and levels of poverty and deprivation that are being experienced by different segments of the population. PPAs broaden stakeholder involvement, generate a large amount of qualitative data to complement the quantitative data produced by the Survey of Living Conditions, enrich data analysis, and deepen understanding of the conditions within which people are living. PPAs also provide opportunities for individuals and groups to reflect on and analyse the conditions under which they are living; to voice, articulate, and share their perceptions and experience of poverty and deprivation and of its impact on their lives and that of their families; to identify the strategies that they use to sustain their livelihoods; and to articulate their concerns, needs and priorities. 1.1.

Objectives of the PPA

The general objectives of the PPA were to: 1. Generate a variety of data, but especially qualitative data, at the micro level about living conditions and about the type, nature and distribution of poverty and deprivation. 2. Complement and give deeper meaning to the quantitative data generated by the Survey of Living Conditions and the Institutional Assessment, and to the information provided in the Macro Economic and Social Assessment. The specific objectives were to: 1. Collect concrete and specific data on living conditions in the twelve communities selected for study, and from households, groups and individuals in those communities so as to obtain information of living conditions and to produce a multi- dimensional view of poverty and its distribution, and the factors that contribute to its existence. 2. Increase understanding of poverty and deprivation based on the experience and from the perspective of individuals, of households, and of different groups in the communities. 3. Identify the vulnerability and risks faced by poor individuals and households as they strive to sustain their livelihoods. 4. Identify assets and resources to which poor and vulnerable individuals, households, and groups have access. 5. Obtain information from individuals, groups, and households about a. The initiatives that they take to sustain their livelihoods. b. The public services and facilities available to them, their ability to access these and the constraints and obstacles that they encounter in their attempts to access and use these.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

c. Their concerns, needs and priorities. d. The interventions and actions that in their view are needed in order to improve their living conditions and to alleviate and reduce poverty and deprivation. 6. Generate data that can be used to formulate policies that are informed by the voices of the poor and that are designed to improve living conditions and reduce poverty. 1.2.

The Design, Management, and Implementation of the PPA

The PPA was designed to facilitate and ensure the active participation of key stakeholders, including residents in the twelve communities selected for study, representatives of government institutions and of civil society organizations, researchers and consultants, in the various research activities. The PPA was also intended to identify factors that contribute to and determine the conditions in which people in the selected communities w er e l i v i n g , to identify and examine f a c t o r s t h a t c o n t r i b u t ed t o ex i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s a n d t o d r a w a t t en t i o n t o t h e c o n c er n s o f i n d i v i d u a l s a n d g r o u p s w h o w er e living in conditions that reflect different types and levels of poverty and deprivation. The data obtained from residents about these factors were expected to provide deeper insights and a better understanding of how they determine living conditions and contribute to poverty and deprivation. They were also expected to highlight why these should be considered and addressed in initiatives intended to improve living conditions and to alleviate poverty. The PPA was also designed to facilitate and ensure the active participation of key stakeholders, including residents in selected communities, representatives of government institutions and of NGOS, researchers and consultants, in the various research activities. The Research Facilitators, individuals from the Ministry of Social Care and the Consultant worked as a team to manage the PPA, to keep community residents informed about activities to be undertaken and to ensure, as far as possible, that activities were implemented as planned. Stakeholders worked as a team whose members were responsible for managing the PPA and for conducting coordinating, conducting and monitoring specific activities. The team included: •

Members of the National Assessment Team (NAT) Sub-Committee responsible for

the PPA.

• The Project Coordinator who was responsible for the day-to-day management of the Country Assessment of Living Conditions (CALC) • Field Research Facilitators who were responsible for collecting and accurately recording and reporting the information provided by i n f o r ma n t s residents. Their role was critical in ensuring that the data were of the required amount and quality. • Residents who participated in group discussions and community workshops and who provided information to questions during interviews. •

The Consultants.

The PPA was implemented over a period of two months. However because of the short time span within which the field work had to be completed, although the planned activities were all completed, not all were

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

undertaken in every community. In spite of this the activities that were conducted did generate a large amount of information. 1.3.

Components of the PPA

The PPA comprised of four components: Research, Training, Capacity Building and Transfer of Skills, and Monitoring and Evaluation. 1.3.1

Research

Research activities were undertaken to: 1. Generate specific and concrete qualitative, as well as some quantitative, data on living conditions. 2. Obtain information from individuals, households and groups about their living conditions and about their perceptions, experience, views, and opinions about poverty and deprivation. 3. Identify factors that contribute to poverty and deprivation. 4. Identify and assess the effect and impact of poverty on peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives. In order to achieve these objectives documentary and field research were undertaken. Among the documents reviewed and whose content was analysed were some on the international literature on PPAs, and policy documents and reports on poverty research and poverty reduction initiatives in the Region. The field research yielded a large quantity of empirical data which were obtained through observation, interviews, group discussions, and community workshops. 1.3.2

Training

Effective use of Participatory Research Methods to conduct Participatory Poverty Assessments and to assess living conditions depends on the availability of individuals: ď&#x201A;ˇ ď&#x201A;ˇ

Who are knowledgeable about and who understood the philosophy and principles of Participatory Methodologies Who have some degree of skill in using participatory research methods and techniques and who can operate as members of a team.

The PPA Sub-Committee was given a list of criteria to be used to select the Research Facilitators. Among the criteria were: some experience in doing research, especially qualitative research, and some experience in working with communities. However although several of those selected did have some experience of doing research, very few had any experience in working in communities. During the field work it also became clear that some of them, including some with university degrees, also had problems with producing well written reports. Intensive and extensive training was an ongoing activity and was designed to ensure that all of the stakeholders, and especially all of the Field Research Facilitators who were responsible for collecting information in the communities, were well prepared and equipped to undertake and successfully complete the PPA activities. A Participatory Training Methodology and an experiential learning model were used to conduct a series of training workshops for the Field Research Facilitators. In the initial workshop they were introduced to the

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

philosophy and principles of the Participatory Methodology and they had several opportunities to practice and to gain hands-on experience in using Participatory Research methods and techniques. Among the topics cove red in the workshop were: perceptions of poverty, gender, poverty and dprivation, the participatory methodology, theory and principles of participatory research, the research activities, the observation sheet, the community workshops, and guidelines for preparing reports. The Field Research Facilitators also participated in a number of exercises and activities and in practical, hands-on sessions in which they practised how to use the observation form, how to facilitate the community workshops, how to conduct interviews, and how to write reports. They also identified and discussed some of the possible challenges with which they might be faced in the field and they explored and discussed strategies that they might use to overcome these. They were also provided with a Handbook of Resource/Reading Material. In addition to the initial five day training workshop, the Field Research Facilitators also participated in three half day follow-up sessions and in an evaluation workshop. 1.3.3

Capacity Building and Transfer of Skills

An important goal of the Assessment of Living Conditions was to transfer skills and to build the capacity of institutions, organizations, groups, and individuals so that they would be able to undertake PPAs in the future. Within the PPA, directly through training workshops and indirectly through informal interaction and communication, deliberate attempts were made to transfer knowledge and to help the Researchers as well as other stakeholders, including individuals from organizations represented on the PPA Sub-Committee, and members of the Ministry of Social Care, to acquire some of the skills required to carry out a PPA. Some staff members in the Ministry of Social Care participated in, and benefited from training and exposure to the Participatory Approach and to new approaches, methods and processes. This along with the understanding that they gained by participating in various PPAs activities in communities should contribute to an increase in the Ministryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity to undertake PPAs in the future. On the other hand the absence of anyone from the Community Development Division raises questions about its capacity to mobilize community residents to participate in activities like those conducted during the PPA. 1.3.4

Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring and Evaluation were ongoing throughout. The Coordinator monitored progress of the field work on a weekly basis through contact with the Researchers Facilitators, and the Consultant also monitored progress through her contact with the Coordinator and with the Researchers. In addition, the Consultant made several visits to each of the communities, interacted with community members, conducted interviews with heads of households and community leaders and was present at most of the community workshops. Based on feedback about the difficulties that the Research Facilitators were experiencing in mobilizing the communities, two half day sessions were organized to assess progress, to identify the challenges and problems being faced, to explore possible solutions, to make changes as necessary, and to agree on intervention strategies. Prior to the final evaluation workshop Field Research Facilitators were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to encourage reflection on the PPA its outcomes, effect and impact, as well as on their experience of being involved in the process. However only half of them participated in the one day

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

evaluation workshop in which they identified specific outcomes, discussed the effect and impact that the PPA had had on them and on other individuals, on groups and on communities. They also identified some of the lessons they had learnt. 1.4.

Outline of the Report

The report begins with a general introduction and this is followed by a description of the four main activities undertaken in the communities, and the research design, methodology, and process are described in detail. Information provided by individuals, by heads of households, by groups, and by community leaders and residents, are presented in the section on Findings. The data is then interpreted and analysed, this is followed by a conclusion, and recommendations are made. A list of references is attached.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

The Research Design

The conditions under which people live are not only determined by the availability and access to financial resources but by several other factors including their physical and social environment, access to facilities and services, ownership of material goods, class, and gender. Their living conditions determine their life experiences, their level of wealth and poverty, their standard of living, their quality of life, and their sense of well being. The Participatory Poverty Assessment was designed to collect information, at the micro community level about the conditions in which some people are living and about the types and levels of poverty that communities, households, groups and individuals are experiencing. 2.1.

Methodology

The Participatory Research Approach and Methodology used in this study is recognized by the World Bank and follows standard practice for the conduct of PPAs. Moreover it is the same Methodology that has been used in County Poverty Assessments conducted in eight other Caribbean countries over the last decade, and it has also been used in several other countries in Africa and Asia including India, Uganda, Tanzania, and Uganda. The methodology was used to engage a number of stakeholders in the research process. These included residents in the twelve selected communities, the Research Facilitators, individuals in the Ministry of Social Care, and the Consultant in the activities that were undertaken in the selected communities. Teams of Field Research Facilitators, and some officers in the Ministry of Social were trained to use the participatory research methods and techniques to collect large amounts of mostly qualitative data. An important objective of the PPA was to gather information that would provide a deeper understanding of the reality of people who live in the communities that were studied. Because of the number of different units of analysis that had to be studied the following types of sampling were used. Phased Sampling Phased sampling was used to identify communities across the country in which to implement the PPA activities. In this first phase data from the last census, information from key government ministries and from written reports and other documents were used to identify communities in which the PPA activities could be carried out. Following this a list of characteristics and criteria was developed and used to select the twelve communities that were studied. In the second phase hierarchical sampling was used to select households and individuals. Hierarchical Sampling Because it was necessary to obtain information from households and from individuals at different levels in the communities, hierarchical sampling was used to identify the units that were studied. Selection criteria were developed for the types of individuals and households from which information would be sought and these criteria were used to identify the specific individuals and heads of households that were eventually interviewed. Purposive and Selective Sampling Because data were to be collected from specific units and from people within those units, selection had to be carefully done rather than left to chance. Random sampling was therefore not appropriate. Specific

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

criteria were developed and used to identify and select households and individuals that would provide the type and amount of data needed to achieve the objectives of the PPA. Households, community leaders and individuals were selected by this method. Self Selection This technique was used to encourage as many residents as possible and as were interested participated in informal discussions, in the community workshops, and in group discussions. All residents were invited to participate in these activities so as to obtain information from them and to get their perspectives on their lives and on life and living conditions in their communities. 2.2.

Selecting the Key Informants

2.2.1

The Communities

The PPA Sub-Committee was responsible for identifying and selecting the communities to be studied and committee members were provided with a list of characteristics and indicators to guide their selection. Initially several government Ministries and NGOS were asked to identify communities in which there were low income households, overcrowding, drugs, crime, violence, and a non-national immigrant population, but only a small number of responses were received by the Sub-Committee. As a result in consultation with members of the Sub- Committee, and in order to ensure that the communities chosen were representative of all the type of communities in the country, other indicators were added. Among these were: geographic location: urban/rural, economic activity: e.g. agriculture, industry; isolation, housing, infrastructure and size. However, while the emphasis was to be on “poor” communities, it was decided to include some communities that were “better off” and some that had once been poor but that had improved. Based on these criteria the Sub-Committee and Consultant agreed that PPA activities would be carried out in twelve communities. It was also decided that these communities would be located within the six strata into which the country was divided and that they would be in the same EDs within which the SLC was to be carried out. Communities are usually not homogeneous and neither are those that were chosen for study. Consequently while some of them share a number of similar characteristics, there are also significant differences that are not solely related to geographic location. The twelve communities that were eventually selected were: Deacons, Haynesville, Marchfield, Orange Hill, Redmans Village, St John’s Locale consisting of Gall Hill and environs, New Castle and Zores; St Judes, St Matthias, Silver Hill, Six Mens, and The City consisting of the area from Wellington Street off Lower Collymore Rock right over to London Bourne Towers on Lower Bay Street, and from St Ambrose Church along Nelson Street to Fairchild Street. In order to inform residents in the selected communities that their communities had been selected to participate in the PPA and to emphasize about the importance of their participation, and to encourage their participation, the PR Sub-committee of the NAT put up posters about the CALC and the PPA in shops and other public places in each of the communities. Information was also provided in the media and pairs of Research Facilitators went into the communities to which they had been assigned on several occasions to “spread the word” to residents and to encourage them to participate.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

2.2.2

The Households

Poverty often determines the conditions in which members of a household live, but the conditions in which they live can also determine the extent to which they will experience poverty and deprivation. Because living conditions, poverty and deprivation are felt most keenly within in households, it was important to ensure that the households selected for study were representative of the various household types that exist in the community/country.        

The households selected for study therefore included: Nuclear households comprised of a male and female partner, with or without children Single parent female headed households Single parent male headed households Extended family households comprised of several relatives Multi-generational households comprised of two or more generations Single person/elderly households, elderly persons living alone Sibling households comprised of sisters or brothers living in the same house

While all of these types were not selected in each of the communities, some households of every type were found in the twelve communities. In addition to household type, three other indicators were used to identify households to be interviewed. Among these were households that were:   

Considered to be poor or very poor Once poor but had moved out of poverty Households that were better off or rich

Using these indicators and information obtained from their observations and their interaction with community residents, the Research Facilitators identified the households whose heads were interviewed. A semi-standardized interview schedule with a set of pre-determined questions was used to elicit information from the heads of households about their views and opinions, about their living conditions, and about their experience of poverty and deprivation. Using this instrument an extensive interview was conducted with eighty heads of households: six in The Pine, Marchfield, St Matthias, Redmans Village, Six Mens Haynesville, Orange Hill, and The City; eight in Deacons, seven in St John’s Locale and St Judes, and ten in Silver Hill. 2.2.3

Community Leaders/Persons with Influence

Leaders and persons with influence in communities usually have a lot of information about what is happening in their communities. They are also aware of residents’ concerns, about the problems that they face and about the needs of the community as a whole. They are therefore an important source of information. Leaders were identified through consultation with community residents and by Research Facilitators as they observed and interacted with community residents. A similar but shorter interview schedule that was used to interview heads of households was used to interview two leaders in each of the communities.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

2.2.4

Individuals

In depth interviews conducted with five individuals were intended to obtain information about their life experiences from childhood, to identify the factors that had contributed to and shaped those experiences, and to find out how they had affected and impacted on their lives. Information obtained from heads of households, from community leaders, Research Facilitators and from some residents was used to identify individuals to be interviewed. Of those identified four poor females and one male who was better off were chosen and interviewed. The decision to interview three females and one male was influenced by the fact that throughout the various PPA activities more women had been willing to provide information, and more females believed that they were experiencing greater levels of poverty than males. However it was felt that it would be important to hear from at least one male, so after identifying and contacting three males one of them agreed to be interviewed. Although the individuals who were chosen for these interviews were not asked to sign a consent form, the reasons for the interviews were explained, the selected individuals were assured of confidentiality and anonymity, and their consent was required. All of agreed to be interviewed and they welcomed the opportunity to tell their stories and to have someone listen to them. All of them also gave consent for their life stores to be told in the report. 2.2.5

Groups

Initially there was no intention to carry out discussions with groups in the communities. However when efforts to organize workshops in five of the communities failed it was decided that in order to obtain the views of residents in these communities about their living conditions, discussions should be conducted with groups. Discussions were also conducted with groups in two other communities. However, since the Research Facilitators had not been trained to conduct group discussions they were conducted by the Consultant. The discussions focused on six areas: a profile of the group, the employment status of group members, their living conditions, group membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience of poverty and/or wealth, challenges, problems, and needs of group members, and their suggestions and recommendations for improving living conditions in their communities. A total of one hundred and twelve persons, seventy seven males and thirty five females participated in group discussions in seven of the communities. Some groups like those in the Pine were small and comprised of five or six persons, others like those in Six Mens and Orange Hill had as many as sixteen persons. Poverty and deprivation do not mean the same thing to everyone and they affect different groups of people in different ways. The discussions captured the differences in perceptions and experience of different groups of people living in different conditions. They provided information on the effects and impact of poverty, and highlighted the specific concerns, needs and priorities of different groups. Data Collection, Interpretation and Analysis Face-to-face interaction and on-going dialogue with the community residents, with heads of households, with groups, and with individuals was an important aspect of the data collection process. Various methods and techniques were therefore used to ensure their active involvement in providing information and in analyzing and interpreting of the information that they had provided

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Through triangulation a number of different data sources and of data collection methods and techniques were used to obtain information about living conditions and to gain multiple perspectives about the experience and impact of poverty and deprivation. Use of different methods also deepened understanding of how and why different communities, households, groups, and individuals used different coping strategies to sustain their livelihoods. 2.3.

Data Collection

Several methods and techniques were used to collect information from several different sources. Among these were: Transect Walks, Observation, Informal Interaction, and Conversations With Residents In order to familiarize themselves with the various c o m m u n i t i es in which the PPA was to be conducted, Research Facilitators went on walks in the communities to which they were assigned, interacted and held conversations and informal discussions with residents, and observed life and living there. They then recorded their impressions and observations on a pre-prepared observation sheet. An Observation Sheet This was used by Field Research Facilitators to record their impressions and observations of different aspects of life in the various communities. They recorded information about the physical features and infrastructure of the community, about its population, about economic activity, social interaction and relationships, about the level of wealth and poverty, and about social and environmental problems. Interviews Interviews were conducted with heads of households, community leaders and individuals. A semistandardized interview schedule with pre-determined questions was used to conduct face-to-face interviews with eighty heads of households. Each interview lasted for about one and a half to two hours and provided, among other things, information about household structure, composition, assets and resources, household economy, intra-household relations, and the health status of household members. A similar but shorter schedule was used to interview twenty four community leaders, to draw on their knowledge of their communities, and to obtain specific information about various aspects of life in their communities. A set of open ended questions were used to conduct in depth interviews with four poor females and with one young male who was better off. The interviews were intended to obtain information on the life experiences of these individuals from childhood, and on the factors that contributed to and shaped those experiences. The information obtained and the insights gained from these interviews was used to produce the life stories that appear later in the report. Community Workshops Community workshops provided opportunities for residents to: ď&#x201A;ˇ

Collectively provide information about their communities, to express their views about living conditions, and about the extent, type, and level of poverty and deprivation that exists in their communities,

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

   

Identify the existence of wealth and poverty in the community and to identify and discuss changes that have taken place in living conditions in the community over the last ten years, Assess the quality of life in the communities, Articulate their concerns, problems, and needs, and Suggest and discuss initiatives that have been taken, and those that need to be taken, and by whom, to improve living conditions in the community.

During the workshops residents were involved in a number of activities and exercises through which they provided and shared information on life and living in their communities and in which they then analysed the information that they had provided and discussed the implications. Several creative tools and techniques were used to obtain information and to facilitate active participation of residents. Among these were: Interactive Exercises including small and large group discussions and roleplay, Community Mapping to produce verbal and visual maps that identified particular features and characteristics of the community, a Wealth Ranking Matrix that provided indicators of wealth and poverty, The Wheel of Well Being on which presidents plotted a graph that showed the level of personal, psychological, emotional, spiritual, physical, material, economical, and social well being in the community, A Quality of Life Index with specific socio-economic indicators against which they ranked the quality of life in the community, and A Venn Diagram on which they identified organizations that work in the community and assessed the extent to which they were successful and the effectiveness of their interventions. In spite of the fact that the Research Facilitators had been trained in how to develop relationships and trust of residents, and in how to facilitate the workshops, they faced many problems and challenges in organizing the workshops and in motivating community residents to participate in them. Among these were:      

Negotiating suitable dates and times for the workshops Residents’ lack of interest Residents promising to participate and then not turning up Rescheduling of workshops several times Plans for the conduct of some workshops had to be abandoned Small numbers of residents participating

Several of these challenges also presented themselves in other communities in communities in some of the other Caribbean countries in which PPAs have been conducted. However because the majority of the Field Research Facilitators were unknown to community residents and because they had little if any experience of working in communities they were often unable to persuade residents to participate. Another factor that influenced the non-participation of some residents was their skepticism about the research and their belief, since according to them as was the case with previous studies, they would not benefit from it. The workshop in The Pine was aborted after the first two activities because the participants were unwilling to continue. According to individuals who had come to the workshop their refusal to participate was based on the fact that they were not interested in “workshops” as in their view they were a waste of time, that they wanted to “air their views” and wanted “people up there” to listen to them. Apparently they did not believe that a workshop was a useful forum in which these things would happen, and various attempts by the Research Facilitators to convince them to participate were not only ignored but rejected.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Along with The Pine, workshops were not held in four other communities: Marchfield, Orange Hill, St Judes, and The City. However workshops were held in Deacons, Haynesville, Redmans Village, Gall Hill in St John, St Matthias, Silver Hill, and Six Mens. One unexpected but important outcome of attempts to organize and conduct workshops in the communities was the realization that community workshops were not conducted on a regular basis and that residents therefore had had little opportunity to participate in activities of this nature. The reaction and comments of residents in all of the communities was evidence of this. Just under a hundred persons participated in the workshops. In Six Mens the numbers fluctuated as during the workshop people came and left, and then returned later. The largest number at one time was twenty four. In two of the communities participants believed that there were too many activities, but in spite of this in all of the workshops, participants provided information about all aspects of living conditions in their communities. Table 1: Number of Participants in Workshops

COMMUNITY Deacons Haynesville Redmans Village St John, Gall Hill St Matthias Silver Hill Six Mens

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 6 12 6 18 16 14 18-24

Among those who participated were young and elderly persons, parents and grandparents, married and single persons, persons with different levels of education and of different occupations, and unemployed persons. Although some of them did find that there were too many activities, they all welcomed the opportunity to express their views. In addition they stressed that they wished their suggestions would be considered in any initiatives that would be taken to improve their living conditions and to alleviate poverty. While the primary goal of the workshops was to generate information on life and living conditions in the communities being studied, and while participants did generate large quantities of data, the workshops proved to be useful in other ways. In evaluating the workshops participants identified a number of ways in which they had benefited from participating. Among these were: •

A mechanism for bringing residents together “It brought people together.” “People who do not associate now here together.” “The coming together of residents.” “It help me meet my neighbours.”

•

Opportunities for people to express themselves and to share thoughts and ideas “Everyone’s opinion counted.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“I got to talk about various things that go on in the community.” “Got the opportunity to talk about some of the problems.” “A chance to share views, to vent and express your self.” “Gave people a voice.” •

New knowledge and understanding of things they did not realize or know before. “Everyone who came today seemed to have ideas about community life.” “Our experiences are real.” “We have similar problems.” “Better understanding of certain things.” “Is like this thing not only affecting me, it affecting the entire community.”

•

Acquisition of awareness and of new knowledge about their communities. “It’s the first time I really get to say what goes on in the community.” “New awareness of what is happening in the community.” “I believe the new information that I got was important.”

•

The potential of the information generated in the workshop to change things “It was worth the effort my only fear is that it going take too long for us to see any results.” “The agencies should come out and get this kind of information so they could act on it quicker.” “Hope to get assistance as a result of the information provided.” “Communication about the results of the workshop and the research should be relayed to the community.”

•

Outcomes and impact of the workshops “Positive things happened.” “It was educational.” “Things were thoroughly explained, it was excellent.” “More workshops like this one.”

Group Discussions Because workshops were not conducted in some communities, group discussions provided an opportunity for some individuals in these communities to share their views about living conditions and about their experiences of poverty and deprivation, to identify their concerns, and to suggest what needed to be done to

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

improve conditions in their communities. Once community residents were told that group discussions were to take place and the different types of groups were identified, individuals were invited to participate, and participation was voluntary. Some discussions lasted for an hour and some for as long as two hours, and the responses and issues raised and the suggestions made during the discussions were recorded by hand 2.3.1

Recording the Data

Taking into consideration variations in the ability of Field Research Facilitators, and because the discussions were to be recorded by hand, it was recognized that some important points and points of view could/would be omitted. Therefore in order to ensure consistency and quality control, Field Research Facilitators were provided with guidelines that clearly identified how to record information provided by participants in the community workshops and by heads of households and community leaders in the interviews. They were also instructed and encouraged to include in their reports as many direct quotes as possible from those who had provided information. While some of the reports submitted were of an acceptable quality a few were not and on advice and assistance from the Consultant and the Project Coordinator these were redone. 2.3.2

Data analysis and Interpretation

PPA activities conducted in the communities produced a great deal of information about the conditions under which residents are living, about their standard of living, and about their quality of life. The large amount of data obtained from the various activities was analysed and interpreted at two levels. At the community level during the workshops residents were engaged in interpreting and analysing the information that they had provided and that emerged out of the various workshop activities. In the process they engaged in collective analysis and reflection on the information, compared information provided and/or generated in the various activities, and identified trends, patterns, discrepancies, and contradictions in the information. As a result they gained new information and insights about life in their communities and they gained a better understanding of the macro and the micro level factors that contribute to and determine the conditions in which they are living. They also made suggestions and recommendations a b o u t what could and should be done to improve l i v i n g conditions, to alleviate and reduce poverty, and to solve some of their problems. At another level the Consultant used a variety of methods and techniques to analyse the data. Among the methods and techniques used to analyse the data were content analysis, contextual and causal analysis, needs analysis, gender analysis, comparative analysis, deduction and generalization. Subjecting the data to such rigorous analyses has helped to verify and validate their objectivity, reliability, and validity and to ensure that they provide a sound basis for formulating pro-poor policies and for implementing programmes that are designed to meet the needs of particular communities, households, groups and individuals. The PPA was not only designed to focus on and identify factors that contribute to and determine the conditions in which people live and that perpetuate the existence of poverty, it also sought to generate information and to provide insights into key issues that emerge as a consequence of these phenomena and that need to be addressed in any initiatives that were intended to address them.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Issues like scarce economic resources, an unhealthy social environment, and vulnerability are both contributors to and consequences of poverty and this is evident from information obtained from individuals and groups. Others like the provision, availability and access to public facilities and services are often outside of the control of the poor and are determined by interventions of government and/or civil society organizations. Within the community workshops and during interviews and group discussions participants identified some of the problems that they face in accessing resources and services provided by the government and commented on the poor quality of some of the unacceptable attitudes displayed by some providers. Because poverty is gendered and because males and females experience poverty and its effects differently, gender was also an important issue to be examined and addressed. This was done by conducting group discussions with same sex groups, by disaggregating data by sex and by doing a gender analysis of the data collected. 2.4.

Challenges, Constraints and Problems

Although the PPA activities were completed with some degree of success, the Team did face several constraints, challenges and problems. Unfamiliarity with the use of the participatory methodology was initially a problem for some of the Research Facilitators, but exposure in the initial training workshop and on-going communication with the Consultant and with individuals in the Ministry helped to improve their skills in this area. Implementation of PPA activities in other countries in the region were usually conducted over a period of two to three months, however because the 2010 Population Census was imminent, PPA activities had to be conducted within a very short period of time and this presented serious challenges to the Research Facilitators many of whom were unfamiliar with the communities to which they were assigned. Consequently, because of the limited time in which they had to establish relationships and rapport with the residents, they found it difficult to mobilize residents to participate in the community workshops. A few of them also had difficulty in facilitating and managing the workshops. Several residents also voiced their frustration and skepticism about the fact that in their opinion little if any action had been taken after the last poverty study. They were therefore of the view that nothing different would happen as a result of this exercise. However in spite of these sentiments many residents welcomed the chance to â&#x20AC;&#x153;have a voiceâ&#x20AC;? and were glad to have been given the opportunity to speak about their realities, their concerns, and their needs. As was mentioned earlier, although the Research Facilitators had been given guidelines for preparing the reports, some still found it difficult to produce reports of the workshop that were well written and that accurately recorded information that was obtained from heads of households. Poor grammar and sentence structure, and incorrect and inappropriate vocabulary were common in some of the reports. In order to address this problem the Consultant and individuals in the Ministry of Social Care worked with of the Research Facilitators to improve the quality of the reports. As is legitimate in qualitative studies this sometimes required going back into the community to check and verify the recorded information and in some cases to obtain additional information.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

The Findings

The findings of the PPA are based on the large amount of qualitative data obtained from residents during the various activities that were undertaken in the twelve communities that were studied. Qualitative data are subjective because they describe people’s experiences, feelings, and views. Triangulation of the data sources and of the methods used, and cross checking of the data for reliability and credibility, ensured the validity of the data. Because the qualitative data generated by various PPA activities provide insights into the reality of people’s lives that quantitative data cannot provide, they will increase understanding of the quantitative data generated by the Survey of Living Conditions. The presentation, interpretation, and analysis of the information in this report have emerged out of the actual lived experiences of people in twelve communities in Barbados. The information provided by individuals and groups conveys their views about the conditions under which they are living, increases understanding of their experience of poverty and of its impact on their lives, and identifies the coping strategies that they use to sustain their livelihoods. The stories that they tell and their actual words reported in italics provide insights into the underlying causes and factors that determine and perpetuate the unacceptable conditions in which they live and the type and severity of poverty that they experience. They also increase our understanding of their struggle to survive in conditions that sometimes engender feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness. The findings of the PPA are therefore essential for formulating pro-poor policies and for implementing programmes that would improve the conditions in which residents in the twelve communities, and others like them live, and that would alleviate and reduce poverty. It is however important when reflecting on the data presented here to pay attention to the specific contexts and culture of different communities, to the changes that have taken place over time in life style and in changed expectations, and consequently in the needs of communities, of households, of individuals and of groups. This is especially important in the case of age, gender and disability. The primary purpose of the PPA was to gather information about living conditions in the selected communities and households and of individuals and groups. The findings are therefore presented under these headings rather than under specific issues. However, there is a great deal of similarity in the information provided by individuals and groups, by community residents, and by heads of households about living conditions and about poverty. 3.1.

Overview of the Communities

All of the communities except for those in St John’s Locale are in a clearly defined physical space. Some like Redmans Village and St Judes are very small when compared to others like Silver Hill and The Pine which are very large and in which only a section of the community was studied. Eleven of the communities are inland and Six Mens is the lone coastal community. “The City,” the only true urban community that was studied, is a small community that is part of the large city of Bridgetown and it displays several characteristics of life in a ghetto, including some poor housing and overcrowding, the existence of illegal activities, and several social problems that contribute to and result from poor living conditions. In this community there are several small shops, restaurants and bars, and several nightclubs and strip clubs are located in Nelson Street, the Red light District, and in surrounding areas.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

The four suburban communities: Deacons, St Matthias, Silver Hill, and Six Mens, are in close proximity and have easy access to town centres in Bridgetown, Oistins and Speightstown, and while they do display some of the characteristics of life in an urban setting they are largely residential communities. Haynesville, Redman’s Village and The Pine on the outskirts of Bridgetown, and Orange Hill on the outskirts of Holetown, are also predominately residential communities. The two rural communities St John’s Locale and St Judes are agricultural communities and while Marchfield is located in the rural Parish of St Philip, it is on the periphery of a growing commercial centre at Six Roads. 3.1.1

Population Composition and Settlement Patterns

While the composition of the population varies from community to community several trends are noticeable. In several of the communities there is a mixture of young and older persons, but Deacons, Haynesville, The Pine, Silver Hill and The City are densely populated and their populations are comprised of significant numbers of young adults between the ages of eighteen and thirty five. The birth rate in The Pine is said to be very high and in St Mathias, there are significant numbers of children. Very few elderly people live in Haynesville but the populations of Redmans Village, St John’s Locale and St Judes consist mainly of adults and that of Orange Hill consists of a significant number of retired persons. In these communities there are therefore smaller numbers of young people and/or children. In Six Mens there is a distinction between residents who live in “the front”, that is along the main road and facing the sea, and those who live inland are said to live in “the back”. While the population in all of the communities is predominately black, within the St John Locale there are areas in which there are small numbers of poor whites who are descendents of the original group that settled in this parish. Over the years many members of the group have migrated to other parishes and now work in the city. However in the areas studied, there are still several generations of poor whites that include some elderly persons and some younger individuals, and children. The data show that many of these families appear to have inherited the intergenerational poverty experienced by their ancestors. In many of the communities the population has been relatively stable and is comprised of families that have lived there for generations. For example many of the residents in Orange Hill were born there, the majority of residents in Gall Hill has lived there all of their lives, and in Haynesville there are families that have lived in the community for over twenty years and have passed on their housing units from generation to generation. This is also the case in the Pine and in Six Mens. On the other hand, most of the population in Silver Hill came f r o m els ew h er e to live there when they obtained housing units from the National Housing Corporation. Internal and external migration has led to population shifts and has changed the composition of the population in some communities. Over the last ten years the populations of Six Mens and St Judes have grown as people have built new houses and moved into these communities. On the other hand there has been an increase in the number of returning nationals in Marchfield and in Orange Hill. As government housing units became available there was some internal migration into Haynesville, St Matthias and Deacons and new people moved into these communities. There has also been an increase in the number of immigrants from several Caribbean countries in some communities. A significant number of these are present in The City, in St Matthias, in Redmans Village and in Marchfield, and there are a few in Orange Hill, Six Mens and St Judes. However the most noticeable ones were Haitians in The City and Guyanese East Indians in the City and in St Judes.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Some people in the City expressed concern about the number of people, especially non-national immigrants that had moved into their community. According to them the advent of strangers had not only changed the composition of the population but had also contributed to a drop in standards. “Years ago you saw the same faces, but new people move in and you don’t know where they come from.” “A lot of new neighbours and strangers.” “Since the Guyanese come we standards dropped.” External migration has mainly occurred as residents left their communities to pursue employment opportunities and to seek a better life either in other communities or overseas. H ow ev er , because of the stigma attached to the St Matthias Housing area, several professionals have moved out to live in other communities. In many of the communities people either live in government housing units or in their own houses and the only communities in which some squatting was evident were Redmans Village, Six Mens, and St Mathias. 3.2.

Living Conditions and Life in the Communities

Information produced by the study of the twelve communities not only provided the background and contexts, but increased understanding of the conditions in which their residents live. Residents in all of the communities are well aware that living conditions, the standard of living and the quality of life in their communities are determined by several factors. When asked to describe or comment on their living conditions the first thing that they mentioned was their physical surroundings: housing, the infrastructure including roads and drains, and the facilities to which they have access. Following this they identified their economic situation and their lack of access to financial resources, and then the state of their social environment including the existence of social problems and access to social services. 3.3.

The Physical and Material Dimension

The physical and material dimension of life in a community is shaped not only by its geography, its location in relation to other communities, its topography, and its natural resources, but also by the amount and type of housing, by its infrastructure, and by the availability of facilities and services. The physical environment within which people live determines the standard of living and their ability to meet their basic need for shelter and their access to facilities and services. The existence and/or lack of existence of adequate infrastructure, facilities, and services are also indications of the extent of public poverty. Information obtained about the communities shows that the infrastructure and the facilities and services are generally good and that public poverty is therefore relatively low. 3.3.1

Housing

Adequate and affordable housing is essential for individuals and families to enjoy good living conditions and an acceptable standard of living. During PPA activities housing was usually the first indicator that

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

people used to describe the conditions in which they were living and to assess levels of poverty and deprivation in their communities. There are government housing units in seven of the communities studied, but in every community there are also people who live in single houses that they either own or rent. While housing conditions in many of the communities are generally good, in some others houses are small, in poor condition, and in need of extensive repairs. In Redman’s Village and in Deacons, while some houses are in a dilapidated state and some need repairs, there is also evidence of steps being taken to improve the existing housing stock, to construct new houses and to upgrade wooden houses to wall. There are three distinct types of housing in the in The City, small individual privately owned houses, older government housing units, and newer high rise government housing units. Many of the individual private houses are rented, but they are small, made mainly of wood, and many are in need of extensive repairs. There is also very little space between these houses and residents see this as a fire trap and are concerned that in case of fire or other emergency the results would be devastating. To emphasize this they referred to an instance when fire destroyed two houses in the area. The older government units comprise of one or two bedrooms with internal bathroom facilities and they are generally in a better condition than the private houses. The newer housing units situated on the Bay Street side of the community are located in high rise multi-storey buildings and were built to accommodate low income earners. They have either two or three bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom and washroom, are in good condition, and are surrounded by gardens that are well maintained by the National Conservation Commission. This is in stark contrast to other areas of the community where there is evidence of inadequate living space and untidy surroundings. In the densely populated area of The City, as in other densely populated communities like Deacons, Haynesville, The Pine, and Silver Hill, overcrowding is a common feature in some of the housing units as well as in some individual private houses. For example there are fourteen people, adults and children, living in one three bedroom unit in Haynesville and in The Pine there as many as eleven persons living in some of the two bedroom units. In some cases in order to accommodate the number of people living in the unit, some people have added two or three rooms at the back of their units. Recognizing the importance of affordable housing, over the years successive governments have built housing units for persons in the lower socio-economic echelon of the society. The rent of the units is generally reasonable but there have been instances where tenants have either been unable or unwilling to pay the rent and have accumulated large amounts of arrears. On the other hand some inhabitants have been able to buy their units through the Home Ownership Programme recently implemented by the National Housing Corporation (NHC). M a n y i n d i v i d u a l s have welcomed this opportunity to own their own homes, but some expressed concern about the length of time that it is taking to finalize the legal transactions and to complete the process. The comments of some residents in The Pine are evidence of their frustration because according to them they do not have anything to show that they own the housing units or the land on which they stand. “I have spent thousands of dollars trying to get the housing issue resolve.” “I bought my unit late in 2007 but I have not heard anything since. I have spoken to a couple of lawyers but nothing has come out of the situation.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

As in the City, there are other communities in which there are housing units, houses in a reasonably good condition, but also some that are in very poor condition and in need of extensive repairs. In Deacons and Haynesville there are some units that are in excellent condition, but in The Pine, the community with the largest number of government housing units, there are some units that are over forty years old and some that are in dire need of repair and several residents worry about the condition of their units. They identified damaged roofs, leaking pipes, cracked windows and doors, faulty plumbing, and protruding electrical wires that had not been repaired, fixed, or replaced for over thirty years. Moreover they felt that these problems exist because of neglect by the National Housing Corporation. “The pumping system has not been upgraded or changed since the housing units were built “ “Majority of the housing units electrical wiring not design to operate so many high power utilities at the same time” “Breakers in the unit trip.” “We want some attention from the NHC to fix the houses in The Pine.” While houses in most of the communities have indoor bathrooms and toilets there are a few in Redmans Village that still use outside bathrooms and toilets. There are noticeable differences in the type of housing and in the condition of houses in the urban and semi-urban communities and in the rural communities. For example the majority of houses in St John’s Locale and in St Judes are single houses constructed either of wood, or wall, or of a combination of these materials and while a few are rented, the majority is occupied by owners. In addition there are several two and three bedroom houses and overcrowding is not a serious problem as it is in some of the houses in the urban and suburban communities. However while most of the residents in these rural communities are satisfied with the condition of their houses, there are a small number of houses that are in need of repair and some residents in Gall Hill in St John’s Locale who want to upgrade from wood to wall. In addition in there are three males, one in St Judes and two in one of the villages in St John’s Locale with several disabilities who are living in deplorable conditions. Their wooden houses are in such poor conditions that they need to be demolished. There is clear evidence that successive governments have recognized the importance of providing affordable and adequate housing for citizens. For example, the Urban and Rural Development Commissions are repairing and upgrading houses for families who are living in inadequate houses and in unacceptable conditions and the NHC through its programme Housing Every Last Person has recently built a number of two bedroom houses in Marchfield. However some residents there are not only disappointed but concerned that although there are people in the community who are living in sub-standard housing, no one in the community has received one of the new houses. 3.3.2

Infrastructure

Good roads, proper drainage and access to utilities are important contributors to good living conditions. Information gained from observation and from community residents shows the extent to which they have access to and are satisfied with these.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Residents in most of the communities have access to electricity, water and telephones but some residents in Six Mens do not have all of these and some residents in Redmans Village complained about low water pressure, frequent water outages, and about the quality of the disclooured, brown water when it returns. There are good well paved and well lit roads and good electricity and water supply in St Matthias, in Hayneville, in St John’s Locale and in St Judes. On the other hand there are some unpaved dirt tracts in Six Mens, Redmans Village and Silver Hill. Roads in Marchfield are in poor condition, they are dusty, have large potholes, and are poorly lit, and some in Gall Hill in St John’s Locale are in similar condition. Some roads in The Pine are unfinished and others are narrow and without pavements and in The City the roads are very narrow and some need to be repaired. 3.3.3

Transportation

Most of the communities are well served by public service vehicles that include government buses, route taxis commonly called ZR Vans, and by minibuses; which charge a minimum fare that is affordable. Most of the public service vehicles operate at intervals of one hour or of half hour. However in some communities like St Judes, in Church View and Clifton Hall in St John’s Locale, and in Orange Hill these services don’t always pass through the communities at regular intervals or at nights and on weekends. 3.3.4

Natural Resources and the Environment

The physical environment within which people live and the natural resources to which they have access contribute to their living conditions and determine their standard of living and the quality of life that they can enjoy. Land is a very important resource and the rural communities of St Judes and St John’s Locale are fairly well endowed with this resource but while there is some agriculture including cane fields, most of the land has been used for housing. In spite of this, several residents do make good use of available land by planting vegetables for domestic consumption and for sale in the community or in the public markets. However , some of the youth in Gall Hill who do not have access to land were of the view that this was preventing them from making a living. Ownership of land is regarded as very important. Several people, including some residents in The City, desire to own land because in their eyes it contributes to a sense of independence and residents in Six Mens feel strongly that: “All Bajans have right to land.” “We happy but we want land.” Originally much of the land in the country was taken up by plantations and owned by the individuals or families who owned the plantations, but over time a great deal has been acquired by the government and used for housing. This is the case in Deacons Farm Estate. Some individuals who own land had purchased it from plantation owners but in Orange Hill and St Judes land has been passed down to successive generations, but land is not as readily available in urban and suburban communities as most of it has already been taken up with housing. Consequently in Silver Hill there is little, if any access to land and in The Pine there is a lack of land space for activities like backyard gardening. In Six Mens disputes about land ownership have been ongoing for many years and as a result the “land issue” is at the forefront of everyone’s mind and dominates almost all of their conversations. First there

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

are a significant number of squatters mostly at the back of the community but much of the land on which they are squatting is supposedly owned by one individual, and while the government is in the process of acquiring it many people are concerned about the length of time it is taking for the issue to be resolved. “My grandmother waiting for years.” Some other residents whose families rented and have been living on the land for long periods, sometimes as long as eighty years, believe that they have more legitimacy than the squatters in “the back” who have only moved into the community in the last decade or so and put up houses. However because no Freehold Tennantry Act has been passed a significant number of residents in Six Mens have no title to the land on which they are living and as a result they are unable to use land as collateral for loans from the bank and are limited in what they can do to upgrade their housing. Other natural resources in Six Mens include the sea, gullies, quarries, and water courses. The sea is an important resource for Six Mens the only coastal community. As a fishing village it not only provides incomes for several fisher folk, but it has a beautiful beach and many coral reefs and is home to several marine speeches. There are also some mangrove trees and a few natural springs with crabs and fish, and the Gully which was formerly used to dump garbage has been cleaned and transformed into a Memorial Park. Several residents in this community are concerned about the serious damage that is being done to their physical environment and they identified a number of environmental issues that need to be addressed. Among these are environmental degradation and destruction including beach erosion and the destruction of the natural habitats of marine creatures, all of which in their view have resulted from the creation of Port St Charles and the construction of the Marina. “There was a spot long ago where men used to go scuba diving and there was a lot of different sea life but it gone now.” “The marina cause the sea to encroach on people’s homes.” “The new marina is going to impact negatively on the physical landscape.” According to them the new Port Ferdinand has also contributed to an environmental disaster because it has started to destroy the mangrove trees and swamps. In addition according to one man: “The location of Port Ferdinand has completely destroyed a natural reservoir to the sea that was an important part of the landscape. The new construction will also cause irreparable damage to the area.” “The construction has already destroy the flora and fauna of Six Mens.” Residents also spoke about the changing face of the shoreline, the erosion of the beach and the disappearance of some of the coral reefs and referred to these as “vandalism of the sea.” “Look they destroy all the coral reefs.” “There are laws to protect coral reef, yet our coral reefs are gone.” “They dig up all the sand and put it in the middle of the sea.” Residents also complained about dust and noise pollution from the construction sites.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“Construction disturbing 7 o’clock in the morning.” “De noise and de dust.” “Everything fill with dust.” “I always cleaning cause dust always in my house, settle on the chairs and TV thick, thick, thick.” Dumping of garbage that included fish offal and garbage from Port St Charles in the sea and on the beach was also identified as a problem. “Port Charles taking them garbage and carrying it behind the line and dump it right dey.” “No proper facilities to put offal so it left on the beach.” There are two water courses and a gully in Haynesville. Formerly there had been flooding in the area of the water course and this had blocked an entrance and exit from the community. However a bridge was constructed and this problem has been solved. There are also three sites at which residents used to dump garbage, and while the Ministry has made it illegal to dump garbage on two of them, some residents still dump garbage in the gully. There is some soil erosion in The Pine caused by rain that washes away top soil from Regency Hill and residents think that if trees were planted the problem would be solved. In St Judes agricultural pests including African snails and the Barbadian Green Monkeys are destroying the vegetation and residents who live near the cane fields are affected by an increase in rodents once the cane has been harvested. In Orange Hill there is evidence of some accumulation of white waste including used car parts and old used appliances. Residents in Silver Hill a l s o commented on the inappropriate disposal of bulk waste including used household furniture and pointed out that these serve as breeding places for rodents. They are also particularly concerned about reckless driving and noise pollution resulting from loud music being played on minibuses, and the noise made by dirt bikes driven recklessly by young men through the community at all hours. In some of the communities including St Matthias, The Pine, and Silver Hill residents identified the existence of wells overflowing with human excreta as a serious environmental and health issue. The offensive stench from these wells is said to be often overpowering and they can cause physical damage especially if children slip and fall into them. In Gall Hill in St John’s Locale residents identified full latrines, cane fires, bush, dust, stagnant water in pot holes and old cars as environmental hazards. In Redman’s Village dumping of cut tree branches in the gully and a stagnant pond at the back of the gully is a breeding place for mosquitoes. In addition the presence of a Mud Company not only creates dust but when wet the mud flows down the road and it becomes slippery. The data show that residents in most of the communities are not only aware but that they are concerned about some of the environmental problems and the destruction that is being done to the natural resources. They also show that some residents, by their actions are contributing to degradation and destruction of the environment. As can be seen in the table below there are several environmental problems that need to be addressed. Open manholes and overflowing wells in six of the communities is a serious environmental health hazard that

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

limits residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ability to enjoy a healthy life style. Illegal dumping and improper disposal of garbage, abandoned vehicles and the existence of stagnant water not only serve as breeding places for mosquitoes and rodents but can contribute to serious diseases. The link between dust and the existence of respiratory diseases is well established and from the table it is clear that dust pollution is a problem in half of the communities. Moreover the data on health, presented later in the report also show that asthma is present in eleven of the twelve communities and that in some of the communities there are residents who also have other respiratory diseases. Dust pollution must therefore be seen as a serious health hazard. Table 2: Environmental Problems

Problem Rats Overflowing wells with human waste Open wells/ Manholes Cane fires Flooding Illegal dumping Bush Blocked drains/stagnant water Poor garbage Disposal White waste Dust Noise pollution Soil erosion Beach erosion Destruction of marine life Dangerous driving Abandoned vehicles African snails

1 X X

5 X X

6 X X

7 X

X X

12 X X

X X

9 X X

X X

8 X X

X X

X X X

x X X

X X

X X X

X X

KEY: 1=Deacons, 2=Haynesville, 3=Marchfield, 4=Orange Hill, 5=Redmans Village, 6=St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Locale, 7=St Judes, 8=St Matthias, 9=Silver Hill, 10=Six Mens, 11=The City, 12=The Pine

3.3.5

Facilities and Services

The existence, availability, and accessibility of facilities and services in communities are essential to enable residents to enjoy an acceptable standard of living. However the extent to which they can benefit from these is determined by their knowledge about what is available, accessibility, affordability, and the attitudes of those who provide the services. The data show that educational, health and recreational facilities exist in or within reasonable distance of most of the communities, but they also show that residents in some communities are not satisfied with the quality of some of the services being offered.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Education Facilities Government and people alike recognize the importance of education as an essential mechanism for being able to obtain employment, to achieve personal goals, and to enjoy an acceptable standard of living. Over the years successive governments have invested heavily in education and opportunities exist for citizens to obtain education free of cost at all levels of the formal education system. Civil society and private sector organizations have also provided opportunities for individuals to participate in a wide variety of formal and non-formal education programmes and activities so as to acquire and/or upgrade their level of education and skills. The country and by extension the communities are well served with a number of educational institutions including preschools, primary and secondary schools, and tertiary level institutions within the formal education sector. Some non-formal education and skill training programmes are also available. There is a children’s home in Haynesville and there are government day nurseries and/or preschools in Haynesville, in St Matthias, in Silver Hill, and in the Pine but in some cases they are not large enough to meet the demand for early childhood education. F o r e x a m p l e residents in Redmans Village, St Matthias and The Pine are of the view that because of overcrowding and discrimination children in their communities are being denied places in government day care centres located in their communities while children from other communities are given priority and obtain places. As a result children in their communities have to be taken to centres that are further away and more expensive. “The nursery is full but not with children in the area.” “We children not good enough for the day care centre.” “It ain’t easy to get yuh children there as before.” “Residents from the community suppose to get first chance but this is not so, a lot of outsiders children does get in and not much from Redman Village.” There is universal primary education. Children in ten of the twelve communities have easy access to primary schools within their communities and children in the other two have access to schools that are not too far away. Residents in all of the communities a p p e a r to be fairly satisfied with primary schools and past students of the primary school in Orange Hill provide financial and other support to the school. Some residents are of the view that while teachers are doing their best parents and children also have a responsibility to make the best use of available educational opportunities. On the other hand, some residents in Redmans Village are of the view that good teachers are not being sent to Welches Primary School, the school in their community, and that because of this: “The school not on a high scale as other schools like Luther Thorne and Charles F. Broomes because they send young teachers who have little or no experience at all to Welches.” Observation of primary schools in six of the communities revealed that even in older school buildings, classrooms are well equipped with creative, stimulating instructional materials that create environments that are conducive to learning. There are also Learning Resource Centres in Deacons and Orange Hill and there are libraries in Marchfield, Gall Hill and The Pine, but the librarian in Gall Hill said that the library was

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

underutilized. Although no reasons were given for this and such information was not obtained in any of the other communities, it would be interesting to find out if this is a general trend. There is universal free secondary education and while most secondary schools are also within easy reach of many of the communities, children are allocated to school based on their performance at the eleven plus examination and on parents’ choice. As a result, children in some of the communities may be attending schools that are a significant distance from their homes. Because of availability and access, except for some elderly persons, the majority of residents in every community have some level of secondary education. However the data show that some individuals had left school before completing and that in several of the households there are individuals who had not obtained any certificates. Some residents in a few of the communities expressed their dissatisfaction with the type and quality of education being offered. For example several young people who are still in secondary school as well as some past students were critical of the quality of the teaching and the negative attitudes of some of their teachers. A few complained about teachers not coming to class and about their indifferent attitudes. These comments about teachers have serious implications and steps should be taken to investigate and remedy this situation. Some young people also expressed concern about the curriculum which according to them focused mainly on academic subjects and did not pay enough attention to non-academic and technical subjects. As a result they believe that the focus on academic subjects had not prepared them for the workplace because it not allowed them to acquire skills that were needed to obtain jobs. Like secondary education tertiary education is available and free to anyone who possesses the necessary entry requirements, but residents in some communities voiced their concern about the lack of interest shown by some young towards higher education. “Rather than moving on to higher education, a lot of them go to secondary school and nothing else after that. They turn to illegal activities.” The Open Campus of the University of the West Indies, the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, and the Pommarine Hotel are tertiary institutions located in two of the communities that were studied. The Pommarine Hotel is in St Matthias and the Open Campus of the UWI and the Polytechnic are in the Pine. However the data show that very few individuals from these communities are, or were students of these institutions and the view was expressed that residents in these communities are not benefiting from their existence in the communities. According to some residents in the Pine their attempts to gain entry to the Polytechnic failed because of the reputation given to “Pine people” by outsiders. In addition to formal educational institutions, in a few of the communities there are opportunities for residents to participate in non-formal education programmes and activities offered by the government and/or by civil society organizations, but participation is not generally high. While most adults in the communities agreed that education is important, their non participation in on-going education suggests that they equate education with “formal education” or “schooling” in traditional educational institutions and not with lifelong learning. On the other hand in every community residents stressed their commitment and willingness to ensure that their children received a “good” education. This also suggests that they might see education as essential and as a priority for children but not for themselves. In St Judes the Ermine Homes Trust a church related organization organizes a craft programme for women and another to help children with speaking and reading. In Haynesville skills training programmes,

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

dressmaking, and computer awareness classes are offered for adults and there is homework programme for children. Similar programmes are offered at the community centre in the Pine, and the Pinelands Community Workshop organizes a number of educational programmes and cultural activities for young people as well as summer camps for children. In Gall Hill there is also a homework programme for children and in Deacons there is a reading programme for children. However no information was available about the effectiveness and impact of these programmes. The Community Resource Centre in Deacons offers skills training and training in information technology, and the Youth Commissioner organizes developmental workshops to teach young people life skills. Evening classes are held at the Princess Margaret Secondary School near Marchfield but residents there said that they were unaware of the programmes being offered and residents in Orange Hill also said that they were unaware of programmes being offered at the resource centre there. There are no programmes being offered in Six Mens or in Silver Hill but it was said that some residents in the latter may participate in education programmes that are available in neighbouring communities. Residents in St Matthias are of the view that there is a need for a resource centre that would provide opportunities and classes for people to learn a skill and to improve themselves. According to residents in Redmans Village, lectures, a craft programme and lessons were previously available at the Bagatelle Pavilion and they felt that these activities should be offered again. Analysis of the data provides evidence that in the majority of communities studied there are no adult and continuing education programmes being offered, but in a few of the communities where there are some programmes being offered, residents are unaware of them. This suggests that greater efforts must be made to stress the importance of lifelong learning and of continuing education, to promote, provide, and market such programmes in communities, and to encourage residents to participate in them. Health Facilities Public health services, free of cost, are provided at the Hospital and through Polyclinics to which all residents have access. There are polyclinics in Haynesville, Marchfield, St John, and The Pine, and residents in the other communities also have access to polyclinics that are not too far away. Some residents are pleased with the quality of the services provided but some others are not. Residents in Silver Hill and The Pine speak highly about the quality of services that they receive at the Maurice Byer Polytechnic and at the Polyclinic in Oistins. Those in the City are satisfied with the services provided at the Sir Winston Scott Polytechnic, but are dissatisfied with the long hours they have to wait when they go to the hospital, and residents in Marchfield are concerned about overcrowding because of the large numbers of people from neighbouring parishes who use the polyclinic at Six Roads. Residents in Redmans Village who attend the polyclinic in Warrens are also dissatisfied with the long wait, and residents in St John’s Locale are dissatisfied with several things including inadequate staffing, lack of medication, the poor state of the physical structure, the poor attitude of the staff, and lack of confidentiality. “There is no proper pediatric health care so I does carry my child to Oistins” “That is one polyclinic that never have medication, yuh does have to go down by the Glebe pharmacy.” “And they ain’t even got no dentist.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“There is no privacy and everybody does hear yuh business.” Community Centres Community centres are places in which residents can come together to participate in various educational, cultural, and recreational activities, and as pointed out by some young people in Gall Hill in St John’s Locale a community centre also provides a place for young people to engage in wholesome activities that keep them out of trouble. Community centres are also places where programmes of the Community Development Department, and where outreach programmes of other government ministries and departments can be offered. Programmes of the former are usually expected to mobilize community residents and to provide programmes for community building and personal development. Programmes of the latter are intended to meet the needs of individuals, households, groups, and the community as a whole. There are forty community centres in the country, but there are community centres only in three of the communities studied, Orange Hill, Gall Hill, and The Pine. In Orange Hill the centre serves as a meeting place for a group of older males, many of whom are retirees who meet every week to socialize and interact with each other, to play dominoes and other games, and to share a meal. A number of programmes take place at the centre in the Pine including skills training programmes, classes in drama and dancing, evening classes for children and summer camps. While there are no community centres in The City and Haynesville the St Ambrose Parish Centre in The City and the Police Post in Haynesville serve as places where residents can participate in educational, social, and cultural activities. Residents in Haynesville lauded the Police Officer and the provision of homework classes for children and those in The City said that the Parish Centre provides breakfast and after school homework programme for children and serves as a place where adults participate in line dancing. Residents in Gall Hill in St John’s Locale said that the centre was once seen as a place to nurture young talent, however because of recent lack of access to the centre it is no longer seen to be useful. According to some young men: “We were displaced we no longer have access to the centre so we don’t have the change to enjoy activities that keep us out of trouble.” Residents in some communities in which they are no centres believe that their absence limits the number and type of activities in which they can participate. In Silver Hill because there is no centre, most social activities have to be held on the hard court and residents in Redmans Village are concerned about the absence of a centre and about the lack of programmes for youth and for older people. Residents in St Matthias said that they wanted “a proper” community centre and those in Silver Hill felt that their need for a centre was urgent. “We need a community centre urgently so we could do things with young people in the community.” According to them a centre would provide opportunities to get boys off the block and lead to less use of drugs, would create employment opportunities and rebuild self esteem and self worth, and would bring a measure of pride back to Silver Hill.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Community centres are managed and maintained by the Community Development Department and are places where the Department’s programmes are offered. However, information provided by residents in many of the communities suggest either that there are few if any such programmes being offered in their communities, or that if they are being offered they were unaware of them. On the other hand in communities in which programmes are being offered some residents said that they are either too few or that they did not always meet their needs. For example residents in Deacons and Silver Hill pointed out that while there are a few programmes they are not helping them to improve their level of education, their self esteem, or their living conditions. Participants in the workshop at Gall Hill in St John’s thought that there were not enough programmes in the community centre, and some residents in Haynesville pointed out that more community activities should be organized to utilize their talents. “There are not many community programmes.” “Nothing of that nature that would improve living conditions.” “There are not enough community activities to utilize the talents of residents”. Recreational Facilities Participation in sporting activities not only contributes to healthy living, but it also provides opportunities for community residents to come together to build relationships and community cohesion, and to bring attention and prestige to the community. For example the success of the netball team in Silver Hill has given residents something of which they can be proud. It is therefore important that community residents have access to facilities that provide opportunities for them to participate in a variety of recreational activities. The data show that there are recreational facilities, including hard courts and playing fields in half of the communities studied. In the other half where such facilities do not exist, residents must go to facilities outside of their communities, or as is done in St Matthias, hold sporting and social activities in the school. In some communities like Silver Hill, The City, St Judes, Six Mens, and Deacons such facilities are either absent, limited, or in poor condition, but in a few of the communities there are play parks for children. Residents in Redmans Village have access to the Bagatelle Pavilion, but they are concerned about the irregularity of sporting activities and the lack of any activities for females. While some are of the view that there are few sporting activities in which girls are interested, some others pointed out that bickering among the girls had led to the breakup of a netball team that once existed. In The City apart from a lighted hard court located near to London Bourne Towers there are no other recreational facilities so young men and children use the Hospital playing field that is nearby. Residents in Deacons complained about the deterioration and abuse of the hard court that is sometimes used as a parking lot for cars and motorcycles and for racing and playing cricket. Facilities for the Elderly Residents in some of the communities studied expressed concerns about what in their opinion is neglect of elderly persons in their communities. In the Pine there is an old people’s home but according to some residents there are some elderly persons in the community who don’t have anyone to take care of them. According to them it is especially important that older people have someone with them during the night. “During the day a housekeeper is there to look after them but at night there in nobody there.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“A lady died because there was no one to help her.” “There is an old lady who has no roof and is exposed to the elements.” Neglect of elderly persons and absence of facilities and services within communities that meet the specific needs of elderly persons and that would provide opportunities for social interaction, can make them feel isolated. Evidence of this was provided by two women in St Judes who talked about their feelings of isolation since the church stopped its home visitation programme. The National Assistance Board, through its Home Help Programme, provides assistance to elderly persons and the benefits of this programme are well recognized. However information provided by an employee who lives in one of the communities studied highlighted the plight of some elderly persons and identified several challenges that they face. Among these are:      

Poor living conditions, especially poor housing Poor health Physical, emotional, and financial abuse Isolation Lack of access to facilities and services for participation and social interaction Ineffectiveness of the Home Help Programme

It is now well recognized that the population is ageing and that there has been a significant increase in the numbers of older persons and so there is a national policy on ageing. However information obtained in some of the communities studied suggests that more attention may have to be given to implementing a more comprehensive range of programmes within communities to meet the diverse and specific needs of older persons, especially those who are living in unacceptable conditions or may be in poor health. As can be seen in Table 3 below there are a significant number of public facilities available to community residents. Many of these provide services that are intended to meet the educational, health and recreational needs of the population. In terms of educational services questions about insufficient provision by government for day care and early childhood education, about the curriculum and the balance between academic and technical subjects, and about the absenteeism and attitudes of some teachers are areas to which attention should be paid. It is also important increase people’s understanding that education is more than formal “schooling”, and of inculcating an attitude and commitment to lifelong learning and to adult continuing non-formal education through a national policy and programme on adult education and by encouraging adults to participate in a wide variety of educational activities. It is widely acknowledged that there is an excellent network of polyclinics to which residents have access and the data show that residents in several communities are pleased with the high quality of services provided in by the staff of the polyclinics in their communities. However, in a few of the communities residents are concerned about lack of privacy and confidentially and about the unacceptable attitudes of some of the health professionals. It is therefore important that steps be taken to address and correct these situations so that they do not detract from the excellent services being provided by the majority. The data clearly show that there are several facilities in most of the communities there is a conspicuous absence of facilities for elderly persons, and while the National Assistance Board does provide some assistance, information provided suggests that this is insufficient to meet the needs of the elderly

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

population. Moreover many residents believed that the absence of facilities and services for the elderly was a reflection of neglect of such persons Table 3: Facilities

Facility Day care/day nursery Nursery/pre school Primary school Secondary school Learning/resource Centre Tertiary education Institution Library Community centre Police Post Polyclinic Welfare Office Recreational facilities Old People’s home

1 X X X

2 X X X

3 X X X X

8 X

X X

9 X

11 X X

X X X

X X

12 X X X X

X X X

X X

KEY: 1=Deacons, 2=Haynesville, 3=Marchfield, 4=Orange Hill, 5=Redmans Village, 6=St John’s Locale, 7=St Judes, 8=St Matthias, 9=Silver Hill, 10=Six Mens, 11=The City, 12=The Pine

Social Services Data obtained during the PPA show that there are a number of government departments that provide a variety of social services including financial and in-kind assistance to people in need. However information provided by residents about the processes by and through which people can access these services draws attention to the constraints, challenges and problems that they face in accessing and/or benefitting from them. Several government agencies, including the Welfare Department through its various programmes and the National Assistance Board, provide assistance and a number of services to people in communities who are in need . The data show that some residents in all of the communities either use or depend on government services and assistance to survive. However a Welfare Office is only present in Six Mens and Gall Hill, so residents in some of the communities must either visit offices in other communities or the main offices in Bridgetown. A significant number of residents in Gall Hill receive assistance from several welfare agencies, including grants and food vouchers, and in kind assistance including spectacles and hearing aids from a special programme. Residents in Six Mens and Redmans Village praised the work of the Welfare Department because according to them: “I have seen the welfare working through the community and the majority of cases get help.” “A lot of people does get help from welfare dey does get their cheques regularly and on time.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

However, a resident in Redmans Village provided some evidence of people who are not in need but who receive assistance from the Welfare Department. “I know a police officer and government clerk who also get welfare cheques.” He was therefore of the view that the Welfare Department needed to check more carefully so as to ensure that those most in need of assistance were the ones who received help. Information provided by some residents in some of the communities who are recipients of welfare services revealed that they are unhappy with the lengthy bureaucratic process through which they must go to receive assistance, with the inadequacy of the amount of assistance that they receive, and with the attitudes of some of the employees in the various welfare agencies. Some mentioned that they had been ignored, or treated with indifference and disrespect, others that they had been ridiculed and insulted. “I does receive welfare and sometimes it not enough.” “The process to get assistance is lengthy and the amount is not enough to meet our needs.” “I went for help from a government agency and the woman insulted me so I had to insult her back.” “Social care agencies create a sense of shame in poor people through the unkind and poor treatment of people who provide the services.” Because of this, some who are in need and who would qualify for assistance said that they do not and would not apply for any assistance or go the Welfare Department, and residents in one of the communities said that many of them did not use the services provided by this agency. On the other hand, while residents did not mention them, there are some other factors that might be contributing to their reluctance to approach some social services agencies. Among these is the lack of accessibility for persons with disabilities including ramps and persons parking in areas designated for them, an issue that was raised in one of the town hall meetings. Another is the location of some offices in buildings that were built for other types of activities and are therefore not suited for and cannot ensure privacy and confidentiality. In addition some aspects of the dress code required for approaching one of the agencies could eventually exclude some of the very poor and vulnerable who need its services most. Shortcomings of the Social Services Information provided by participants in various PPA activities draws attention not only to their need for assistance, but also to their opinions and concerns about the extent to which the social services agencies are meeting their needs and responding to their demands. I n a d d it i o n analysis of the information that they provided about some of the services available from different social service agencies suggest several factors that may be responsible for their failure to provide the kind, amount and quality of assistance that residents, especially those who are poor, need and expect to receive. Among these are: • People’s lack of knowledge about what is available. Residents in several of the communities said that they were unaware of the various types of services that exist or of the assistance that was available and for which they could qualify. This may in part be due to limited number of outreach programmes of some agencies that are offering services or assistance.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

• Employees’ lack of knowledge and/or of understanding of people’s reality, of poor and vulnerable groups and needy individuals, and of the conditions under which they are living. Several residents were of the view that some staff members of some of the social service agencies had little knowledge of the conditions under which they were living and that they were therefore unaware to their reality. One outcome of this may be that their services are not reaching those whose need for assistance is greatest. • Inability to access available services. Residents in several of the communities shared experiences of their inability to access or benefit from available services. They identified challenges, constraints and obstacles that they faced in their attempt to access services and obtain assistance. Among these are the bureaucracy, the many steps that they had to take and the length of time that they had to wait before they could get the assistance that they needed; the amount of information that they were asked to provide; and sometimes the ‘complicated’ forms that they had to fill out. In addition if the services were not available in their communities they faced transportation difficulties including lack of bus fare and/or lengthy waits for busses. • The type and/or amount of assistance available or being offered. Several single female heads of households with many children, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities commented on the inadequacy of the type and amount of assistance that they did receive. There was a case in which lack of food led an unemployed mother to request assistance on a regular basis to feed children. However while the small amount of money received was seen as insufficient her requests for additional food vouchers were denied. • Poor attitudes and lack of professionalism of some staff in social service agencies including in some Polyclinics, The National Assistance Board, and the Welfare Department. Information provided by residents in some communities provided evidence of the poor and unacceptable attitudes of some members of staff at various social service agencies. Some cited “bad” treatment, indifference, lack of respect and abuse. • Social service agencies working in isolation. Information obtained suggests that here is little if any collaboration or coordination among or between the many agencies that are delivering social services. This can create confusion, overlap, and gaps in the provision of services as well as manipulation of the services by some people. • Provision of services and assistance to some of those who might not be in need. For example residents in one community identified two individuals who according to them were not in need but who were receiving financial assistance while other more needy individuals were not. Government social agencies are expected to provide various types of assistance to the most need in the society and the data show that some residents in many of the communities studied do receive financial and other types of assistance from some of these agencies. It is also evident form experiences shared that for some individuals this dependency on and assistance from social agencies is not only essential but critical for their survival. On the other hand, the data also show that there are several individuals in many of the communities who need such assistance and who for a variety of reasons have been unable either to access or to benefit from assistance that is available. Some individuals including elderly persons and unemployed single mothers with large number of children have said that the financial and in-kind assistance they receive is insufficient

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

to meet their even their basic needs. For some others the demands of the bureaucratic process and the unacceptable attitude of some service professionals have prevented them from accessing much needed assistance. In order to overcome these shortcomings, the staff of all social service agencies be exposed to on-going training that would increase their awareness of and their sensitivity about the realities of those whom they are expected to serve. The training should also be designed to equip them with appropriate and acceptable attitudes and with interpersonal skills and other skills that would increase their ability to be effective in providing high quality services. Institutions and Organizations Institutions and organizations are vehicles through which facilities, resources, goods, and services are provided to communities and their residents. From informal discussions with residents and during group discussions and community workshops information was obtained about the number and type of institutions and organizations that are present in and that bring resources to the communities studied. During the community workshops residents identified institutions and organizations that were present in their communities, discussed their work and assessed the extent to which they had been successful in implementing activities and providing services to their communities. They created Venn Diagrams to show the organizations that in their view are most beneficial, and they identified those that are most successful in improving the living conditions in their communities. The data show that while some government institutions do operate in every community not all have a physical presence in every community, and that while some government institutions do have Outreach Officers in some of the communities, in other communities there are no such Officers. However there is evidence that interventions of government institutions do have an impact, whether positive or negative, on life and living conditions in every community. Civil society organizations include private sector businesses, NGOs and CBOs, and the activities of NGOs and CBOs are generally intended to facilitate personal development, to improve living conditions in communities and to encourage and foster community spirit and cohesion. They also provide some degree of social protection by providing services and programmes intended to meet specific needs of individuals, households and particular groups within communities. However, government institutions and civil society organizations have different roles to play and it is important to recognize and to be aware of this difference and to understand the ways in which each of them can operate to meet the needs of communities and their residents. Government Institutions Among the government institutions identified are the Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries, Education, Health, Transport and Works, and Youth Affairs. In addition several specific government departments and agencies work on an ongoing basis in some of the communities. Among these are the Welfare Department, the National Assistance Board, the National Housing Corporation, the Sanitation Service Authority, the Water Authority, the Town and Country Planning Department, the National Conservation Commission, and the Community Development Department. The Community Development Department, more than other government agencies with community outreach programmes has a critical role to play to bridge the gap between central government and community residents, in mobilizing residents, in building the communities, and in promoting self sufficiency, so that

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

residents can enjoy better living conditions, a better standard of living and a better quality of life. It is probably also the agency from which community residents expect the type of services and programmes that would help them to solve personal and community problems. It is therefore a matter of concern that residents in only one of the communities studied identified the Department’s presence and/or programmes in their community. In addition while residents in ten of the communities identified g o v e r n m e n t ministries and departments that work in their communities, those in Orange Hill and The City said that there are no government institutions or agencies located or operating in their communities During informal discussions and in the group discussions and community workshops residents expressed their views about the effectiveness and success of initiatives and interventions of various government institutions. On the whole everyone appeared to be generally satisfied with the work of the Ministry of Education in providing free education and with the Ministry of Health in providing free health care. However, while community residents recognized the importance of interventions by other government institutions and appreciated the initiatives that are being taken, they also expressed disappointment, concern, and dissatisfaction with the interventions and work of some. Some people are dissatisfied with the level and quality of work done, others are of the view that some government institutions and agencies take too long to respond to requests, that some needed more skilled workers, and that work needed to be better supervised and inspected on completion. Some also felt that there needed to be less favouritism in responding to request and that these should be dealt with on a first come first serve basis, that some employees in government institutions and agencies should display a more professional attitude. Some residents are also of the view that programmes implemented by government institutions are not always designed to meet the specific needs of communities or of particular groups, households, or individuals. In their view responses should be based on specific needs identified by community members. In Deacons the Sanitation Service Authority and the National Housing Corporation were said to be successful, but not the Police Outpost, residents in Haynesville were high in their praise of the officer at the Police Post and they identified the National Housing Corporation as having an important role in maintaining the housing units. However they are dissatisfied with the length of time that the Corporation has taken, over the years, to respond to requests for repairs and upgrading of electrical and plumbing facilities. In Redman’s Village residents said that the Sanitation Service Authority was excellent and dependable, but they are very concerned about the inability of the Water Authority to provide them with high quality water on a regular basis. They are very concerned about low pressure and the absence of water every Saturday. Since institutional mapping was an activity in the community workshops, Table 4 shows the results of this activity undertaken during workshops in six of the communities. In St Matthias participants were of the view that residents do not really benefit from the presence of the Court or from Pommarine because few required or used the former and it contributed to traffic congestion, and the majority could not get into the latter. They also felt that the Disabilities Unit has not been successful in meeting the needs of those whom it was intended to help. People from all other parishes benefiting from the court more than we.” “The Pommarine serve no purpose for the residents, the majority can’t get into the programmes.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“The disabilities unit not helping those who are in need.” Although there was general satisfaction with the water supply, persons in a few of the communities are concerned about low water pressure, contamination of the water after heavy rain, and frequent outages. Residents in Redman’s Village are of the view that he because of frequent water outages the Water Authority is not. Table 4: Success of Government Institutions Identified in Six Communities

Community Deacons

Haynesville Redman’s Village

Successful/beneficial Sanitation Service Authority, National Housing Corporation, Police outpost Welfare Department Sanitation Service Authority,

Not successful/beneficial Police outpost

National Housing Corporation Water Authority

St Matthias St John’s Locale Six Mens

Pommarine Hotel Training National Disabilities Unit,

School,

National Assistance Board, Welfare Authority Water Authority, the Welfare Ministry of Agriculture Town and Country Department, the Health Inspectors and Planning Department Environmental and the National Conservation Commission. Coastal Management Departments

Residents in Six Mens are pleased with the Water Authority, the Welfare Department, the Health Inspectors and the National Conservation Commission. However they are not satisfied with the Ministry of Agriculture because according to them it does not cater to the needs of the fisher folk. They are also dissatisfied with the Town and Country Planning Department, the Environmental Department, and the Coastal Zone Management Department because of the situation with land ownership and with the environmental degradation that in their view is being caused by the building of the marina. Information provided by residents suggests that the work of many of the government institutions is focused on the physical and material dimensions of life in communities but to a lesser extent on the economic and social dimensions. There is also some evidence that less attention is being paid to the developmental, psychological and/or the emotional needs of residents. The data suggest that there is a significant amount of dependency on interventions and provisions by government institutions and that several people believe that the government, through their Parliamentary Representatives should supply most, if not all of their needs. There is therefore little motivation for self sufficiency or self reliance. “They make promises but don’t keep them.” “They do not respond to community needs.” Civil Society Organizations Civil society organizations include private sector businesses, NGOs and CBOs. Activities of NGOs and CBOs are generally intended to facilitate personal development and self reliance, to assist in solving personal and community problems, to improve living conditions in the communities, and to encourage

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

and foster community spirit and cohesion. However the data show that only a small number of NGOS and/or CBOs are present in a few of the communities and that there are none operating in most of the communities. Private Sector Organizations The area of The City that was studied is in close proximity to large businesses, and with medium sized and small private sector organizations located in Bridgetown and several residents patronize these businesses. Similar businesses are a ls o within easy access to residents in the suburban communities of Deacons, Silver Hill and Six Mens. In every community there are small businesses including shops, bars, cafes, mechanic and car repair shops, and hair dressing and cosmetic salons. Apart from providing goods and services, some private sector organizations do sponsor sports and cultural events in some of the communities. However not many private sector organizations offer or provide programmes designed to improve living conditions or to develop communities. Non Governmental Organizations While the work of NGOs does impact on the living conditions in communities, their programmes and activities tend to focus on and respond to the needs of vulnerable groups, including children and women, youth and the elderly. They therefore play a vital role in people’s lives as they can bring a wide range of financial, human, and material resources to individuals, households, groups and communities. However the data show that they are not many NGOs operating in the communities that were studied and that even when these did exist some residents appear unwilling to participate in their activities and programmes. Churches are located in or nearby all of the communities and in some communities there are several churches of different denominations. Some churches have active groups, Faith Based Organizations, that provide services and assistance that enables some people to meet their basic needs and that contribute to personal development. The Seventh Day Church in Redmans Village organizes health fairs and camps for children, the Pentecostal Church in Silver Hill helps to keep some youth off the block, and the Salvation Army assists residents in Marchfield who are in need. However some young people in The City and in St John’s Locale are of the view that the church is neither helping them nor their community. In the former, the church is located in the middle of the “drug block” and this is seen as a barrier. In the latter young people see the church as an ineffective organization because in their view it operates with double standards. “Church leaders don’t come out into the community to reach us.” “The church got too much double standards.” There are a significant number of national NGOS, some of which may have branches and/or operate in various communities. Among these are the YWCA, the Four H Movement, Girl Guides, Cubs, and Brownies. There are also district Emergency Organizations. The YWCA provides breakfast for school children in Deacons, and the Four H Club, Cubs and Brownies are other national organizations that operate in some of the communities. In Redmans Village they play an important role in organizing activities for children and in teaching them values. Apart from these there is little evidence that national NGOs have outreach programmes or of NGOs working at the community level in the majority of communities that were studied. However the data

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

do show that there is a need for NGOs to provide services and programmes that would assist residents to deal with some of their problems. The National Council of Substance Abuse and the National HIV/AIDS Council are two organizations whose services could go a long way in helping community residents to deal with two problems that exist in the communities and to address these two problems about which residents are concerned. For example the data show that t h e use, abuse and addiction to drugs are common problems in all of the communities studied, and that there is also some concern about the threat of HIV/AIDS. However the data also show that the National Council of Substance Abuse and the National HIV/AIDS Council only have programmes in Deacons. Although the data do not specifically identify factors that are responsible for the small amount of work being done by NGOs in the communities that were studied, some factors do suggest themselves. Most NGOs are strapped for funds and depend on volunteers to do their work, but over the years there has been a significant decrease in volunteerism and these factors have contributed to a decrease in the work of NGOs. According to information provided by several residents NGO activity and programmes are not been common in their communities, and that even when there have been programmes participation had tended to be low and inconsistent. NGOS have an important and vital role to play in meeting community needs, in promoting personal and community development, and in solving community problems in ways that it is difficult, if not impossible for government agencies to do. Unlike government they are more flexible and they do not usually adopt rigid bureaucratic procedures, they are better able to meet people where they are and to build relationships and community leadership. In addition they can respond to particular needs and solve community problems in less time than most government agencies, and they can promote, encourage and facilitate self reliance. The absence of NGOs operating at the community level may therefore mean that there are several gaps in the provision of much needed services and resources that are required to improve the conditions under which people in communities are living and that are needed to alleviate poverty. Community Based Organizations People in communities often form themselves into groups to further their interests, to meet individual and community needs, to solve community problems, and to take action to achieve individual and community goals. Community based organizations (CBOs) therefore can also play important roles in the lives of individuals and in the development of the communities. However the data show that CBOs are present in only a few of the communities. Among the CBOS identified by residents are sports clubs and teams in several of the communities, two Old Scholars Associations, one in Orange Hill and the other a Parent Teachers Association and an HIV/AIDs Council Committee in Deacons, a Diabetes Association in Gall Hill, and a Community Association in St Matthias. Sports clubs not only encourage healthy life styles but they provide opportunities for residents to engage in positive activities, to build relationships and to develop c ommunity spirit. There are sports clubs in Haynesville, Six Mens, St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Locale, and in Redmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Village and while residents saw these as being successful, most of the clubs organize sporting activities that cater mostly for young men. As a result except for the netball club in Silver Hill and in The Pine there is a conspicuous absence of sporting activities for females.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“There are a lot of sporting activities planned for boys but very little for girls.” “No organizations working in the ghetto to guide the girls and or to show them how to improve themselves.” However residents in Silver Hill are proud of the accomplishments of the netball team and of Eggs Band because they promote the community in positive ways and have brought it some recognition. In spite of this there is a feeling that the activities of these two clubs have not been enough to bring the community together. Residents in Deacons and Redman’s Village also pointed out the absence of any sporting activities for older, mature residents and they suggested that this made them feel marginalized. The St Matthias Community Association not only provides assistance to the less fortunate in the form of groceries and support for burials, but residents are of the view that the Association is very successful because it promotes better relationships among community members and encourages them to help each other. In Gall Hill there is a Diabetes Association that holds meetings in the community centre. The Pinelands Community Workshop organizes educational and craft programmes and cultural activities including drama and dancing for children and young people and the Haynesville Youth Club provides opportunities for the youth to showcase their skills and talents, to travel, and to perform at national and regional levels. The Parent Teachers’ Association in Deacons and the Old Scholars Association in Orange Hill are active and provide assistance to the schools. Residents in all of the communities are of the view that government institutions and NGOS could do more to improve conditions in their communities. According to them, the National Housing Corporation could respond to requests for repairs more quickly and do much more to maintain the housing units; the relevant ministry should upgrade and maintain recreational facilities, and the Community Development Department and NGOs should organize community activities to utilize the talents of residents, to provide opportunities for them to improve their self esteem and level of education, to gain skills, and to develop themselves. Within the Institutional Analysis twelve NGOs were studied and their work assessed but in the PPA only two of these, Pinelands Creative Workshop and the YWCA were active in the communities studied. On the other hand other NGOs identified by residents were not looked at in the Institutional Analysis. While government agencies are visible in some form in all of the communities and while residents have identified several of their activities and assess their success or otherwise, the existence of only a small number of NGOs and CBOs operating in the communities that were studied is a matter of concern. Their absence shows that there is a gap in the provision of services needed to complement government’s initiatives intended to improve living conditions and reduce poverty. However while it is important to recognize the important role that NGOs and CBOs can and must play in improving living conditions and reducing poverty, it is equally important to aware of the challenges and constraints with which such organizations are faced. With this in mind serious efforts must be made to support existing NGOS and CBOs and to encourage them to be more active at the community level. 3.4.

The Economic Dimension

The ability of residents to sustain their livelihoods depends on a sound national economy and on opportunities for them to engage in productive activities from which they can earn an income that would allow them to at least meet their basic needs. The recent economic recession and the downturn in the

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

economy, the resulting loss of jobs and difficulties in obtaining employment along with the rising cost of living have made it difficult for many people to meet their basic needs and to sustain their livelihoods. The data show that there are skilled and unskilled workers in all of the communities and that several residents in all of the communities studied are engaged in economic activities in the formal and informal sectors of the economy. In addition some, especially male youth, are also be engaged in and depend on the underground economy to sustain their livelihoods. The data also show that in every community there are a number of residents who are unemployed. While agriculture is still an important contributor to the national economy, the latter has been diversified and there has been shifts in this sector from dependence on sugar cane to production of vegetables and the development of the fishing industry mainly for domestic consumption, including supplying hotels and restaurants. There has also been a shift from agriculture to the creation of a service sector characterized by the development of a tourism industry and a financial services sector. The manufacturing sector and the construction industry are also significant contributors to the national economy. 3.4.1

The Formal Economy

Within the formal economy residents in the communities work in the tourism industry, the public and private sectors, the fishing industry in Six Mens, the construction industry, and the agricultural sector in the rural communities. Several residents in some of the communities including Haynesville, St Matthias, Orange Hill, and Six Mens are employed in the tourism sector. Employment in this sector is usually seasonal and/or part time and most of those employed in this sector work in low paying low skilled jobs. As in other sectors employment in this sector continues to be along gender lines. For example, in the communities studied there are only a few male chefs and most of the males who work in this industry are employed as gardeners and landscapers. On the other hand although the majority of workers in this sector are females they are usually maids and housekeepers in hotels or are waitresses in bars and restaurants. In addition to being employed in low paying jobs, males as well as females who are employed in this sector experience seasonal and transient poverty. “In the tourist season work even though the pay is low, work is there.” “When the tourist season falls, finances are extremely low.” Agricultural activity provides some income for residents in the rural communities of St John’s Locale and St Judes. In the former some people cultivate kitchen gardens, sell some of the produce and use some for home consumption, and a few also raise livestock. However some residents in St John’s were concerned about the reluctance of young people to become involved in agriculture. “I come along and see my mother and grandmother raise pigs and chickens for a living and I continued. It help me out real good.” “The young people not interested in working the land.” In St Judes there are several areas in which vegetables are being grown and several Guyanese men are working in these areas. However some residents in both of these communities pointed out that although

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

there are opportunities on some plantations for picking cotton, pulling potatoes and picking peas, very few people are interested in doing these activities The data show that it is mainly older people in St John’s mainly Guyanese East Indians in St Judes who are actively involved in some agricultural activities, mainly in growing vegetables and in keeping some livestock. Furthermore some people were of the view that many of the residents, especially young people in both of these rural communities are not interested or willing to become involved in agriculture. They suggested that many of the younger residents are more interested in migrating to Bridgetown and/or more urban or to sub-urban areas where they think that there are more lucrative employment opportunities. In Six Mens, the only coastal community, fishing is the main economic activity and according to the fisher folk most of the flying fish is caught in Six Mens. However, they complained about the poor and unacceptable conditions under which they have to work. “We have no proper facilities to scale fish and dispose of the offal.” “There is nowhere to get water, no sanitary amenities, and when the tide is high the sea water comes up into our stalls.” In several of the communities including The Pine, St John’s Locale, Marchfield, Redman’s Village, and Deacons, there are some residents who have white collar jobs in the public and private sectors and in Orange Hill there are several teachers. Residents in St John’s Locale explained that once the young people obtained white collar jobs they tend to leave the community to live in other parishes that are closer to the city. This out migration could in the long run result in depletion of rural communities. The construction industry provides work for a few men in several of the communities and several males in Deacons are involved in a renovation project. On the other hand some in The City complained that work in construction projects in their community was often given to “outsiders” and while they understand that the government cannot provide jobs for everyone they are of the view that they should be given the opportunity to gain an income within projects that are intended to improve their community. “Government could give we a stipend let we do the work in improving the community.” “They could open up contracts and opportunities that make it possible for all.” The manufacturing sector also provides jobs and in a few of the communities women work in the garment industry and in factories. However as in the tourism industry, they are usually employed in low skilled, low paying jobs. 3.4.2

The Informal Economy

Failure of the formal economy to provide employment for all who need jobs has led to the emergence of an informal economy. The informal economy is more flexible than the formal economy and it provides opportunities for persons who may be unqualified for jobs in the formal sector, and for persons who have few marketable skills and are therefore unemployed. It allows such persons to obtain some level of income and individuals involved in this sector move in and out of the sector either in response to their need for financial resources or to meet specific financial needs. However because of its volatility and unpredictability jobs can be part time, short term, seasonal, and therefore be unsustainable. The sector is characterized by a plethora and a wide variety of economic activities. The data show that in every community there are male and female entrepreneurs who own and/or are self employed in small

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

and medium sized businesses and who depend on these activities for an income. Within this sector too several people also do and depend on odd jobs for an income, and some others work at more than one job to supplement their incomes. While there is evidence of some entrepreneurship in all of the communities, in Deacons, in The Pine, in Silver Hill, and in The City entrepreneurship is extremely high and there are large numbers of micro, small, and medium sized enterprises that range from one door shops selling anything from clothes, dry goods, and wrappers for marijuana joints, to larger businesses that may employ one or two persons. “I have to sell wrappers, snacks and cigarettes to send school my children.” There are also barbers, hairdressers, catering services, valet services, bakeries and mechanic shops. In addition several people also do odd jobs either to generate or supplement their incomes. However while some of these activities are lucrative only on a seasonal basis they are not always sustainable. Some males and females in all of the communities find work in the informal sector. However as the formal sectors of the economy, the informal sector is segmented along gender lines with males and females more likely to be engaged in activities that are seen to be appropriate to their gender. Males as well as females are small business owners, shop keepers, and operators of bars or cafes, and in vending. However males are usually involved in traditional male activities as construction workers, taxi drivers and mechanics, barbers and tailors, or in being a handy man and doing odd jobs. On the other hand, women are usually hair dressers, nail technicians, or domestic workers, or they may braid hair, activities that are extension of their gender roles as home makers and care givers. For a significant number of the residents in several of the communities money made from their economic activities in the informal economy is their only source of income. While there is evidence that some enterprises are extremely profitable and that their owners make considerable amounts of money, it is also true that some others are not always profitable or sustainable. “Plait hair to make a $10.00.” “The money not enough it spend before you even get it.” Informal interaction and discussion with some owners of some of these enterprises revealed that even when considerable amounts of money are made, poor financial management and unplanned and sometimes erratic spending patterns contribute to situations of hardship and to people’s inability to meet their financial needs. This suggests that there is an urgent need for economic literacy. 3.4.3

The Underground Economy

The underground economy is a sub-sector of the informal economy that has emerged as many individuals, especially large numbers of young males and females were unable to gain employment in the formal and informal sectors of the economy. This economy is characterized by several illegal activities including the drug trade, gambling and prostitution. However, in spite of the threat of conviction for involvement in these activities several young people are attracted to them because of the possibility of obtaining “quick cash”. Unsuccessful efforts to obtain work in the formal economy have prevented a significant number of people from gaining an income and from being able to meet their basic needs and those of their families. According to some of them this is what made them decide to become involved in illegal activities. For

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

example in the absence of employment and of a male partner to assist in meeting the family’s needs, the onus is on women to provide for children and other members of their households. The data provide some evidence that some unemployed women, including mothers and young girls regard transactional sex as an economic activity and see this as an opportunity to obtain some level of income. “Young girls get used to selling themselves to get money, eventually they don’t see nothing wrong with it.” The data show that in some of the communities there are several unemployed young people who are involved in these activities. In Haynesville some males acknowledged that they see their involvement in the drug trade as a form of self employment. Some residents in The City also acknowledged that illegal activities like drugs, gambling and prostitution are regular sources of income for many people and in Cheshire in the St John’s Locale there is evidence of gambling and selling of drugs at some street corners. Howev er while r esidents in most of the communities are of the view that it is mainly young people who are engaged in illegal activities, in Marchfield there is some evidence that some elderly persons as well as young men get their income from drug trafficking. 3.4.4

Employment and Unemployment

Opportunities to obtain jobs that would pay reasonable wages are essential for survival and for people to be able to meet their basic needs, and residents in all communities identified the need for such jobs. However because employment in permanent well paying jobs is not readily available within several of the communities that were studied, significant numbers of people in all of the communities had to find such employment outside of their communities. “I looking for work. I have not worked for two years. I have children to support.” “I need work but there is no work.” “Job opportunities are low.” “Job opportunities are not available in the area.” “The majority of working age residents is employed outside the Deacons area.” “A lot of people unemployed.” Some residents in St John’s Locale are of the view that while some jobs are available in the community, some people, especially the youth, do not find them attractive or desirable and did not believe that these jobs would allow them to utilize their skills or training. On the other hand residents in Deacons pointed out that while some people don’t bother to work because of limited job opportunities, some who have qualifications have to settle for jobs for which they are overqualified. While there are few job opportunities in St Matthias there are several business places in close proximity and Bridgetown is easily accessible. Consequently a significant number of the residents are employed in various sectors as professionals, but some also work in service industries, in the hotel sector, or as labourers. Like St Matthias, Marchfield is surrounded by several business places, including a Public Market and two supermarkets operating at Six Roads that can offer employment to some residents. However a

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

significant number of residents in Marchfield are civil servants, some others work in hotels and in the retail sector and a small number also work in the agriculture sector. A large number of people in Deacons are civil servants and in St Judes there are a number of professionals and several people there are employed in the public and private sectors, but there also some who are self employed. Several of those employed in the tourism sector work shift or are employed in seasonal and part time jobs. However the data also show that residents in some other communities who are self employed are also affected by seasonal work and that their incomes vary according to the time of year. For example two such persons in The Pine, a hairdresser and a tailor, admitted that during certain festivals like Crop Over, Reggae on the Hill and Christmas they make good money but at other times things are hard. “Around those times of the year I make about $4,000.00 a week. I got so much jobs that I have to turn down some.” “At the beginning of the year jobs hard to find but during the latter part work increases, especially at Christmas.” On the other hand some women who do manicures and braid hair do not always make enough money to prove the needs of their families. “I do nails but that don’t be enough to feed everybody. I does have to leave out myself sometimes.” Many of the residents in The City and T he Pine who call themselves hustlers do not necessarily see themselves as being employed. However they do earn an income from selling snacks, wrappers, and cigarettes and while their incomes are low they are steady throughout the year and those who sell marijuana gain much higher incomes. In every community there are a number of residents who are unemployed and in most cases the majority of these are young people, especially males, and to a lesser extent adult females. “A lot of people unemployed, De men can’t find work.” “The younger generation is unemployed .” “A lot of young people in the community unemployed.” Several reasons were given for this phenomenon. Among these are lack of interest in obtaining employment, the economic recession, lack of skills and experience, low levels of education, discrimination, and social exclusion. In Orange Hill some persons believed that most of the boys on the block who have secondary education are not seeking employment but several of the young men said that they were unemployed because they prefer to be self employed but did not have the necessary resources. Residents in The City are not only concerned about the high level of unemployment but they are also frustrated with their inability to obtain jobs. They complain that people are unwilling to hire them because they do not have the required work experience and employees are asking for a police certificate of character. “Jobs asking for a lot of work experience which we do not have.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“I would love a government job now.” “I not working. When I can I do odd jobs.” Residents in The Pine feel that the economic recession is one reason for the high levels of unemployment but they also identified other reasons for the large numbers of unemployed youth. One of these is the lack of education. It was pointed out that although they all had gone to secondary school some of them are either not interested, had not obtained any CXC certificates, had left school because of financial problems, or had dropped out because of pregnancy. In addition because of lack of experience some who have qualifications and certificates are also unable to obtain work. “I went to Garrison. I have five CXCs”. “I have City and Guilds and other qualifications.” “I am a genral technician, but can only get irregular work.” “Applications ask for five years experience. How we gonna get experience if we can’t get a job?” Residents in some of the communities are not only concerned but they are also angry about the stigma attached to their communities that leads to discrimination and social exclusion. According to them this prevents them from obtaining jobs. Several young residents from The City, Haynesville, The Pine, and Silver Hill shared experiences of being refused jobs for which they qualified because of the stigma attached to the communities in which they live and some residents in Deacons said that its reputation makes it difficult for them to get work. “It difficult to get work once they know you from Haynesville.” “I lost my last job when the boss found out I from Haynesville.” “Fellas feel like outcasts, can’t get jobs, have to change yuh address to get jobs.” “Reputation of Deacons area makes it difficult for some to get work.” A few also shared experiences of being unable to obtain jobs because of having “locks” and of having a criminal record “I ain’t going to get certain jobs because of my locks, but I believe everybody should get a chance.” “Stigma prevent people from getting jobs. It is cultural, Bajans are unforgiving.” Several people in The Pine also shared similar experiences. They pointed out that a number of government offices are located in The Pine but that, except for a few who are employed by the Sanitation Service Authority, few residents have been able to gain employment in any of the other government agencies located nearby. “Even if we qualify we can’t get the job. They discriminate against us because we from The Pine”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“Since I was a little boy I hardly see anybody from around the area that work in them places across the road.” “Less than ten people in the area work for the government organizations surrounding the area.” “Most of them work for sanitation.” Residents in Redman’s Village also believe that they are at a disadvantage because their community is seen as a poor community and because of the stigma attached to it. They cited evidence of this as the reason that work which was formerly available at Sandy Lane Hotel and Golf Course is not now available to them. “Stigma can be frustrating and it unfair.” “It prohibits self development.” Some young men in The City also identified inequality of opportunity as a problem and cited the importance of “knowing somebody” to be able to get a job. “You always got to know somebody.” “It easy for people in the heights and terraces…. the upper class.” Inability to obtain work not only prevents people from gaining an income and from being able to meet their basic needs and those of their families, but it erodes their self esteem and contributes to decisions to become involved in illegal activities. For example in the absence of employment and of a male partner to provide financial assistance, ther e is some evidence that while some women may regard transactional sex to be against their morals, they may engage in it to obtain some level of income and to make ends meet. “It hard when you not working steady and knowing people depending on you.” “In order to make ends meet she has to do things outside her morale code.” The data on employment and unemployment raise important issues that need to be addressed. They show that several people are employed in low paying jobs from which their earnings are insufficient to meet basic needs and this suggests that some attention needs to be given to the issue of minimum wages and to equating value of work with wages being paid. The data on gender segmentation of the labour market also show that “male” jobs in the informal sector and illegal activities in the underground economy activities in which more males are engaged produce higher earnings than jobs like domestic service and hair braiding in which more females are engaged. In addition because more males than females said that they do odd jobs it appears that women either do not or are not inclined to do odd jobs. With regard to unemployment there are also several issues that need to be addressed. Among these are the limited number of job opportunities and of jobs for those seeking work, high levels of unemployment among youth and of under-employment among females and some males. While several people cited few job opportunities and few jobs as one reason for unemployment, the data also suggest some of them were not qualified to get jobs that were available. Reasons for this included low levels of education, few marketable skills, and lack of experience.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Practically everyone who participated in PPA activities are aware of and emphasized the important link between education and the possibility of getting a “good” job and mothers were committed to providing their children with education at the highest level. But the data show that while some of these young people had not completed secondary school and some had not obtained any certificates, they also show that some others who had certificates had still been unable to obtain work. This is a serious concern especially in light of the fact that education at all levels has been free for some time and that most of the young people who participated in PPA activities have some level of secondary education. It raises the question about the relevance of the education being provided to the demands of the labour market. As reported earlier several young people expressed concern about the lack of emphasis placed on technical and vocational skills training within the formal education system. They also expressed concern about some employers’ requirement for “experience” and about the fact that very little in their education had provided them with opportunities to gain such experience. 3.4.5

Access to Credit

While the data do not provide a great deal of evidence on the access and use of credit, in Deacons the large number of vehicles and several instances of home improvement suggests that residents do have access to and use credit. In addition several people did admit to crediting from small shops in their communities from time to time. However, while most of the residents in Orange Hill said that because they do not believe in credit they do not like to borrow from the bank so they work and pay for the things that they need but a few older persons did say that they use the credit union for saving and for borrowing. Some young people did say that they preferred to start their own businesses rather that to be employed but that they had not been able to access loans, and that in any case interest on loans was too high for them. Given the significant number of examples of entrepreneurship observed in some of the communities it would be important to encourage this by providing greater access to credit as well as to other non-financial resources to young people who are so inclined. 3.4.6

Remittances

While the data show that v e r y f e w people in the communities studied depended on remittances, some residents in Orange Hill and Six Mens said that they receive remittances from family overseas and a few in St Judes also receive remittances. However, remittances are not their primary source of income 3.5.

The Social Dimension

The social environment within which people live determines, to a large extent, the quality of their lives and their sense of well being. During the community workshops, and during informal discussions with people in all of the communities and in the group discussions, residents identified positive and negative features of their social environment. According to them in a good social environment there are f e w s o c i a l p r o b l e m s b u t t h er e a r e opportunities to obtain and make use of a good education, to enjoy good health and good social relationships, to have access to facilities and services as well as to supportive social networks. Residents identified ways in which positive as well as negative factors contribute to a healthy or unhealthy social environment within their communities. Among the positive factors that they identified are a pleasing physical and peaceful environment, good and harmonious social relationships, cooperation among community members, a peaceful community with a low incidence of crime and violence, a sense of

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

security, availability and access to facilities and services, and participation in well functioning community groups. 3.5.1

Education

An educated population enhances the social environments in which they live. Education is not only necessary in order to obtain employment but it also increases people’s life chances. The government as well as the population places a great deal of importance on education and a significant amount of the national budget is allocated to this sector so that nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary education are all free and easily accessible. Moreover it is widely believed that the level of literacy in Barbados is very high. No systematic attempt was made during PPA activities to assess the levels of literacy among community residents, but informal discussions with individuals and interaction with and observations of persons as they participated in the community workshops provided opportunities to gain some idea of the level of literacy of some residents. In addition heads of households were asked whether any of their members had problems with reading or writing. Information thus gained suggests that in spite of free and easy access to all levels of formal education, there is some level of functional illiteracy among youth as well as among older persons in some of the communities. Residents in all of the communities recognize the importance of early childhood education and most young children are either in day care centres or nursery schools. There is universal primary and secondary education and attendance at primary and secondary schools is also high. Only a few older persons indicated that they had only primary education so the majority of persons who participated in PPA activities had been to secondary school. However there is some evidence that some children have not been able to make the best use of their secondary education. For example it was said that some girls in the Pine had to drop out of school because of teenage pregnancy, and that some male as well as female students left school without completing or gaining any certificates. Discussions with some young people revealed some of the factors that may have contributed to the latter. Among these are the quality of the education and the attitudes of some teachers and of some students. “When you at school sometimes you don’t get help.” “The teachers don’t really try with you, if you don’t get something, that’s your fault.” “Some teachers have a don’t carish attitude.” “Teachers don’t care about students.” “Some don’t come to class.” “The way some teachers dress distract children.” “There are some young ones that don’t know how to deal with children.” “The students getting the teachers fed up.” In spite of these comments some young people complimented their teachers and pointed out the difference between some in public and some in private schools. According to them while some teachers in

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

the public school only paid attention to those who “want” to learn, some in the private school were willing to help those who needed some extra help. “When I was going to public school you learn if you want to learn, at private school you had to learn.” “Mine was different, I had teachers who were willing to help, if you needed extra help they would give it to you.” In several of the communities there are people who attended tertiary institutions including the Polytechnic, the Community College and the University of the West Indies. “A lot of people trying to uplift themselves and going to evening classes.” “A good set of de young people does go to BBC, or de Polytechnic or even the O Level Institute to further dey education, and yeah a few at university too.” Availability and access to formal education is free and fairly easy to access and great deal of attention is placed on educating children and young people. However the data suggest that less attention is being paid to the education of adults and on providing them with opportunities to participate in non- formal adult education programmes on an on-going basis. In every society it is the adults who are responsible for developing their communities and for ensuring that national development goals can be achieved. It is therefore very important to provide opportunities for adults to upgrade their education, including acquisition of basic literacy, economic literacy, and technological literacy skills, and to motivate and encourage them to participate in non-formal adult and continuing education programmes. Such programmes must however be based on the specific educational needs of different groups of adults and should be made available in all communities across the country. However the data show that few, if any non-formal adult education programmes are being offered in the communities that were studied. Adult and continuing education that encourages and facilitates lifelong learning is now regarded as essential for personal development and for equipping people to function effectively in societies that are characterized by rapid change. The absence and/or the limited availability of adult and continuing education programmes therefore have serious implications for the achievement of personal and national goals. 3.5.2

Health

A healthy physical environment, good nutrition and access to good quality health ca r e are essential for good health. However the data show that the physical environment in several communities is unhealthy and that it has serious implications for the health of residents. Improper garbage disposal, ordour coming from full or uncovered sewage wells, the existence of mosquitoes and rodents, and noise pollution are all having a negative impact on the social environment in many of the communities. In several of the communities studied adults as well as children have a number of health problems and some are suffering from several illnesses. Apart from common colds and the flu children as well as some adults have respiratory diseases including asthma in ten of the communities, and allergies, sinusitis, and eczema

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

in The Pine, Deacons, St John’s Locale, and in St Judes. Moreover it was said that some people in the Pine are suffering from all of these respiratory diseases. “There are a lot of people affected by asthma because of all the cane fires and people burning stuff.” “Second hand smoke is a big problem.” “A lot of dust round hey.” “My son and daughter have asthma and they always complaining bout the dust.” Food is not only a basic need, but good nutrition, including balanced meals, is essential for good health. However people whose economic situation is precarious are often unable to provide enough food or the right kind of food for themselves or their families. Some residents in The Pine are of the view that because of low incomes large numbers of people are unable to have a balanced diet and that some may not even know what a balanced diet is. Poor nutrition also contributes to malnutrition in children and to lifestyle diseases in adults and some respondents in one of the communities believe that the high cost of nutritional products has contributed to malnutrition. The data also show that children in some of the communities, including Redman’s Village and The City are obese and they suggest that some may be suffering from malnutrition. Lifestyle diseases, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are also common among adult males and females in many of the communities. The data show that diabetes is present in all of the communities and that there are people with hypertension in eight. In half of the communities there are elderly persons with arthritis and there are a few with heart disease and strokes, and residents in six of the communities identified the presence of cancer among males and females. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can result from involvement in unprotected sex and in risky sexual behaviours, and residents are generally aware of the dangers of STIs and HIV/AIDS. However, some young as well as older women and men in The City and in Orange Hill are said to have STIs and in St John’s Locale residents are concerned about the existence of HIV/AIDS. Residents in eight of the communities are concerned about the high level of mental illness in their communities and some are of the view that mental illness had resulted from drug addiction. “Dey got a lot of mental illness because of drug abuse.” “My son does give me hell, he head gone to the drugs.” Though the National Health Service treatment and medication for all of these illnesses and diseases are available free of cost at public health facilities and many of those who suffer from them these illnesses and diseases make use of and benefit from the services provided at the General Hospital and at the Polyclinics. However the significant number of persons who have lifestyle diseases is a matter of concern as is the number with respiratory diseases. In addition the existence of some form of mental illness in eight of the communities signals the need for more attention to be paid to this illness, and since drugs were present in all of the communities, it is also important to explore the link between drug use and this phenomenon.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Table 5: Health Problems

Problem Asthma Sinus, allergies, Eczema Arthritis Diabetes Hypertension Stroke Heart disease Obesity HIV/AIDS Cancer Mental illness

1 X X

2 X

3 X

X X

X X X

X X

5 X

X X X X

X X

6 X X X X X X

7 X

8 X

9 X

10 X

X X X

X X

11 X

X X

X X X

X X

X X X X X

X X

X X X X

12 X X

X X X

KEY: 1=Deacons, 2=Haynesville, 3=Marchfield, 4=Orange Hill, 5=Redmans Village, 6=St John’s Locale, 7=St Judes, 8=St Matthias, 9=Silver Hill, 10=Six Mens, 11=The City, 12=The Pine

3.5.3

Social Relations and Support Systems

In every household and in every community, people depend on each other for their survival and for their sense of well-being. Moreover how they relate as well as the quality of their relationships contribute to the social environment in which they live. Relationships within the family, between males and females, between parents and children, and between young people and elderly persons, as well as relationships with neighbours all contribute to the social environment that exists. Relationships within Families Poverty affects relationships within families. Deprivation, hunger, frustration, and anger often results in disagreements over limited resources, as well as conflict, quarreling, abuse, and fighting among families members. In describing and rating positive and negative effects of their living conditions and changes that have taken place in their communities participants in several of the community workshops rated family life as being worse than before. According to them deteriorating morals, broken homes, lack of manners, negative attitudes, and poor treatment of children have contributed to this situation. “Homes are broken and broken badly.” “The majority of persons are being raised in dysfunctional families.” Several people are also of the view that poverty affects relationships between family members in various negative ways. They cited lack of communication, frustration and anger at being unable to meet basic needs, lack of unity as each member tries to survive on his/her own, lack of privacy in overcrowded conditions, and frustration as some of the factors that affect relationships. It was also said that break up of families can result from partners having affairs to bring more money into the household and while domestic violence may be low conflict between partners is common in several households. In some of the communities there are significant numbers of households, including multi-generational households that are headed by single women and in The City there is evidence that grandmothers play a

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

significant role in raising children. It is the opinion of some residents that large numbers of households headed by single women is a significant factor that determines the type of relationships that exist in these households. Gender Relationships Relationships between males and females are influenced by societal norms and by societal expectations about what is believed to be acceptable behaviour for males and females. Consequently while it is expected and accepted by many that marriage is/should be the norm, the data show that common law and visiting relationships are common. The majority of the respondents who are in a relationship with the opposite sex said that their relationship is either very good or good but for some this is not the case. So that while in Redmans Village gender relations are said to have improved residents in a few other communities believed that relationships between men and women were bad. In addition in one of the communities, where this is the norm, there was some concern about relationships between older men and young girls. Sex plays an important role in male-female relations and often women have to negotiate sexual relationships. In a few communities a few women admitted to engaging in transactional sex for money and in The City where prostitution is a fairly common activity, reference was made to the role of sex as a commodity being traded. “Nothing is for free. Everything is a trade. When you give a man sex you are trading something with him.” There is some evidence that poverty also creates tension in male-female relationships that these can become strained and stressful, and that domestic violence could result. When one or other partner cannot provide it can sometimes causes either to seek other partners and this can lead to unfaithfulness, jealousy and resentment which sometimes can escalate in abuse and violence. The issue of domestic violence and abuse of women, including verbal and financial abuse, raises questions about the need of the abuser to exert power and control over the victim. However while some residents agreed that domestic conflict is fairly common, they believe that there are low levels of domestic violence, so only a small number of respondents admitted to be victims of domestic violence. “I have not been in a relationship for a long time. My partner pushed me and I retaliated, but I was taken to court.” This statement has legal implications. For example it raises the question about whether retaliation by female victims of domestic violence against the abuser can or should be regarded as “self defense”. The data show that in many of the communities the social interaction between males and females is determined by segregation of the sexes and by meeting in same sex groups. For example in some communities like The Pine while large numbers of males usually gather outdoors to “lime” the majority of women remain indoors, and when females did gather outdoors their groups were usually smaller than those of the males. Similarly in Haynesville females tend to stay indoors and are not usually seen on the blocks with their partners.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Parent-Child Relationships Residents in several of the communities believe that relationships between parents and children have deteriorated and while several parents said that they have no problems with their children some did admit that their children are rude, disobedient, and delinquent. Residents in many of the communities are of the view that parents are not taking responsibility for their children’s upbringing. According to residents in Gall Hill in St John’s Locale, lack of proper parenting is contributing to children being rude and disrespectful to adults in general and to their parents in particular. They cited instances of parents using abusive language in the presence of their children and not correcting their children when they use similar language. Residents in The Pine also commented on the lack of respect shown by children to their parents and that shown by some parents to their children and in The City children learn and are adopting unacceptable behaviours like gambling from their parents. “Parents use abusive language in the presence of their children.” “The language that does come out of the young people mouth is very filthy and disgusting.” “Some parents do not prevent their children from using abusive language in their presence.” “Parents show children how to gamble.” “Parents need to look after the welfare of their children from a baby and not wait until they are young men and women.” Residents in Redman’s Village also commented on the relationships between children and their parents which they saw as worse than before. Some are of the view that parents are spoiling their children by giving them everything they want and that children are talking back to their parents. “When parents can’t afford to give children what they want, children vex and does quarrel and get on bad.” “Children does talk back like dem and duh parents in the same clique.” However in St Judes parent child relationships are said to be harmonious and children seem to be polite and obedient and in The City some parents some parents do try to instil values in their children. It was also said that even when some parents in The Pine are struggling to survive they do not neglect their children. Neglect and lack of supervision of children is a matter of concern in Deacons where several very young children under the age of ten can be seen on the street without adult supervision. However this was not the case in St Judes where parents were seen supervising their children at play. Many adults were of the view that poor parenting and especially parents’ inability to control and train their children have been responsible for behaviours and attitudes being displayed by young people. Relationships between Youth and Elderly In St Judes this relationship appears to be good and at least one elderly resident complimented the young people on their willingness to help older persons. “The young people helpful, even the children will get me de newspaper from the shop”.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

On the other hand another elderly resident commented on the disrespect shown by some of the younger residents, and some young people pointed to the distance in the relationships between youth and elderly persons who in their view are unresponsive to their overtures. In Marchfield and in Gall Hill in St John’s Locale relationships between youth and elderly persons is said to be poor. In the former there is tension between the young men who lime on the block and the older men. However while the latter feel that it is dangerous to approach the youth of today, the youth are of the view that the older people are too self righteous. In St Matthias one resident commented on her relationship with young people. “Young people no good.” “If you speak to them you might be placing yourself in physical danger.” “Not pleased with children and grand children, they curse me and treat me bad.” In Gall Hill in St John’s Locale youth and elderly persons are both concerned about the lack of respect shown by the other. The youth feel that older residents constantly scrutinize them, are negative about them, find fault with everything that they do and cry them down. Meanwhile some of the younger residents, especially the males, felt that they are discriminated against because of how they dress and carry themselves and in Silver Hill the generation gap is characterized by lack of communication between older and young persons “Some of de older people does hold grudges, they does discriminate against we.” “Dey like to dis we lifestyle.” “Trying to communicate with youth, they say you old and we in different times.” Relationships between Neighbours Good relationships between neighbours contribute to a sense of community, to community cohesion and a sense of togetherness but negative relationships can destroy these. While residents in Redmans Village feel that relationships between neighbours is not good because people don’t look out for each other as before, residents in The City do not generally mix or interact with their neighbours but they do get along and will sometimes help each other. “Neighbours get along, no fighting or arguing.” “Everybody do their own thing, not much mixing.” On the other hand while residents in Orange Hill live closely with and respect each other, those in Six Mens said that although more people want to be on their own, neighbours are united and will come together on the issue of land ownership. In Haynesville there is a tendency for everyone to see about themselves and neighbours tend to seek help from each other only in times of desperate need, but neighbours in Marchfield look out for each other. In Gall Hill relationships between neighbours are said to be relatively good, neighbours relate to each other and the communities are close knit, but residents believe that conflicts are a natural part of existence. This is reflected in attitudes towards different areas within the community. For example in St John’s Locale,

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

residents in Gall Hill #1 and #3 have a negative view about and attitudes towards those who live in Gall Hill #2 and do not socialize with them. However residents in Church View envied those in Gall Hill because according to them all of the facilities and resources are located in Gall Hill and the residents there act as if the facilities and resources are theirs alone. Relationships on the Blocks In several of the communities, especially those in which housing units are divided into blocks, the community is usually divided and relationships between residents who live in different blocks differ significantly. In some of the communities there are significant differences in the relationships between residents in the same block as well as between residents of different blocks. For example in one block relationships may be good and neighbours will look out for and support each other, but in another there could be strife and jealousy among neighbours. In The Pine the area studied is divided into three blocks and each block has a name that distinguishes it from the other two blocks. Within each block residents see themselves as part of a group and it is said that they live like family and even though they may have disagreements, they get along well. On the other hand relationships between members of the different blocks are sometimes conflictual and confrontational. For example although the older residents will interact with peers from other blocks, younger people between the ages of sixteen and thirty five years do not generally mix or associate with those who do not live in their block or belong to their group. This is also the case in Silver Hill where there is said to be segregation “Both men and women from down here do not deal with the people up there.” “The men from out here do not venture across the field and do not mix with the people from the other side.” “You ent going find any of them coming down here.” There is some evidence of strong relationships within individual blocks and people not only relate well but support and look out for each other. On the other hand in some of the blocks there is strife and jealousy and evidence of delinquency and indiscipline, especially among younger members. There is also evidence that in some blocks violence and the sale, use and abuse of drugs is common. “This block want to kill people from the next block and then the next block banning yuh from coming out dey.” Blocks are not only limited to the housing areas but exist in other communities where young males congregate on a street corner. In Gall Hill social interaction was also gender and age specific as older males meet around the rum shop and younger ones congregate on the block and interaction within these groups is healthy. However several females in the community are of the view that the patterns of behavior being displayed by the males are negative. They are particularly concerned about activities in which the males are involved including gambling, drinking, using and selling illegal drugs.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Networks and Support Systems Social networks and support systems are useful mechanisms for ensuring that people can survive in times of need and emergency. Apart from government agencies and churches, there are few formal networks and support systems in most of the communities. The data show that a significant number of residents in the eight of the communites studied rely on the former for support and that churches in a five of the communities do provide assistance to members who may be in need. Informal networks and support by and assistance from family, relatives, friends and neighbours usually depend on the relationships that exist between individuals and several residents in St Judes admitted that when in need they relied on family and peer support. Residents in The City rely on family members for support, especially for child rearing and child care, and some women in The Pine said that they depend on friends and family to get by. In some of the communities there is also evidence that some residents take initiatives to provide assistance to individuals who might be in need. In six of the communities residents share food, in St John’s Locale individuals share produce from their gardens, and residents in Redmans Village organize fund raising activities to assist individuals with health challenges. In those communities in which there are “blocks” and gangs there are several informal networks through which members obtain tangible as well as intangible support. Among the latter is a sense of belonging and close knit relationships. However some residents in The Pine commented on the unwillingness of residents to help each other because of the divisions within the community. “The youth depend on support from members of the gang.” “The community is divided so nothing is in place for people to assist each other.” 3.5.4

Social Problems

The social environment of any community can be polluted social problems and the data not only show that several problems exist in all of the communities but that females as well as males, and that older people as well as youth are involved in these activities. However several people in all of the communities are concerned about the negative impact of these problems on life in their communities. As can be seen in the table below, drugs were identified as problems in all of the communities and theft and prostitution are problems in ten. Alcoholism and gambling are problems in eight of the communities, and delinquency a problem in seven, and gangs and gun violence are fairly common activities in four of the communities.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Table 6: Social Problems

Problem Drugs Alcoholism Gangs and gang related violence Gambling Theft Teenage pregnancy Child neglect and abuse including Incest Prostitution Indiscipline and delinquency Verbal abuse

1 X X

2 X

3 X X

4 X X

5 X X

6 X X

7 X X

8 X

9 X X

X X

X X X X

X X

X X X

X X X X

X X

10 X X X

11 X X

12 X X X

X X X

X X

X X X X

X X

KEY: 1=Deacons, 2=Haynesville, 3=Marchfield, 4=Orange Hill, 5=Redmans Village, 6=St John’s Locale, 7=St Judes, 8=St Matthias, 9=Silver Hill, 10=Six Mens, 11=The City, 12=The Pine

There is evidence that some residents, i n c l u d i n g s e v e r a l young people and some young children in many of the communities are involved in a number of illegal activities, but residents in some of the communities said that many of the individuals who are involved in illegal activities are not residents but rather that they come from outside of the community. “School children are regularly on the blocks engaging in illegal activities.” “A lot of children turn to illegal activities.” “A lot of people who cause trouble don’t live in the area, they come in from outside.” “When you hear bout something bad happen in Gall Hill like stealing it don’t be we it does be men from outside St John.” Use and trafficking of drugs are common activities in all of the communities and are done quite openly in some. For example in St John’s Locale and in some of the other communities marijuana is easily available and can be bought in shops or on the street and residents in several of the communities are concerned about the large numbers of young people, including children, who are either selling or smoking marijuana, or doing both. “A seven year boy using drugs.” “Use of drugs passed on from adults to children.” While it is widely believed that mostly young males are involved in selling and smoking marijuana, the data show that in some of the communities including The Pine and The City females and some older people are also involved in these activities. In The City there is a “drug house” operating directly opposite the Primary School and one of the teachers expressed concern about the negative impact that activities, including loud cursing, that take place there have on the school.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Participants in the workshops held in St Jobn’s Locale and in Redman’s Village provided evidence of the negative effect of excessive use of drugs on relationships and on health. According to them indulgence in these activities can cause tension between family members and neighbours and can result in mental illness. “Criminal activity like gambling and drug use causes a lot of tension between family members and neighbours.” “Two young men in the area are mentally ill as a result of drugs. They roam the streets and threaten people.” In The Pine the existence of gangs, gang rivalry, and gun related violence is evident in the number “shoot outs” reported and in bullet holes in several walls. Gang related violence is also common in The City and the existence of gangs and gang related activities in Silver Hill cause some residents to feel afraid and insecure. “Almost every night there are gun shots.” “You hear that this body get shoot.” “At night I don’t go outside for no one to shoot me.” “I do not walk about the community because I fraid that someone would shoot me.” “Everybody ain’t scared it affects everyone differently, the old people is the ones that frighten.” Although neglect and abuse of children was only identified in four of the communities, residents in one of these communities revealed that incest occurs regularly in their community, and in another they are instances when some parents put sixteen year olds out because they did not have jobs. Residents in a few of the communities are a l s o concerned about homosexuality and about sexual abuse of young boys. However recent research on “Child Abuse in the Caribbean: Issues for Barbados” indicated that child abuse is under reported and that while it is difficult to determine its extent, it appears to be escalating. For example, on the 3rd of October 2006 the Nation Newspaper indicated that 226 cases of child sexual abuse were reported to the Child Care Board and that this was thirty more cases than during the previous year. The research undertaken by UNICEF also shows that while that the degree of poverty increases vulnerability to sexual exploitation, the phenomenon is prevalent among all socio-economic groups. At the same time while most of the victims are females, there is also a trend of older men sexually exploiting and abusing young boys and as can be seen from the comment above some people in some of the communities are concern about this trend. “If I had a boy child out dey I won’t send my child to that school because of bulling” “Some young boys…….” Very little information was provided about domestic violence but residents in some of the communities did say that it was difficult to discern this since it may be taking place behind closed doors. Only in St John’s Locale was reference made to sexual abuse of women and to rape and residents there are concerned about the fact that a woman was raped and that no one has been arrested for the offence. “Dey got a rapist on the loose! A woman get rape and up to now nobody ain’t get ketch.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

The data show that prostitution exists in ten of the communities and suggest that sexual intercourse with multiple partners may be a common practice. Nelson Street in The City is known as the “Red Light District” and is frequented by significant numbers of prostitutes. Young as well as older women are involved in prostitution and even though some women may not like it, because of few options and lack of employment they use it as a strategy to obtain money. “Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.” “A lot of young women have turned to prostitution to feed their children and to support their drug habits.” While residents in some communities are of the view that teenage pregnancy is low those in six communities identified it as a problem and some people in Redman’s village believe that it is on the increase. Residents in The Pine said that many of the young women there had their first child before they were twenty and that some teenagers have more than one child. In addition they identified cases where a mother and her daughter were pregnant at the same time. In The City it was said that a lot of young girls get pregnant because the men do not use condoms and the girls would not go to the Family Planning Association although it was “just around the corner”. As a result some young people who are still children are having children. The data show that in the communities studied there are only a few instances of Sexually Transmitted Infections or of HIV/AIDS. However unprotected sex, either with one or with multiple partners, can expose women to physical and sexual abuse, can result in early and/or multiple pregnancies and can put them at risk of contacting Sexually Transmitted Infection and HIV/AIDs. Moreover according to information provided by residents in one of the communities in which prostitution and teenage pregnancies are fairly common, many males and females are having unprotected sex and are not using contraceptives. This not only raises the question about the effectiveness of the programmes of the Family Planning Association and of the HIV/AIDS Council, but suggests that in order to reach residents, but especially young males and females in the communities studied, these organizations may need to explore and use new, alternative and creative gender specific strategies Residents in all of the communities are concerned about what they see as high levels of indiscipline and delinquency among young people, and especially among young males. Some residents in The City agreed that a lot of people are lacking in discipline so that even when some get jobs they fight and smoke weed on the job. In Deacons children display high levels of rebellion especially at school, but it is believed that this type of negative behavior being displayed by some children begun after their relatives had been incarcerated. 3.6.

The Political Dimension

When asked about the political dimension of life in their communities, residents in all of the communities interpreted this in relation to the existence of political parties and to their participation in national politics. In some communities including St Matthias, Six Mens and St Judes participation in politics is low and while some said that their participation is limited to involvement around election time, some others believe that politics is a waste of time and do not vote, but residents in Haynesville said that because their community is targeted by political figures a large number of political activities take place there and political debates among residents are fairly common.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Residents in St John’s Locale expressed some interest in politics but according to them, although they had been neglected by the previous political party when it was in government, they were hopeful that things would be better with the current political administration. One Member of Parliament lives in Marchfield and a Minister of Government has an office there, but although older members of the community are very interested in politics and actively participate in political activities, young people are uninterested and do not participate. Information provided by residents in some of the communities suggests that many people not only expect the government to meet some of their basic needs, but that they depend on their Representatives to do so especially to provide housing and jobs. However , r esidents in several of the communities commented on and expressed their disappointment with the performance of their Parliamentary Representatives. In St Judes there is a concern that the Representative is not often seen in the community and residents in Silver Hill are disappointed and frustrated by their representative’s lack of response to their needs and also by his many broken promises. Even though The Pine had been represented by the same person for a number of years, many people there also said that they did not want to hear about politics. Residents in Redman’s Village and in The City are also dissatisfied with their Representative because in their view he has done nothing for the area. “If it is anything political I don’t wanna hear cause all they ever do is put you on fair promises.” “He came round election time going from house to house but now you don’t see him at all.” “We have not seen the Minister since he got in.” “He (the Parliamentary Representative) not operating in our best interest, he become invisible since he elected.” “We ain’t want to hear nor see de politicians.” “He give me a birthday card but I don’t want a card, I want money.” “He making promises and mockery of people.” At the micro community level community leaders usually have some influence and power that they can use to allocate community resources and to mediate and resolve conflicts within the community. However the data show that only some residents in a few of the communities were willing to identify leaders, and that those identified were all male. In The Pine young males who are leaders of “the blocks” and gangs are recognized as leaders and in Redmans Village heads of the sports clubs are regarded as leaders. While residents in the various areas of St John’s Locale were unable to identify community leaders there seemed to be a leader in Gall Hill, but the young men there said that he was no help to the community or to them and that he discriminated against them because of how they dressed and wore their hair. While residents in most of the communities were reluctant to identify community leaders this does not necessarily mean that there are no leaders in the communities. Their ability and/or unwillingness to identify leaders may be because they believe that leaders are national figures and mostly politicians, persons who in their view visibly hold and wield power.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

3.7.

The Cultural Dimension

While all of the communities studied display characteristics of the national culture some communities have also developed several specific cultural characteristics and related activities and celebrations that are evidence of sub-cultures. National culture was seen as related to activities like drama and dance as well as to activities like Crop Over, Christmas, and national sporting activities like cricket. School and church fairs are also part of the culture in many communities There is a cultural group in St John’s Locale but some people in St Judes commented on the decline in cultural activities. On weekdays most communities are quiet and cultural activity is mostly visible at nights and on weekends. As night falls and on the weekends communities like The City and The Pine come alive and parties and street jams w i t h loud music from huge speakers have become common there. Residents in The Pine said that between January and March last year (2009) there had been over thirty street jams. In some of the other communities including Orange Hill and Marchfield some older residents, most of whom are men, meet on Friday and Saturday nights to spend their leisure time drinking, and playing dominoes and card games. In several of the communities too, sub cultures have developed and have led to residents’ involvement in specific activities that define their communities. One such sub-culture has resulted from the creation of blocks with distinctive cultural characteristics. Blocks are usually street corners at which mainly young unemployed males gather to “lime”, to interact with their peers, and to engage in activities that are sometimes illegal, including gangs, drugs, violence, and harassment of passersby. Clothes are an important aspect of any culture and the block culture is characterized by certain types of dress. Consequently many of the young men who lime on the blocks or are members of a gang sport brand name clothes and “bling”, many also wear their pants well below their waists with their under wear showing, and some wear bandanas in distinctive colours around their heads. However this type of clothing is not limited to those on the blocks and several other young men who live in communities where there are no blocks can also be seen wearing similar clothes. Another characteristic of the block sub-culture is the existence of gangs and in some of the communities gangs “own” and control certain blocks and the data show that members of some block do on occasion provide support to others in the community and that they therefore have some positive impact especially on the lives of some young people. On the other hand, several residents in communities in which there are blocks are concerned about the negative impact of the block and gang culture on the social environment of their communities and about its potential to develop and produce “leaders” whose power and largess could result in excessive and dangerous control of community resources. The data show that in many of the communities traditional CBOs are few and that where they do exist younger residents do not generally participate in their activities. They also show that the blocks do provide opportunities for young people, mostly males, to interact in positive ways and to pursue some legal activities that are of common interest, including sports, music and street jams. Within the blocks members build strong relationships and develop a sense of belonging that many young people feel is missing from their lives because of rejection by the wider society. It is therefore important to ask whether the emergence and existence of blocks should or could be regarded as a “new and different kind” of Community Based Organization? Which of their members, needs are they

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

meeting? Do they have the potential to meet some of the practical and psychological needs of young people, and can their potential be harnessed to improve the social environment in which they exist? However during one town hall meeting a participant raised the issue of the possibility of block and gang leaders usurping government’s role by becoming the sole authority in their communities and questioned the implications of this. Given this a closer look must be taken at the activities of blocks and of gangs and attempts made to assess their activities and their legitimacy. Another sub-culture observed in a few of the communities is that which is based on the Rastafarian religion of which dreadlocks are a distinctive characteristic. In Haynesville, several males as well as females have dreadlocks and for some this is part of their religious beliefs. However there are also others in this and other communities for whom dreadlocks are just another hairstyle. In addition to the existence of sub-cultures there is also a growing trend of multi-culturalism especially in communities like The City in which there are significant numbers of immigrants whose culture is s o m e w h a t different from the national culture. Residents in The City pointed out that because of the number of immigrants in their community there are a variety of cultural activities including celebration of Diwali and other religious activities by East Indians who are either Hindus or Muslims. Some immigrants from other Caribbean countries like Haiti, St Lucia and Jamaica also engage in cultural practices that are characteristic of these countries. On another level observation and informal discussions with residents in several of the communities revealed signs and trends of some aspects of American culture. 3.7.1

Changes in the Last Ten Years

During the community workshops participants identified changes that had taken place in their communities over the last ten years. They then discussed the reasons for the changes and their impact on life and living conditions in their communities. They also ranked the changes in terms of whether they were better, worse, or the same now or as they were then. In most cases workshop participants were divided into two groups, younger and older people. The older people reminisced on the “good old days” and the many changes, good and bad, that had taken place in their communities. When the changes were discussed, many of the younger participants were surprised to learn about how their communities had been previously. Aspects of life and living conditions that were identified and compared included infrastructure, availability of jobs and levels of employment, access to resources educational opportunities and levels of education, relationships, community spirit and participation in community activities, crime, drugs, and violence. Residents in most of the communities are of the view that physical and material dimensions in their communities are better now than they were a decade ago. However while there is evidence of this by improvements in housing, infrastructure, and utilities, residents in some communities pointed out the need for further improvements in housing including repairs of some existing government housing units, in road repairs, and in better drains and drainage. In all of the communities there is agreement that health services are better now than before, and in some communities residents agreed that there has also been some improvement in the people’s nutritional status because people are being educated about how to eat better. Land and credit are two resources that can be used as mechanisms to obtain money. In many of the communities, residents own the land on which they live and in the last ten years access to land has not changed. However in Six Mens everyone raised the issue of land ownership and the difficulties being

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

experienced in this area. Information provided by residents in several communities suggests that while access to credit is now more available than before ability to use it sometimes depends on collateral and ability to repay. Residents in Six Mens linked lack of land ownership to their inability to access credit especially in the form of bank loans. Consequently while some see access to this resource as better others see it as worse. According to residents in all of the communities the economic dimension of life in their communities is worse than it was ten years ago. They said that while more jobs may be available, opportunities to obtain jobs are fewer and that this has contributed to higher levels of unemployment and underemployment so that while some people do earn low incomes many do not earn any income at all. As a result in most of the communities there are people who do not have enough money to meet their basic needs and to sustain their livelihoods. With regard to the social sphere, workshop participants acknowledged that there have been some positive changes including significant increases in educational opportunities and in levels of education and that generally more people are better educated than before. One significant change mentioned was the introduction, availability, and widespread use of technology and there is evidence that computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices are common and that many people own them. However, workshop participants highlight several significant changes that have resulted in deterioration in the social environment over the last ten years. The number of social problems they identified shows that over the last ten years significant changes have taken place in the social environment. They identified increases in illegal activities including crime and the use and abuse of drugs, i n violence, i n noise pollution, and i n t h e use of obscene language, and these were regarded as one of the main reasons for the social environment being worse than it was a decade ago. In addition the existence of blocks that provide places for young males to congregate and spend most of their time, and in some communities the increase in teenage pregnancies and sexual relationship between older men and young girls and boys and absence of productive community activities were also seen as the reason for as well as the consequence of deterioration in morals over the last ten years. Family life and relationships, especially parent child relationships, were believed to be worse than there were ten years ago and while a few participants did not see any change in gender relations some believed that these are worse and others believed that they are now better. In addition, although neighbours are said to be willing to help each other, many participants also believed that many more people are now only concerned about themselves and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look out for each other. Because of this they rated community spirit, cooperation among neighbours and participation in communities as worse than previously. The changes that residents have observed and experienced over the last decade are evidence of the ways in which changes can and do influenced life and living conditions in every community and in the country as a whole. Moreover as the data show, while people in communities may be able to change some aspects of their lives and the conditions under which they live, there are some changes like economic and structural changes that may have a negative impact on them but over which they have little, if any control. 3.8.

Wealth and Poverty

The conditions under which people live provide indicators that can be used to determine the types and levels of wealth and poverty that exist in a community. By participating in various PPA activities residents

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

in all of the communities had opportunities to describe and assess levels and wealth and poverty in their communities. 3.8.1

Definition, Types and Levels of Poverty

Residents in every community agree that poverty is a situation in which people cannot meet their basic needs, provide for their families, or pay their bills. However in addition to basic needs they identified several other factors that contribute to poor living conditions and to poverty. Among these are unemployment, lack of money, single parents with large numbers of children, lack of knowledge of systems, access to and mismanagement of resources, living below a certain standard, and having to face hardships and to struggle. The words poverty and poor have a certain stigma attached to them that can make those who are categorized as being poor feel embarrassed and ashamed and cause them to deny that they are poor. Evidence of this can be seen by the comments made by some respondents who while they may be poor prefer to be seen as less fortunate and not to be labeled poor. Some who are poor say that even though they are struggling to survive they are not poor. However the data do show that there are various types and levels of poverty in all of the communities that were studied. Among these are relative, public, and intergenerational poverty. Residents in most of the communities recognized the existence of some relative poverty because according to them, even though they might be poor there were people who were worse off than they were. They also believed that there was little, if any absolute poverty in their communities but small number of cases of absolute poverty and of destitution were found during the field work. On the other hand, the data show that there is virtually no public poverty because all of the communities are either well supplied or have access to facilities and services provide by the government. However all of the communities have felt the effects of structural poverty because of changes in the national economy, including changes from an agricultural economy to one that is now based on tourism and other service industries. While these changes have provided more job opportunities, many residents in the communities studied have been unable to obtain jobs in some of these sectors, and many of those who work in these sectors are employed in low skilled jobs and earn low wages. The data also show that there is some transient poverty as people who work in seasonal and part time jobs, especially in the tourism sector, move in and out of poverty especially during the off seasons. There is also evidence of c h r o n i c , i n t e r -generational poverty in some of the communities and several individuals shared experiences of growing up in poor families and of living in poor conditions over a long period of time. Residents in all of the communities are aware of factors that contribute to poor living conditions as well as to levels of wealth and poverty. They identified economic factors like the current recession, unemployment, limited number of job opportunities and of jobs, insufficient income, and high cost of living as factors that contribute to and determine the conditions in which people live and which determine whether they would experience poverty or not. They are also aware that the type, condition and the size of house in which people live as well as the number of people living in the house are good indicators of living conditions and of wealth and poverty. Food is a basic need and the inability to provide sufficient and the right kind of food is easily seen and acknowledged as a good indicator of poverty. On the other hand health status and the ability to afford good

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

health care is another indicator, but few people except elderly persons and persons with disabilities, regard this as a contributor to and consequence of poverty. This is probably so because just looking is not sufficient to find out whether individuals are in good health or not. During the community workshops participants were provided with an indicator matrix that focused on the following four indicators: financial status, food security, housing, and health. These four indicators were used by workshop participants to suggest the number of persons in their communities who in their view were either very poor, poor, better off or rich. The outcome of this exercise was the realization by participants that even with identifiable indicators it is not always possible to accurately estimate various levels of poverty and wealth in a community. Informal discussions with residents and interviews with individuals with some influence and with heads of households also provided information about factors that contribute to poor living conditions and to the types and levels of poverty that exist in the communities. An analysis of the data produces useful insights about these phenomena in the various communities. For example, the data show that while the highest levels and greatest severity of poverty are in The City, in parts of the Pine and in parts of St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Locale, there is some degree of poverty in all of the communities. They also show that in all of the communities there are some people who are living in unacceptable conditions, and there are people who are unable to meet their basic needs. So that while residents in all of the communities did not identify anyone who was rich, residents in most of the communities identified some individuals who were better off. St Judes and Orange Hill are considered to be middle class with little if any poverty, and while residents in both of these communities did say that there are one or two individuals who are poor, they also said the living conditions of the majority are good and that there also are a few individuals who are wealthy. Deacons, Haynesville and Six Mens are said to have moderate levels of poverty and while there may be a few people who are better off there are pockets of poverty in these communities and there are several residents who are poor and some who are living hand to mouth. In these communities there are also several people who are unemployed and some others who work for minimum wages that are insufficient to meet their basic and financial needs. There are also are a number of single mothers who cannot adequately provide for their children. In Marchfield there are several professionals and people who are better off and living conditions appear to be generally good but there are also a number of people who are financially poor. In addition some people live from pay cheque to pay cheque, and are unable to save and to meet their needs and there are also some pockets of severe poverty and some people are living in unacceptable conditions. In Redmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Village there are several single parents and elderly persons living in poverty some without enough food and other basic needs. In the area where they live there are signs of very poor living conditions including dirt tracks and dilapidated houses without amenities. However while poverty is visible in this part of Redmans Village an adjacent community is obviously better off. Although a few people in St Matthias are better off, the majority is poor and there is evidence of intergenerational poverty and several residents are living in conditions that contribute to a low standard of living. In addition because of high levels of unemployment and underemployment some are living hand to mouth, so it is difficult for them to meet their basic needs and it is a struggle to survive.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

In St John’s Locale while there are a significant number of residents who are better off there are also all types and levels of poverty, including inter-generational poverty, poverty among poor whites and a few individuals who are destitute. In some of the areas studied several individuals are living in poor conditions, have little food and cannot meet their other basic needs, and some children are unable to go to school regularly because they lack necessary things. Among some of the poorer residents are a number of poor whites many of whose families had been poor. A few of these as well as a few other residents are of the view that they will always be poor, they not only accept this but they lack the means as well as the motivation to improve their situation. In Silver Hill while there some pockets of wealth and while several people appear to be better off, but there are also pockets and significant levels of poverty. Among those who are either poor or very poor are a large number of single women with children, some of whom do not receive any support from their children’s fathers. In addition while a large number of residents are unemployed, in some households even when only one person may be working income is usually insufficient to meet basic needs, including food. In spite of the fact that in The City there are a small number of residents who own businesses and have resources that make them better off, there is also severe poverty. However this is not as noticeable in the area close to Bay Street as in some of the other areas where poor and inadequate housing and overcrowding is common, where living conditions are poor, where unemployment is high, and where, because of several social problems, the social environment is unhealthy. Many people therefore find it difficult and challenging to survive and some resort to begging or to other unsavory activities to provide for their families. In T he Pine there are also high levels of poverty, including i n t e r -generational poverty and in some cases the poverty is severe and many people are barely surviving and the social environment is also unhealthy. M o r e o v er , in spite of evidence of entrepreneurship there are also high levels of unemployment and lack of steady incomes so many people are unable to meet their basic needs and some do not have enough food. There are also a few mothers are unable to send their children to school regularly. An analysis of the data on poverty and wealth show that there is some level of poverty in all of the communities studied, but that while there are no wealthy people in any of the communities, in several of the communities there are some people who are better off. However , while there are only a small number of individuals who are destitute, the degree and severity of poverty are higher in some communities than in others. In a few of the communities poverty is severe and some residents are very poor but in several a larger number of people are poor than are very poor. “Yes the majority of people in this community poor.” “No good clothes to wear or food to eat every day.” “Yes we poor we not in a position to help ourselves.” In addition to poor living conditions, especially poor housing and overcrowding, and to unemployment and lack of financial resources, residents in some communities identified several other factors that contribute to poverty. Among these are lack of or low levels of education, few marketable skills, dependency on family members or on government welfare, living in a community that is perceived to be poor, acceptance of being poor and lack of motivation to improve their situation.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

3.8.2

Experience, Effect and Impact of Poverty

People in the communities who are living in poor conditions and who are experiencing poverty described the impact of these phenomena and the effects that they have on all aspects of their lives. According to respondents, children and women, especially single mothers, and people with disabilities are thos e most affected by poverty. Children and persons with disabilities have to depend on others for their survival and a significant number of women, especially those who are single parents, are burdened with the responsible for providing for their families. Information provided by women and by persons with disabilities draws attention to the ways in which these vulnerable groups are affected by poverty. Children Children living in poverty are affected physically, developmentally, emotionally, and psychologically. Some poor children live in overcrowded houses with a limited number of amenities including lack of access to a computer, and some others are unable to attend school on a regular basis. Children are dependent on their parents for their survival but parents of some poor children unable to provide them with clothes, school supplies and balanced meals. As a result they may be malnourished and malnutrition would not only affect their health, it can also limit their ability to concentrate on their schoolwork. Their physical development may also be stunted and they could suffer psychological damage from being stigmatized and discriminated against at school. Information obtained also showed evidence that in order to obtain money some children become involved in illegal activities including crime and drug abuse at an early age. This leaves them open to exploitation and abuse. Women A significant number of women, especially single mothers with large numbers of children, and teenage mothers who are living in poverty face many challenges in order to provide for their children and to meet the basic needs of their families. They are solely responsible for their families but many of them are unemployed. They therefore adopt a number of survival strategies. For example many of them therefore have no choice but to accept low-paying jobs and sometimes to work at more than one job. However the income that they get from these jobs is still often insufficient to enable them to improve their living conditions, to provide for their families, to sustain their livelihoods or to move out of poverty. On the other hand because women have been socialized to believe that they can rely on a man for money, some adopt a strategy of having children from more than one man. However many women said that the men with whom they had children do not provide any financial support for their children. As a result a number of women are left with more children than they are able to provide for. Being solely responsible for their families and the burden of care to which this contributes, also affects their health in negative ways. In addition to being stressed and anxious about how to manage, having sex with multiple partners exposes them to risks of contacting STIs or HIV/AIDS, and it can sometimes cause them to be subjected to abuse and violence. The data also show that in order to provide for their children some poor women become engaged in activities that may be against their morals, including prostitution and drug trafficking. Living in poor conditions and in poverty also erodes womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self esteem and self worth and it prevents them from achieving what they want in life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Women have to take on full responsibility.â&#x20AC;?

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“Women will do anything to have food and shelter for themselves and their children.” “Sleep with men for de piece a change.” “Being poor makes me feel unimportant.” “It silenced my voice.” “Being poor prevents me from going out how I would like with my friends.” People with Disabilities There are people with disabilities in some of the communities studied and while family members do provide for some of them, some others are living alone in poor conditions and experiencing poverty. Moreover because several are either unable to work or are denied jobs by employers, they are unable to provide for themselves or to meet their basic needs. Some of them also have health problems and immobility prevents some from accessing resources that might be available. Many therefore have to depend either on welfare or on the goodwill of others for their survival. But information obtained suggests that in many of the communities studied people with disabilities are unaware of organizations that work with people with disabilities and provide them with assistance. As a result many feel isolated, neglected, and discriminated against. While most respondents believe that the negative effects of poverty are most keenly felt by children, women, and people with disabilities, they are also aware that poverty affects men, young people and elderly persons, as well as families and the community as a whole. Men Several respondents are of the view that poverty has very little effect on men but some others are of the opposite view. Society has said that men are to be bread winners and many women expect them to perform this role. However the reality is that while there is evidence that some men are unwilling to provide for their families the data show that men who are poor usually do not have enough money to support their families or their children. “Hardly any men experience poverty because women and mothers provide for them.” “Poor men can’t provide for their girlfriends or their children.” For some men their inability to provide for their families lowers their self esteem and emasculates them, and for others it drives them into engaging in illegal activities. Youth The high level of unemployment among young people means that while many are living in poverty several are still living with their parents/mothers and their basic needs may be being met. In spite of this the data show that large numbers of young people in several of the communities have turned to and depend on illegal activities, especially to drug trafficking, to survive. The Elderly Some elderly persons in some of the communities are poor and live alone, and while they may receive a small pension they say that is often insufficient to meet their needs. Several are in poor health and some are unable to help themselves so they have to depend on others, including relatives, friends, and

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

neighbours. Home help is available to some through the Social Assistance Board but not everyone is satisfied with this and according to one respondent who works with elderly persons a n d t o o n e el d er l y r es p o n d en t , t h er e i s a s i g n i f i ca nt a mo u n t of elder abuse, including v er b a l a b u s e a n d misuse of pensions by adult children and by some prominent individuals in the community. 3.9.

Coping and Survival Strategies

People living in poor conditions and experiencing poverty use several strategies that allow them to cope and sustain their livelihoods and although some strategies expose them to risks several are willing to take the risks. The data show that many of the strategies used are intended to provide money needed to meet basic needs and to provide for families. They also show that while some strategies are used by many people, some others differ from to group. For example both adult and younger males and females organize income earning activities, accept employment in low paying jobs and work in more than one job, but males are more likely to do odd jobs and to be involved in drug trafficking and gambling than females. On the other hand, while a few males might become involved in prostitution, it is more likely that a larger number of females would be involved in this activity. Although involvement in some of these illegal activities is fraught with risks including risks to health, risk of arrest by the police, and loss of freedom by having to serve time in jail, some people see them as their only option. Some males as well as females resort to begging and others depend on social welfare or on family members for their survival. In addition reliance on alcohol and drugs is a coping mechanism that is being used by a significant number of older males and by some females. The data show that most children depend on their parents for survival but they also show that a few work in part time jobs in supermarkets and that a few also do odd jobs, and although some are said to be involved in stealing and in selling drugs, more often they will beg for money or food. Residents in a few of the communities are concerned that some children are also involved in sexual activity including prostitution and that they are therefore at risk of exploitation and abuse. As indicated earlier most elderly persons depend on pension and while some persons with disabilities may receive disability allowance, both of these groups do not really take risks as many of them depend on assistance from family, relatives, and friends. 3.10.

Quality of Life and Sense of Well Being

The quality of life and the sense of well being that people can enjoy depend to a large extent on the conditions in which they live, but they are also influenced by the standard that is expected and acceptable by the society at large. They are also determined by physical and material, social, and economic, as well as by spiritual, emotional and psychological factors. During the community workshops residents in six of the communities identified things that in their view contribute to a good quality of life and to a sense of well being. Their indicators included access to economic and other resources, ownership of material things, as well as spiritual, psychological and emotional factors. The factors that they identified included: ď&#x201A;ˇ ď&#x201A;ˇ ď&#x201A;ˇ

Having a job, higher salaries, a steady income, and money Knowing how to use money wisely and to be able to pay bills Having enough to eat and being able to eat a balanced diet

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

          

A comfortable living space Good health and access to health care Education Feeling good about yourself and about your community Positive attitudes Love Good family life Good communication Sense of security Good relations between neighbours Having good friends to depend on

Several people were quick to point out that having money and riches does not necessarily result in a sense of well being. “Money don’t guarantee a sense of well being a lot of rich people unhappy wid them life.” “I got a sense of well being and feel good about myself and I ain’t rich.” Workshop participants also plotted graphs on a Wheel of Well Being and indicated on a Quality of Life Index the levels of well being and the quality of life that they enjoy. On the Wheel of Well Being residents plotted graphs to show the level of physical and material, of economic, of social, and of spiritual, emotional and psychological well being that they enjoy, and on the Quality of Life Index they rated specific aspects of each of these dimensions to show whether they were very low, low, average, high, or very high. The process of assessing the sense of well being and of deciding what weight to allocate to the various indicators created a great deal of discussion and at times disagreement that allowed participants to express their views and to listen to those of others. Examination of some of the graphs produced on the Wheel of Well Being and of the ratings given on the Quality of Life Index suggests that while residents in all of the communities are satisfied with some aspects of the quality of their lives, there are other aspects with which they are not. Like information obtained in other PPA activities that on from the Wheel of Well Being and the Quality of Life Index show that except in one or two communities, residents are generally more satisfied with their physical and material aspects than with other aspects of their lives. According to most of the residents the quality of their lives and their sense of well being are being adversely affected by lack of job opportunities, by unemployment, and by money so in many of the communities people do use credit and in some dependency is high. High levels of crime and involvement in illegal activities are also affecting the quality of their lives, their sense of security, and their sense of well being. When the information provided on the graphs and the index were compared and analysed by workshop participants, the high ratings given to education and health were similar to information obtained in other activities. However some other information contrasted widely with information that had been generated in some of the other PPA activities. For example while in previous activities all residents in Six Mens expressed their concern about what the identified as “the land issue” residents in the workshop rated access to land as high. Some of the information provided on family life in some other activities had suggested that many people were concerned about deterioration in family life and unharmonious

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

relationships within the family, but in this activity residents in three of the communities rated family life as high while at the same time they rated moral values and attitudes as low. In addition in some previous activities residents ha d identified a nd ex pr es s ed conc er ns a b out high levels of crime and illegal activities, but in this activity in four of the communities these activities were rated as low or average. An important outcome of this activity is the recognition by many residents in the six communities about the important role that spiritual, psychological, and emotional factors play in having a sense of well being. Low morals, poor attitudes dissatisfaction with quality of life, unharmonious relationships and discontent were also identified and discussed and opinions on these influenced the ratings given to them on the Wheel of Well Being and the Quality of Life Index. In some previous activities respondents commented about the ways in which poor living conditions and poverty caused them to be discriminated against, to be excluded from opportunities and from participating in some societal processes. Some said that it made them feel inferior and unimportant and others that it eroded their self confidence. The data also show that it also leaves them open to exploitation and sexploitation. Initiatives taken to improve living conditions and alleviate poverty The data show that residents in half of the communities identified initiatives that had been taken or that are being taken to improve living conditions and to alleviate poverty in their communities, but that those in the other six communities said that nothing had been done or is being done to improve conditions or alleviate poverty in their communities. According to the former improvements in housing and some improvements in infrastructure, sporting and cultural activities and some educational programmes have been effective in improving living conditions. However it is important to note that only in one community was mention made of provision of jobs and financial assistance. This in spite of the fact that residents in all of the communities identified unemployment and lack of financial resources as responsible for some people having to live in poor conditions and to experience poverty. It is also important to note that while residents in half of the communities are of the view that nothing is being done to improve their living conditions or to alleviate poverty, the data show that residents in several communities believe that their communities have either been or are still being neglected by government. While there is evidence that individuals in several of the communities have taken and are taking steps to improve their living conditions, many people in many of the communities believe that much more needs to be done by the government to improve living conditions and to alleviate poverty.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Table 7: Some Initiatives taken to improve living conditions and to alleviate poverty

Community Deacons

Haynesville

Marchfield Redmans Village

St Johns Locale

Six Mens 3.11.

What Has Been/Is Being Done Who Did It/Is Doing It Home ownership programme National Housing Corporation Home improvement loans and grants Urban Development Commission Free breakfast for school children YWCA Maintenance of housing units National Housing Corporation Provision of employment and Parliamentary Representative financial assistance Division of Youth Affairs and Sports, cultural activities and educational Youth and skills training programmes Clubs Recreational facilities for children Government Homework programme for children Youth Club Houses for lower income earners Government Free bus fare and school meals for children Government Road improvement Government Running of natural gas Government Better transport Government Pavilion and play park Government Housing development Construction of new Rural Development Commission polyclinic Road repairs beginning and Educational workshops Ministry of Housing Rural Development commission Ministry of Transport and Works Family First Building of new fish stalls Government Some attempts to settle the land issue Government

Community Needs

People in all of the communities identified problems that they are experiencing, things about which they are concerned, and things that in their view are needed to improve living conditions, the standard of living, and the quality of life in their communities. The needs that they identified include infrastructural needs, financial needs, employment needs, social needs, educational needs, and recreational needs An examination of the information provided by residents clearly shows that employment, job opportunities and jobs are needed in all of the communities. It is also clear that residents in several communities see continuing education as necessary to provide people with skills as well as with opportunities to develop themselves and to achieve self reliance. However the data show that in most of the communities unemployment is high, job opportunities and jobs are either non-existent or few, and that there is a dearth in the number, types, and variety of continuing education programmes in almost all of the communities. The table below shows the specific needs identified by residents in each of the communities.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Table 8: Community Needs COMMUNITY Deacons

NEEDS Employment, less dependence of state and private agencies, use of creative talents to achieve self sufficiency. Road repairs More drug awareness programmes, sex education, more environmental awareness More continuing education programmes, a community library to encourage reading, more skills training programmes, more training in business and more training in and support for entrepreneurship More recreational activities including indoor games in the Centre Haynesville Employment, equal distribution of wealth Painting of housing units, paving of roads, construction of recreational facilities, community centre Speed bumps Family life and parent education Marchfield Employment, job opportunities and jobs, money Proper housing, land Recreational facilities Skills training programme Assistance from government Orange Hill Jobs, access to affordable loans Housing and repairs of houses for the elderly A neighbourhood watch Affordable education after age 18 Police enforcement to contain use of drugs More support from the church Competitive activities like cricket Better care of the elderly Redmans Village More employment, jobs Finish incomplete roads, housing Better use of the education system St Johns Locale More employment opportunities Education programmes for youth, education for self motivation and self reliance Counseling St Judes Jobs Housing for people still living with their families Education programmes Recreational facilities St Matthias Find out peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basic needs Job opportunities, finance Environmental awareness programme Proper sealing of septic wells Education and guidance for youth, skills training programmes for males and females Better social care of community residents A self help drive Community centre Silver Hill Employment, jobs Repairs to houses, flood lights behind block houses, timely removal of bulk waste Block wells to be sealed Social care Community centre Recreational facilities Speed bumps Some workshops to guide the community, workshops to deal with issues Teaching people how to be creative and how to help themselves Six Mens Land issue to be settled Employment Facility for boat repairs Help with low income houses Skills training programmes and lectures on money management Recreational facilities Community centre Positive input from representatives

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

COMMUNITY The City The Pine

NEEDS Jobs, access to funds Resource centre Job opportunities and jobs, proper wages Housing units to be prepared Less crowding and more space to breathe Solutions to social problems Get rid of drug dealers Rehabilitation centres Educate community about poverty Stop people from looking down on the community

While many people are of the view that the government has a responsibility and should make greater efforts to meet some of their community as well as their personal needs. However some residents recognize that individuals have a responsibility to take initiatives to improve their living conditions and to try to meet their needs. Consequently some are of the view that government needs to reduce its assistance because according to them this encourages people to be too dependent on assistance from the government. 3.12.

The Groups

Because of unsuccessful efforts to organize workshops in some of the communities, it was decided to conduct discussions with groups in these communities, but discussions were eventually held with groups in six communities. Discussions were held with a group school boys and with a group of females and one male in St Judes, with young men and a few young women in St Matthias, with a group of young males in Six Mens, with a group of somewhat older adult men in The City, with two groups of females and a group of males in The Pine, with a group of elderly men in Orange Hill, with two groups of immigrants one with women in The City and one with males and females in St Judes, and w i t h a small group of older poor white females in St John’s Locale. Ninety eight persons, sixty four males and thirty four males, participated in the group discussions, and although most of the groups were small participation in the discussions was very high. The discussions captured the similarities and differences in the reality and experience of different groups, provided information about how poor conditions and poverty affected them and impacted on their lives, and highlighted their specific concerns, needs and priorities. 3.12.1 Men Most of the men who participated in the group discussions were under the age of thirty, a few were over forty and in the group of elderly men ages ranged from sixty five to ninety years of age. Living Conditions Men in The City, in The Pine, and in St Matthias acknowledged that their communities are ghettos and agreed that ghettos have certain characteristics that determine the conditions under which residents live. According to them, because a different system is applied to ghettos than to other types of communities, the system is responsible for the way that things are in their communities. “De way the system is what got things so.” “De system dat apply to de ghetto is different to the system for the rich and those in the gated communities.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“We at the bottom of the chain.” Men from these communities are concerned about overcrowding, about the need for better housing, and about their inability to own their own house either because of lack of money or because better housing is being given to outsiders rather than to residents. “The houses crowded, too small for the number of people living in them, not enough space for privacy.” “My conditions not great I living at my father now, I would like a house, my own place.” “I living with my mother I tried to get a house but de prices too high and I brek (can’t Afford) so I ain’t saving to buy a house no more.” “Outsiders get better houses not residents.” The men in these three communities are also dissatisfied with the physical environment in which they live. In The city they identified the absence of a public bath and a canal that needs cleaning, in The Pine they mentioned dumping of garbage, and in St Matthias they said that the overflowing wells were a health hazard. However, in spite of these concerns, several of them said that they make the best use of what they have. Unlike the men in these three communities, young men in St Judes said that they are living well and the elderly men in Orange Hill agreed that although some conditions could be better, they are able to exist. The conditions under which the men live are also determined by their employment status. Not only are the students and elderly men unemployed, but unemployment is high especially among young men in the other communities and men in the Pine believe that more men are unemployed that women. On the other hand, while some of the men believe that high unemployment among youth is a result of too many of them leaving school without qualifications, they pointed out that some others who did have certificates had also been unable to get jobs. One young man in Six Mens and another in St Matthias also said that being of trouble with the law and being an ex-convict, and harassment by the police, had also prevented them from getting jobs. Some men in The Pine, The City and St Matthias pointed out that discrimination and stigma attached to their communities often prevent them from obtaining jobs and many agreed that people can only get work if they have friends or know somebody “higher up.” Although some men in these communities are self employed or are hustlers, the money that they earn is often insufficient to meet the basic needs of their families and to pay bills, and often in their large households only one person may be working. “Only one person in my household working and seven people live there.” “Sometimes I have to ask my sister for money to get by.” Among the group of elderly men in Orange Hill were some returning nationals who had worked in England for several years. According to them they had been able to improve their situation and had advanced through education and hard work and so while some of them said that they had been born poor they did not consider themselves to be poor now. However none of them were currently employed and their only

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

source of income is their pension and while they exist and live on this they are concerned about the high cost of living. Several praised the availability of free medical care but some shared experiences and concerns about the long hours that they sometimes have to wait at the polyclinics. Experience of Poverty and Challenges Faced in Sustaining Livelihoods When asked whether they considered themselves to be poor several men said that while they don’t have everything they are surviving, but even though they might not be as poor as some other people they are financially poor because they do not have the money they need to meet their basic needs and to provide for their families. Many also believe that the cost of living and utility bills are too high. All of the males in The Pine who participated in the group discussion said that they are poor and some believed that being poor is a disease. Others said that being poor not only prevented them from living a comfortable life, eating a balanced diet or owning a house, but made people look down on them and be unwilling to listen to their views. Several of the men in The City who had children said that while they sometimes lack finances they tried to support their children and they believe that fatherhood is more than providing financial support. Some shared experiences of giving money to their children’s mother and the latter not using it as intended, so for some the court system of child support is cheaper than giving money to mothers. “Giving mothers the money ain’t taking care of children, fatherhood is also about giving children moral support as well as financial support.” “Mothers spend child support money on themselves.” “It cheaper to support children through the courts than to give the mothers the money directly.” “Women put men in court because of jealousy not negligence. As soon as the man get another relationship the woman put you in court.” Several unemployed men, especially young men, in some of the communities use illegal activities, including crime and drug trafficking, as strategies to earn money and as mechanisms for survival. H owev er during the group discussions some of them identified the risks they take and the challenges that they face from being involved in these activities including involvement with the law, confrontation with the police, and loss of freedom. While some said that they tried to avoid being arrested, others shared experiences of police harassment and brutality. “I does avoid arrest just by staying out their way. I ain’t known and it is not to get known.” “I spend two days in goal.” “Police does unfair poor people.” “Dem does belly search men.” “Them does put bop in a bag put it over in yuh yard just to say you do it.” “Dey take two phone books and bang it against yuh head.” “Put two men in a circle handcuff yuh, kick at yuh, and if yuh move out the circle more blows.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“When them arrest you them hold you and beat you to inform.” “Police won’t give we permission to hold jams.” Apart from the physical and financial impact of poverty several young men also referred to its psychological impact. Some in St Matthias described a sense of hopelessness and skepticism about the future, and some in The Pine are of the view that they are powerless and so are unable to solve their problems. “Things are hopeless for the majority.” “You know anybody that contented?” “It hard to imagine a future, there is no inspiration.” “I can’t see the future.” “I can’t change, I so till I dead.” “It not possible for me to get rich so I gine dead poor.” They also feel that nobody cares about them and that protesting will make no difference. “Makes no sense protesting, dat is a waste of energy, a waste of time.” “Who cares bout society? Nobody cares.” 3.12.2 Women Discussions were conducted with four small groups of women, two in The Pine, one in St Judes and one in the St John’s Locale. However while the conditions in which these women live and their experience of poverty cannot be taken as typical or as the same for all women, they do provide some useful information and valuable insights. This is especially so as members of two of the groups live in The Pine, an urban community, and two live in rural communities. In addition the discussion with the group of “poor whites draws” attention to the living conditions and to the poverty being experienced by some of this group of citizens. Living Conditions The women who participated in the group discussion in St Judes are happy and comfortable with their living conditions and said that there is enough space and little if any overcrowding. On the other hand several women in The Pine are living in housing units and described what it is like to live in overcrowded conditions. “The houses have more people than they can hold.” “Seven people living in a house design for three or four people.” “A lot of units with eight to nine people living in the unit.” “It does be uncomfortable sharing a bedroom with two other people.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

The poor white women who participated are all elderly and are living in generally unacceptable conditions. Two are living in two bedroom houses but one of the houses is old with rotting boards and few amenities, and the oldest woman is living in what she describes as “a matchbox” without any amenities. The women f r o m The Pine are of the view that the physical and social environment in which they live contribute to unacceptable living conditions. They mentioned poor roads, poor garbage disposal and excessive amounts of dust as well as the high level of crime, violence, and use of drugs, all of which determined the extent to which they can have a good standard of living and enjoy a sense of well being. However they all agree that lack of money is what causes them to continue to live in unacceptable conditions and in poverty. Their inability to obtain permanent well paying jobs is a result of their low levels of education and a limited number of marketable skills as well as of the stigma attached to living in The Pine. “The stigma placed on The Pine, like we is black sheep or bad apples, cause dem ain’t hiring we if we from bout hay.” On the other hand while the living conditions of the poor white women are not affected by serious environmental or social problems, they like their counterparts in The Pine also suffer from lack of money. The small pension of $254.00 per fortnight that some of them receive is their only source of income and is insufficient even to provide them with food and to cover utility bills. Experience of Poverty and Challenges Faced in Sustaining Livelihoods Most of the women in The Pine consider themselves to be poor and several said that they came from a poor family. “Yes the majority poor we don’t ever have enough money because there is no work.” “We poor we not in a position to help ourselves or our family” “We come from a poor family.” As women they bear the burden of caring for and providing for their families, sometimes without support from male partners or from the fathers of their children. According to them, this contributes to them being poor and to their inability to provide for themselves and their families. Without jobs or with lowing paying jobs with low wages they are often unable to meet basic needs and to pay their bills, and although some of them are self employed this is usually not on a consistent basis and the money that they earn is still insufficient to meet their basic needs. As a result, for some of them hunger is a common feature in their lives and those of their families. “I do nails but that don’t be enough to feed everybody. I does have to leave myself out sometimes.” “Skip meals so the children can eat.” “No good clothes to wear or food to eat every day.” “Bellies burning.” “Sometimes I don’t eat not even two times a day.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“Not enough money to pay your bills.” In addition to preventing them from meeting their basic needs and from being able to provide for their families, the women in The Pine said that poverty made them feel unimportant and that it prevented them from improving their lives and from achieving things that they want. “I can’t improve my life in the ways I would want to.” “Can’t go to college, don’t have the money for it.” “Income not enough for long term planning.” Hunger is also a common p a r t of t he r ea l it y of the poor white women with whom discussions were held. According to them they have very little, if anything to eat on a daily basis. “Yesterday we had a cup of tea and two biscuits. Today we had two boil plantain.” In addition the data show that the most serious negative effect that poverty has on the elderly poor white women is on their health. In addition to poor to nutrition, some of them suffer from multiple health problems including diabetes and hypertension and depend on the public health service at polyclinics and at the general hospital for health care. However they are not always able to access this in a timely fashion because of lack of money for transportation and they often have to walk long distances to get to the nearest polyclinic. One of them is als o a victim of financial abuse as her daughter takes her pension, and plants her land but gives her nothing. The women who participated in the group discussions also shared information about some of the strategies that they use to survive and sustain their livelihoods. A few of the women in The Pine receive remittances from family overseas, a few said that they sleep with men, some ask family and friends, others live one day at a time. However, some like their poor white counterparts said that they accepted their situation and did not think that their situation would change, but that they were relying on God. “Can’t do nothing but live with it.” “We living by the grace of God.” The information provided during group discussions draws attention to the different ways in which poor living conditions and poverty affect males and females and to the different ways that it impacts on their lives. It also shows that the men and the women adopt different coping and survival strategies. For example while poverty prevents women as well as men from being able to provide for their families, several of the young men are not only concerned that some women use the money that they provide for their children for other things, but they believe that fatherhood is more than providing financial support. The men as well as the women who live in The Pine are concerned about the stigma, discrimination and social exclusion they experience because of where they live and about the fact that this sometimes prevents them from obtaining jobs. The data show that there is a significant difference in some of the strategies that men and women use to survive. For example, some women said that they would neglect themselves and deny themselves food so that their children could eat and some others would do nails or other income-generating activities.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

On the other hand while only a few women said that they would become involved in illegal activities, mainly prostitution, the information provided by some of the younger men, indicate that they were more likely to turn to drug trafficking. Men as well as the women are aware of the risks involved in engaging these activities, but the men shared experiences of being subjected to police harassment and brutality. Moreover they believed that police harassment and brutality were not limited to their involvement in illegal activities, but that they were targeted because they were poor and lived in certain communities that had been stigmatized. 3.12.3 Immigrants Discussions were conducted with two small groups of immigrants, one in St Judes and the other in The City. The former was a mixed group of East Indians, three males and two females from Guyana, but the latter consisted only of women, one of whom is from Guyana and the other four from Haiti. The group in St Judes has been living in Barbados for about six years and they said that they came because they saw it as on opportunity to make a better living. They all said that they had experienced no problems with other residents and that they are treated well by Bajans. The men are all farmers and work either in a plant nursery or in vegetable gardens. While they admitted that they do send money back home, they stressed that contrary to common belief, it is not a lot because once they pay for a work permit, pay NIS and bills, they are left with very little so there is not much that they can do with what is left. While they admitted that they are poor in wealth and that they find things hard, they try to cope but they keep to themselves. The group of immigrant women in The City has been in Barbados for a longer time than their counterparts in St Judes and like them they said that they had came to Barbados to be able to do better. The issue of “official papers” and of work permits was raised by several of the women. One of the newer immigrants admitted that although she went to school here she had “no papers” that say that she could stay and some of the others shared experiences of the difficulties that they experience when they go to the Immigration Department. Among these were having to visit every few months in order to obtain an extension, the attitude of some Immigration Officers, and the difference in the ways in which they were treated by male and female Immigration Officers. According to them more often the former treated them better than the latter. “My nephew has a heart problem but he don’t have papers. They won’t give him an extension, they tell me he have to leave.” “When you go to Immigration you meet people with different attitude, some are nice but some are piggish and difficult.” “People who treat me bad are women, if you find a man they talk to you very nice.” They also identified some of the disadvantages of not having papers and work permits including the inability to work and to obtain student visas for their children. Except for one woman who owns a business, the others are unemployed and found this to be challenging as they are unable to provide for basic needs for themselves and their children, and a few who had been here for a longer time said that when they came things had been a lot better than they are now.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“When I first came here I had a good life, experience used to be better but things very hard now.” “I living at my auntie for seven years it not comfortable, I need somewhere to live but I not working I need a job to help myself, help my family. I have two year old daughter.” “I need a job but I can’t work because I need papers. No job no income and it not easy to get a job if you get a certain age.” The women do have access to and use the social services including the Polyclinic and the hospital, but they have to pay and some of them do not have health insurance. They agree that there are more advantages than disadvantages to being immigrants because they have access to social services and they can go to the polyclinic and the hospital, the money is better and they are able to send some money, however little, to family back home. “It’s a little better here for me. Send change to family back home.” “Things are better here. If they send me back I have no place to stay. My Family in Haiti sleeping in the street.” On the other hand while they said that they generally get along with Bajans and with their neighbours, they tend to keep to themselves and not to mix too much. While discussions were held with only two groups of immigrants and while both groups identified advantages of living here, some other important issues that need to be addressed emerged. Among these are existing regulations related to illegal immigrants and their families, the processes by and through which they must go to achieve legality, and the negative attitudes and reactions that some experience when they visit the Immigration Department. 3.13.

The Households

Poverty and deprivation are felt most keenly in households and it is in households that poverty is passed on from one generation to the next. Interviews were conducted with heads of households and/or responsible adults in eighty households. In selecting the households to be interviewed, care was taken to include households of different types and that displayed different types and levels of living conditions and poverty. Specific criteria were developed and purposive sampling was used by Research Facilitators to identify households to be interviewed. Because the households that were studied represented all of the types that exist in the country it can be assumed that in other communities not studied in this PPA there are combinations of similar types of households, that they would have similar characteristics as those studied, and that people in some of these households would share some of the same types of experiences as the members of households in which individuals were interviewed. The interviews produced information about household members and their living conditions, about household assets and resources, about the household economy, and about household needs. Information obtained during the interviews also provided insights into the social reality of household heads and about their living conditions and their experiences of poverty and deprivation. It identified factors that contribute to the conditions within which members of the households live and the support networks and strategies

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

they used to survive and sustain their livelihoods. Information was also obtained on intra household dynamics including social and gender roles and relationships, and the gender division of labour within the households. 3.13.1 The Interviewees Fifty four of the interviewees were female and twenty six were male. Fifty nine interviewees were heads of their households, eight were partners of the household head, ten were either daughters or sons of the head, three were sisters or brothers of the head, and one was niece of the head. Fourteen males and twenty five females are single, five males and eleven females are married, three males and nine females are in a common law relationship, four are separated, two are divorced, two males are widowers and five females are widows. 3.13.2 Household Characteristics The information provided by interviewees show several characteristics of poor living conditions and the factors that contribute to the types, levels, and degree of wealth and poverty which members of a household experience. These characteristics include the type and size of the house, the composition of the household, the mating patterns and fertility of the head as well as of other members of the household, intra-household dynamics and relationships, assets and resources to which household members have access, and the economies of the households. The information obtained during interviews shows that these characteristics also play a part in determining the quality of life and the sense of well being that household members experience. Housing Conditions The data show that approximately a third of the houses are built of wood, wall and/or of a combination of both. Twenty eight (35%) of the houses are of wall only, twenty seven (33.75%) are of wood and twenty five (31.25%) are of wall and wood. More than half, (55%) are solid structures but the structures of twenty nine (36.25 %) are weak. Thirteen are leaking, and nineteen are in need of repairs. The majority of houses have five or more rooms, a small number has as many as ten or eleven rooms and only three of the houses have two or three rooms. Well over half of the houses have three or more bedrooms but nearly one third has one or two bedrooms. The houses with more than three bedrooms have a smaller number of persons than those with three or fewer bedrooms. In one of the two bedroom houses there are fourteen persons, in another there are ten persons, in two there are nine persons, in four eight persons, in six there are seven persons, in seven five persons, and in two there are six persons. In one of the three bedroom houses there are fourteen persons, in another there are ten persons, in two there are nine persons and in four of these houses there are eight persons. In six there are seven persons, in seven five persons and in two six persons. Housing is an important indicator that is used to assess living conditions and to determine the level of poverty that households are experiencing. While the data suggest that houses are generally large and in good condition, they also show there is a significant level of overcrowding in several of the households. While the majority of the houses have electricity and running water, and while sixty nine of the houses have an inside toilet a small number have pit latrines and five have no toilet at all. Household appliances like fridges, gas or electric stoves, washing machines, cell phones, and computers are no longer regarded as luxuries but are seen as necessities. It is therefore not surprising that the data show that the majority of the

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

houses have one or more of these appliances and in some households more than one family member has a cell phone. 3.13.3 Type and Composition of Households The households that were studied include twenty five multi-generational households, thirteen single parent female headed households, twelve nuclear households, ten extended households, six single parent male headed households, five sibling households, five single person elderly households and four single adult households. A total of four hundred and three persons live in the eighty households. Ninety nine males and one hundred and twelve females are adults, and eight males and eighty four females are children. Seventy children are between the ages of six and twelve years, forty six are five years or younger, and fifty five are teenagers. In eleven of the households there are teenage mothers, and there are persons with disabilities in twenty seven of the households. While a few of the latter rely on the outpatient services at hospitals, the majority are cared for at home by family members. A few also get assistance from the Welfare Department, but some feel abandoned and isolated and many believe that no one cares. Their disabilities limit their ability to work, to meet their basic needs and to care for themselves, and they increase their dependency on others. “I had a nervous breakdown in 83. I am an outpatient at the psychiatric hospital.” “I get welfare, invalid benefit.” “Nobody don’t look at me or show any interest.” “I don’t want to be a burden to anyone if I go totally blind. I want the house fixed so I can get around safely” “I can’t go to work I have to see about my son, he is paralyzed.” Several identified their needs and complained about the absence of proper systems to meet some of these. “No support systems in place. “I need a proper home with amenities.” “I need an eye operation.” “Health care needed.” “Transportation and wheelchairs.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Table 9: Persons with Disabilities

SEX Male Male Male Female Male Male Female Female Male Male Male Male Male Male Male Female Male Male Male Female Male Male Male

AGE 43 14 6 10 61 6 46 55 70 59 76 79 53 47 72 36 33 30 23 81 50 58 86

DISABILITY Physical/paralyzed Physical Physical Sight impaired/slow learner Physical, sight impaired Mental Physical Physical and mental Blind/glaucoma Blind Blind Blind Physical/stroke Blind Visually impaired Physical and mental Physical and mental Mental Cerbal palsy Physical Physical/stroke Physical Hearing impaired

COMMUNITY St Matthias Six Mens St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Locale Silver Hill Church View/ St John,s Locale Silver Hill Silver Hill St Judes Six Mens St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Locale Marchfield Marchfield St Matthias Silver Hill St Judes St Matthias St Matthias St Matthias Redman,s Village The Pine The Pine Silver Hill Deacons

As can be seen in the table, there are persons with disabilities in nine of the twelve communities and the largest number is in St Matthias and in Silver Hill. The majority of these persons are physically disabled but some are also mentally disabled, but four have a mental but not a physical disability. The data also show that the majority is male, that more than half of them, are elderly and range in age from fifty to eighty six years old, and that eleven, including three children are under fifty years of age. While there are some facilities and services available, many of these are centralized and are therefore difficult and sometimes impossible to access. As reported earlier, residents in some of the communities were very concerned about the existence of persons with mental illnesses within their community and about the absence of appropriate services to deal with such persons. In addition given the absence of appropriate facilities and services in communities, persons with various types of disability must either rely on themselves or on family members for their care and survival, but in several cases the latter, sometimes because of financial constraints, are unable to cope and provide them with the type and quality of care that they need. While many persons with disabilities said that they feel neglected, isolated and abandoned, the data clearly show suggest that residents are concerned about the persons with disabilities in their communities and about the absence of appropriate facilities and the difficulties that they face in accessing facilities and services that are located outside of their communities. Several persons with disabilities are therefore not receiving appropriate care and are faced with many challenges as they struggle to survive.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Given these findings it is important that serious attempts be made to provide facilities and services and other types of assistance in or close to communities in which persons with disabilities live. Marital Status, Mating Patterns and Fertility Twenty eight of the interviewees have partners and are in a relationship with someone of the opposite sex. Fifteen of the interviewees are married, thirteen are in common law relationships, and fourteen are in visiting relationships. While the majority of the relationships was said to be short some have been long. Among these are a few marriages and common law relationships of over thirty years duration, and one visiting relationship is of forty years. Just over a quarter (27.50%) of the interviewees said that their relationship is good and harmonious, but some others mentioned problems of communication, ups and downs, quarrels, deterioration in the relationship, abuse and violence. They also identified some of the things that cause problems in their relationships including too many children. “I like how my wife manage to stretch little change without complaining.” “Normal ups and downs and disagreements.” “We don’t fight we don’t let hard times get us down.” “We had too many children too fast.” “Not good as before, abusive.” “Verbal abuse, he drinks often and a lot.” “I don’t let any of my relationships get to the point where there is violence.” Residents in six of the communities identified teenage pregnancy as a problem and the data from interviews with heads of households show that while fifteen males and ten females had their first child in their twenties, thirty three females and four males had their first child in their teens. Serial mating and fertility patterns have resulted in early and multiple pregnancies for some women and the data show a trend of serial mating and large numbers of children sometimes from more than one partner. One man had eleven children from three women and one female had thirteen children from five men, another female had twelve children from four men and one had six children from five men, another man had seven children from two women, and one had five children from five women. The data therefore suggest that serial mating and large numbers of children are more common among women than they are among men. These patterns of serial mating and high levels of fertility are present in several of the households studied and information provided by interviewees indicates that they have serious implications for women’s reproductive health as well as for their ability to provide for their children. In several cases children’s fathers do not provide any financial support or if they do, their contributions are often small and provided irregularly. The full responsibility for providing basic, emotional, educational, and other needs therefore often fall on the women, many of whom are either unemployed or underemployed. As a result several of the women said that having so many children had contributed to them being poor and having to live in poor conditions.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

3.13.4 Household Headship Over half (52.5%) of the households studied are headed by females, 42.5% are headed by males and in four households there is joint headship. The interviewees identified several things that determine who is the head of their households. Chief among these are having the main responsibility for providing for members of the household, ownership of the house, and being the only adult in the house who is working. A small number of interviewees said that the male is the head because: “it is the natural order of things.” “In my religion the man is seen as the head. My wife depends on me to make the choices.” Power, Authority and Decision Making Interviewees said that power and authority means taking responsibility for the household, making decisions, and having and exerting control. Power and authority usually reside in the head of household, in persons who are responsible for the welfare of household members, in those who have or who control resources or in those who are older and those who make the decisions. Such persons are seen as authority figures and as the ones who have power. The data show that in forty two of the households studied, power and authority is vested in females, that in twenty five it is vested in males and that in thirteen households it is jointly shared. In the case of the latter, adult children and/or other adult members of the household also have some authority and are involved in decision making. However, while females made decisions in thirty eight of the households, in twenty three of the households decisions are made by more than one person. According to interviewees the main decisions are about how to provide for the family, about how to pay the bills and how to upkeep/repair the house. The data do show that there are some males as well as females who still believe that males have the right to power, authority and decision making within households. However, the data also do show that several women, especially those who are heads of households do have power and authority and that they also have the responsibility for making decisions in the best interest of their families. Education of Household Heads All of the interviewees understand the value of education and even though they are not necessarily seeking to continue or improve their own education they wanted their children and their grandchildren to have higher levels of education than they had. Children in all of the households are therefore in school and most of them attend school regularly and only miss school if they are ill. However a small number may also be sometimes kept home from school because of lack of money for lunch and school supplies. The education level of the head of a household is an important indicator of their ability to obtain well paying jobs and to be able to provide for and sustain their own livelihoods and those of their families. The data show that while only twenty heads of households have a primary education, nearly seventy percent (67.5%) have some level of secondary education, and that several also have some level of tertiary education gained either at University, at the Polytechnic, at the Community College, or at Teachers Training College. Twenty six heads have CXC/O Level certificates, and twenty four have participated in skills training and/or technical and vocational training programmes in areas as wide as Information technology, computer

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

maintenance, air conditioning, construction trades, hospitality, sign language, art and craft, sewing, cake decorating and pastry making, cosmetology, and child care/nursery management. In spite of the relatively high levels of education t h e data show that in over a quarter (26.25%) of the households there are individuals who are functionally illiterate and have problems with reading and writing. Eleven of these persons are male and ten are female. On the other hand, the data also show that in thirty seven of the households there are individuals, twelve male and fifteen female who dropped out of school either because of pregnancy or lack of funds so that they were unable to afford to continue, and had to leave to go to work. A small number were expelled and one had to leave because he had locks. These findings are significant because being functionally illiterate in a highly literate society such as Barbados is a disadvantage that has serious implications for the society as well as for individuals. In addition as many respondents recognized, there is a link between level of education and the type of job that one is able to obtain. Moreover, since several of the persons who said that they had problems with reading and writing are relatively young it is important to identify some of the reasons for this phenomenon, to examine and/or identify gaps in the formal education system, and to introduce and implement adult literacy programmes. However, given the stigma attached to illiteracy care should be taken in the approach to the latter. Adult and continuing education provides opportunities for people to get a second chance to complete and to expand their education. However the data show that only in a small number of households are there persons participating in adult education programmes and that in the majority (76.25%) of households no one is participating in any such programmes. Among the reasons given for non-participation were: “I don’t know of any programmes.” “There are no classes in the community.” “No time, I have to work.” “The money not there I can’t afford it.” “They cost money and money is limited.” From these responses it is clear that much more must be done to stress the importance of adult education and continuing education and to develop and make available pogrammes that cover a wide range of subjects so as to respond to a wide range of diverse needs and to cater to different interests. Strategies must also be devised to motivate residents in the communities studied, as well as in other communities to participate in such programmes. Participation in groups and in community activities and programmes also provide opportunities for people to interact with and learn from others. However the data show that in just over half (51.25%) of the households no one belongs to a group and that in seventy per cent of the households no one participated in community activities. However, several children and younger persons, especially males, belong to sports groups, some children are Brownies or Scouts, and some females belong to church groups. Information provided by interviewees indicates that apart from sports, there are very few other types of community activities in most of the communities, but in 30% of the households there is someone who

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

participates in community activities. However it is not clear whether the existence of community groups and the existence of community activities are helping to improve the level of education of members of these households. 3.13.5 Health of Household Members The data show that a significant number of adults and children in the households that were studied are suffering from a number of illnesses and diseases including life style and respiratory diseases, stroke, cancer, multiple sclerosis, sickle cell anemia, and deep vein thrombosis. As can be seen in the table above in the eighty households studied there are one hundred and forty persons who are ill and are suffering from several serious diseases and that more females, 64.28% than males 35.75% are affected. Since over half of the households studied are headed by females these data suggest that several of these women might be suffering from some serious several diseases, and furthermore as can be seen in the table more women than men suffer from anxiety and depression. Given that several female heads of households are unable to provide for their families as they would like, the burden of care that they have to bear can contribute to the fact that more of them suffer anxiety and depression than do the males. According to the table, more females (30) than males (19) also have diabetes and hypertension lifestyle diseases that often the result of poor nutrition and unhealthy diets. An equal number of adult males and females have asthma and there are also several children and young people who suffer from asthma as well as other respiratory diseases including sinuses and allergies. As has been pointed out earlier in the report there are high levels of dust pollution in several of the communities and this is said to responsible for an increase in such diseases Table 10: Diseases/Illnesses of Adult Household Members

Diseases/Illnesses Anxiety and depression Arthritis Asthma Diabetes Heart Problems Hypertension Migraine Obesity Poor circulation

Males 3 8 15 9 4 10 1 -

Females 10 16 15 13 5 17 5 5 4

A healthy diet is essential for achieving and maintaining good health. The data show that on the whole interviewees are eating healthy diets because over half (53.95%) of the interviewees said that they ate a balanced meal between once to three times a day, but eight said that they ate a balanced diet sometimes and one said that they never ate a balanced meal. However, in the light of the fact that a significant number of people have lifestyle diseases, the quality of the food being consumed comes into question. In terms of contraceptive use, twenty of the interviewees said that they use contraceptives: t welve use condoms, four use the pill, three had their tubes tied and one uses injections. However because the data show that several women had had sex with more than one partner and that this had resulted in multiple pregnancies this suggests that a significant number of women of child bearing age might not be using contraceptives.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Regular and high quality health care and access to treatment and appropriate medication are essential for the achieving and maintaining good health and there are a number of health facilities and services to which household members have access. The majority of the interviewees said that they depend on the public health care system to deal with their illnesses and to provide them with relevant medication. However, a few complained about the quality of the service and about the unavailability of medications sometimes. While it is important that males as well as females are in good health, since females are more likely to be responsible for the health of their families, it is critical that they pay more attention to their own health. 3.13.6 Intra Household Dynamics People who live in the same households depend on each other for their survival so harmonious relationships are not only important but essential. Gender relations, parent child relationships, sibling relationships and intergenerational relationships are critical for ensuring stability, mutual benefits from household resources, and for enabling household members to sustain their livelihoods and to enjoy a good standard of living. However the data show that while in several households relationships are generally good and relatively harmonious, some others are characterized by conflict and confrontation, by disrespect, by verbal abuse, by disagreements, rivalry, quarrelling and fighting, and a few by domestic violence. Gender Relationships and the Gender Division of Labour Male and female interviewees who are in relationships spoke about their relationships and experiences with their partners. Several of them said that their relationships were good but some said the opposite and cited quarrels, verbal abuse and domestic violence as common events. “We have a good loving relationship.” “It good so far.” “It OK, we only have small misunderstandings.” “It not good we quarrel a lot.” “Communication problems.” “He abusive.” Information provided by residents in some of the communities suggests that gender relations within families had improved and that women were now being treated better than before, but it also shows that some people believe that such relations had worsened. However, while there was little concrete evidence of domestic violence, information obtained suggested that women were more likely to be the victims of verbal abuse and of domestic violence than were men. In all of the households studied housework was organized along gender lines. Females did chores inside of the house including cleaning, cooking, and washing, and males did mostly chores outside of the house. Consequently while female adults and female children did practically all of the household chores, and while a few males did help the majority did no household chores at all. However in some households male as well as female children were given and expected to do chores.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Information provided by the interviewees confirms and reinforces the belief and the expectation that females are to be fully responsible for care of the family and for household maintenance and that the role of males in this process is “to help” when or if they are so inclined. Parent Child Relationships A major part of parents’ responsibility is to provide, care for, supervise and discipline their children. On the whole children are not left unsupervised for long periods, however many parents, especially those who are impoverished, and mostly mothers and grandmothers, are often unable to provide their children’s basic or educational needs and this affects their relationships with their children. “I can’t provide for the children as I would like.” “When you can’t give them what they want they does get vex with you.” While some children do not create problems for their parents a significant number do. Some are rude and answer back, some are disobedient and in-disciplined, a few lie, fight, curse, steal and are smoking marijuana, and some are promiscuous. Several of the interviewees try to instill values and to discipline their children but several others said that they have problems in dealing with and in disciplining them. “I instill good values he have to show respect.” “He has to listen to me the same way my mother discipline me I teach him also” “The big boy don’t listen.” “It very difficult to deal with the young people.” “They give me back chat.” “They stubborn.” “When I call them I have to wait on them till they feel like responding.” “He steal money from his father, he smoke, he was in trouble and spend three weeks in Dodds.” “They want to get their own way.” “The oldest daughter stays out late at night and I don’t know where she is.” “Because of my disability I can’t discipline the children.” Some of the interviewees are of the view that children’s misbehaviour and indiscipline are the result of the environment in which they are growing up, and several parents and grandparents who are solely responsible for children find it exceedingly difficult to discipline them. They therefore use several strategies to do this. Twenty four said that they took away privileges, twenty one, just over a quarter, (26.25%) said that they scolded and the same number said that they use corporal punishment. “I will never brutalize my children I will talk first.” “I does ban them.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“I feel that I would break their hand.” “I used to flog but don’t think that it make any sense.” “Young parents are against flogging but older persons are in favour of corporal punishment.” “It is very stressful. I am giving him enough rope to hang himself.” Information provided about the unacceptable behaviours being displayed by children and young people suggest that if these behaviours are to change and improve, serious attention must be given to deveIoping and implementing of behavior modification programmes for children and youth as well as programmes for parents on how to manage difficult children. Sibling Relationships In some of the households studied sibling relationships are not always harmonious. Interviewees cited jealousy, squabbling, cursing and fighting, and unwillingness to share. In some households bigger children dominate younger ones and in others younger ones will not listen to older ones. Inter-Generational Relationships Information provided by interviewees show that there are considerable differences in the relationships between older and younger persons in various households. On the one hand where relationships are good and harmonious they are characterized by mutual respect, good communication, caring, and cooperation. “The respect us but they also demand respect in return.” “I have no problem with the youth.” “I am proud of him.” “Young people in the house alright.” On the other children and young people are said to be rude, abusive, show no respect for older people, display poor attitudes, are unwilling to obey rules or follow instructions, but are willing to lime and do nothing. “They think I am old fashion.” “The generation today is very disrespectful.” “They rude they got attitude.” “I get vex with the boys when I come from work and see them just lining.” However some of the interviewees said that while people tend to cry down the young people, times are different now and that young people need help and guidance. “Some people try to cry them down, but if they are not getting help……” “They young and their time different.” “They say these are modern times but they need to listen to older persons more often.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

3.13.7 Household Assets and Resources Assets include household goods and other things that can be translated into cash in times of need or emergency. They also include financial resources and social capital, but interviewees generally did not realize that social capital, the knowledge, skills and experience of household members is an important asset that in the absence of other tangible assets could be used to sustain their livelihoods. During interviews with household heads they were asked to identify skills that they or other members of the household had. Some people found this difficult or said that they had no skills, but the data show that members of several of the households do have some skills. Moreover the information provided by interviewees on the strategies that they used to cope and survive is evidence that they are making use of their individual knowledge, skills and competencies as well as of the social capital of other household members, of relatives, of friends, and of neighbours to sustain their livelihoods. The assets that members of a household own and the resources to which they have access can determine the conditions in which they have to live and whether they will be able to meet their basic needs and to sustain their livelihoods. However the data show that many of the household heads interviewed have few assets and/or little access either to the kind or to the amount of resources that they need to improve living conditions or to sustain their livelihoods and keep them out of poverty. Household Assets Ownership of property and household goods are important and valuable assets and the data show that interviewees valued home ownership because two thirds (66.25%) of them owned the house in which they live and 41.25% owned the land on which their house stands. On the other hand twenty two (27.5%) of them are renting a house and 21.25% are renting land, twenty are living on family land, and six are squatting. Furniture and other household goods are also assets, and while in some households there is little furniture, what is there is owned by one of more of the members of the household. Financial Resources Access to financial resources is critical for sustaining livelihoods and the data show that interviewees have access to several financial resources. The table below shows some of the financial resources to which people have access and which they use. Table 11: Financial Resources Available and Used

Resource Savings Credit union Meeting turns Life insurance Health insurance

Used by males 46 18 11 10 8

Used by females 45 22 15 9 12

In addition household members have access to and use other resources. For example forty one receive money from wages and salaries, three have investments or shares in companies, and forty two have access to money from social welfare and from pensions. However in spite of having these resources, the majority of the interviewees said that their access to these resources does not always provide them with the amount of money that they need to meet their basic needs, to provide for their families and to sustain their livelihoods.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Credit is a resource that is available not only from financial institutions, but from local shops and businesses and from friends or relatives. However the ability to access depends on several factors including collateral, trust and goodwill, and the ability to repay. The data show that just over a quarter (21.25%) of the interviewees use credit including crediting from shops and from department stores. Some said that they have loans from the bank and the credit union and some said that they also owe the utility companies Community Resources W h i l e m e mb er s o f h o u s eh o l d s do not u s u a l l y regard things in their communities as resources from which they can benefit, in every community there are resources to which they can have access. However, access to these resources can be limited by residents’ lack of knowledge, by the type and number of resources available, by satisfaction with resources and by the attitudes of those who control and provide the resources. Among the resources available in the several communities studied are the physical infrastructure, the environment, job opportunities, and human resources. The latter is present in the social capital on which p eop le can draw including informal networks that provide assistance and support to others especially in time of need. The data show that in every community there are some individuals in households who obtain and depend on assistance and support from relatives, friends and neighbours as well as from prominent people in the community like priests, sports coaches, leaders of groups, teachers, nurses, and shop keepers. Some seek advice about their problems, some go for counseling, and others find it useful just to have someone with whom to talk. “I sit down with my daughter and talk.” “We solve things with the family.” “Neighbours help sometimes” “I get help from friends”. “Youth receive help from the members of their gang.” “The church support us and provide us with food.” “Family help my sister give me a plate of food everyday.” 3.13.8

Household Economies

The economy of a household depends on the sources from which household members get their incomes as well as by the amount of money that is available to meet basic and other needs. This in turn depends on the number of people in the house who are employed or not, on the type of jobs they do, and on what they earn. While the data show that there is some level of income in many of the households studied, several interviewees said that this income is not enough to meet needs. They cited low salaries, the high cost of living and the recent economic recession as contributing to this situation.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Employment and Unemployment All of the interviewees not only recognize and understand that it is important to work but are acutely aware of their need to work in order to earn an income and to be able to meet their needs. The data show that while some males and females are employed there are gender differences in the type of work that they do. Consequently males and females are employed and working in gender specific areas and activities. In many of the households studied there are persons who are employed weekly, fortnightly, or monthly but there is a large variation in t h ei r wages. Weekly wages range from $250.00 to $900.00, fortnightly wages range from $120.00 to $800.00 and monthly wages range from $250.00 to $4000.00. Thirty four (42.5%) of the households depend on small amounts of pension and/or on assistance from social welfare to meet financial needs and a small number receive remittances in cash or kind from relatives overseas. In many of the households studied there are some adults who are unemployed and some who are underemployed, and even some of those who are employed are working in seasonal, low skilled, low paying jobs that pay low wages. This is not surprising as the data show that several household heads and other members of households have low levels of education and few marketable skills. As a result even though some of these persons are working at two or more jobs their earnings are still insufficient to meet the basic needs of the household or to improve their living conditions. As is to be expected members of households with high incomes say that they can manage quite well, but those with small incomes find it hard to manage and often struggle to survive. As food is regarded as a priority most available money is spent on food but utility bills also require a significant amount of money and several persons said that they are unable to pay some of these bills regularly or on time. Several household heads complained about the high cost of living and the small amount of money available as contributing to their poverty. “The cost of living so high we don’t drink tea, because there is no sugar, can’t pay the light bill.” “I use my pension to buy food and pay bills.” “The bills are more than the money I receive I have to get assistance from neighbours and friends to make up the difference.” “It not enough but I have to try.” “We barely getting through.” The data show that some households benefit from financial and in kind assistance provided by government and civil society organizations. For example, some children receive free breakfast, some g e t school lunches, and some free school uniforms. Some elderly and disabled persons also get social assistance and disability allowance, but many said that the amounts that they receive are insufficient to meet their needs. 3.13.9 Living Conditions and Household Poverty Accepted objective indicators were used to determine conditions in which household members were living and to assess the level of poverty that household members were experiencing. It was also important to get the views of household members about their living conditions and to find out whether they considered

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

themselves to be poor or not. The interviews with heads of households were expected to provide this information. Living Conditions Nineteen (23.75%) of the interviewees said that their living conditions are good, twenty three (28.75%) said that they are bad or poor and thirty (37.5%) said that they are fair or OK. Interviewees described poor living conditions in terms of physical and material things like housing, clothes, and food as well as in terms of insufficient money to meet basic needs and pay bills. Several of the interviewees faced challenges in meeting the needs of their families and in sustaining their livelihoods. Among the challenges were poor and inadequate housing, lack of a job and sometime the conditions under which they had to work, insufficient money, and insufficient food. “I does have to go outside in the night to the toilet and have to get a little water from next door.” “Fear of being put out.” “Not enough food for me and the children.” “Not working makes it difficult.” “I can’t work at all.” “Lack of steady income.” “Not able to pay the bills.” “Working late shift and having to come home late after 11.30 pm. “Have to work long hours overtime even when ill.” “Fear of being put out.” “Every day is a challenge.” “Conditions hard.” “Things could be better “It not up to the standard I would like it to be.” In addition to worrying about unemployment and lack of income some interviewees worry about their health, others about their children’s well being, and a few about their lack of education, and while several interviewees feel that they should not be living in such poor conditions, some feel helpless to do anything about it and a few are also suicidal. “I dislike it, it gives me the creeps.” “I never imagined myself like this.” “I should not be going through this, I am helpless.”

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

“There is nothing I can do.” “I think about committing suicide.” Eighteen (22.5 %) of the interviewees do not believe that their condition will improve or change, but (62.5%) believe that they will improve either by their own efforts, with help from grown children or with assistance from the government. “I would like the quality of life to improve.” “I don’t know what can change.” “No one seem to care.” “I don’t see it, it have to be a miracle.” “Only God can make the change.” “Once there is life there is hope.” “I hope that things will get better and pray that things will improve.” “Things will change when the children grow up, get work, and contribute.” “Welfare should help.” “Government needs to improve the infrastructure.” “Government need to have a fund to help people.” Household Poverty It is in households that poverty and its impact is most keenly felt and during the interviews respondents were asked whether they considered themselves to be poor and to identify some of the things that in their view had contributed to their poverty. Many of the respondents compared the situation in their households to what existed in other households that in their view were either worse or better off than they were. Poor households were seen to be so when compared to those that were better off and while they were not wealthy some were said to be not as bad as some others in the communities, and because they were not as bad as some others they were not “poor, poor.” Objective indicators as well as information provided by interviewees were used to identify the types and levels of poverty in different types of households.

Barbados Country Assessment of Living Condition 2010: PPA in Communities

Table 12: Type of Household and Poverty Level

Households Multi-generational Single parent female headed Nuclear Extended Single person/elderly Single parent male headed Sibling TOTAL

Very Poor 3 3 ---------4 3 1 14

Poor 8 6 5 3 1 3 1 27

Better Off 14 3 6 5 4 -----3 35

Rich ----1 1 2 ----------------4

Total 25 13 12 10 9 6 5 80

The data show that 43.75% of the households studied are better off, that just over one third are poor, that less than a quarter are very poor, and that only a small number of households are rich. However just over half (51.25%) of the households studied are either very poor or poor. Chronic inter-generational poverty is a feature in several Caribbean countries a n d data from this PPA show that multi-generational households were poorer than other types of households, but while 44% of the multi-generational households studied are either poor or very poor, 56 % are better off. However, nine, nearly seventy percent (69.23%) of the thirteen single parent female headed households are either very poor or poor, and just half of the single person/single person elderly and poor and the single parent male households are also very poor or poor. In all more households are poor than are better off or rich. Just over half (51.25%) one of the interviewees said that they are poor and just over two thirds (67.5%) said that they had come from a poor family. Among the reasons that respondents identified as being responsible for them and their households being poor are: Coming from a poor family “I came along and find father working in the field, struggling, and mother lost her sight.” “Grandfather was a plantation worker worked for very low wages.” “From childhood my family was poor.” “Grandmother was poor.” “I grow up poor. Struggling from young.” “I grow up seeing poverty.” High fertility rates, large numbers of children, lack of support from children’s fathers and absence of a father figure “A lot of children.” “Mother had eleven children.” “There were a lot of us and not much money.” “Mother had nothing to give the children.” “Mother had to struggle with the children.”

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“Father never too responsibility for the children.” “Dad died young and after that everything went so we grow up poor.” “Husband refuse to assist.” “He put me in debt and left me.” Unemployment and low wages “Work for very low wages on the plantation.” “There was a time when there was not much for women after leaving school other than domestic work or shop assistant. My mother was a shop assistant.” “No job and no money.” “Can’t provide for the children, can’t get anything to give them to eat.” “Money not enough so can’t meet basic needs.” “House falling down, but I not working so I can’t fix it.” Lack of education “No money to let the children get further education “Parents not educated.” “Lack of higher education.” “Education was not as affordable as it is now.” Disability “I am disabled so can’t do much.” “My disability and lack of education. “I am blind and very poor.” On the other hand 36.25% of the interviewees said that while their families were once poor they are now better off. According to them, this is because they had worked hard, had more educational opportunities, become self employed, owned businesses, obtained better paying jobs, saved and owned land, owned and rented properties, the family cooperated and helped each other, and adult children contributed. 3.13.10 Perception, Experience, Effect and Impact of Poverty While all of the interviewees understand what poverty is, different individuals defined it differently. Some saw it as deprivation, being deprived of basic needs and of having nothing at all, others said that it meant having no job or no money and being unable to support your family, and others defined it as dependency, being unable to help yourself and having to depend on others. Some believe that poverty places you in

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situation from which it is difficult to emerge but some others believe that with some assistance and financial resources they could move out of poverty. Several of the interviewees shared their experience of poverty and described some of its negative effects and its impact on their lives. However the most devastating of effects are most keenly felt by members of the poorer households, and by the small number individuals who are very poor or destitute. Among these are some single parent females with large numbers of children, some people with disabilities, and a few elderly males and females who are living alone. Their physical living conditions are extremely bad, they have few, if any financial resources and little if any support either from relatives or friends, and they receive little assistance from the social services. The information that they provided by many of the interviewees show that poverty: Has material and economic effects “No money.” “Can’t afford to get everything I have to wait till I have extra money.” “Cant get a steady job or a house.” “Can’t rewire the house or repair the floor.” “There are a lot of things I need.” “I have to wait till I get extra money to do some things.” Affects health “It stress me out.” “It make my pressure rise.” “Depression and anxiety.” “Headaches.” “I tired from working too hard.” “Have to be satisfied with a poor diet.” “Can’t afford dental care.” “Can’t go to a private doctor.” “Can’t buy medication.” Affects relationships with children and partners “I can’t provide for the children. “Can’t supply their needs.” “My partner always in gaol.”

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“Abuse from children father because he is the breadwinner.” “Can’t provide comforts so they can compare with other people’s children”. “When children ask for something I can’t give they get angry.” “I can’t vex with he, he poor he not working and he not got no money.” “I can’t ask him a question without being verbally abused.” “When he is here I feel like a burden on my shoulders.” “If you not working and the woman need certain things that you can’t provide it can lead to disaster.” “Sometimes when you don’t have you hear: ‘Man you have to go out and get.” Affects how people treat you “People not nice.” “No one look up to you.” “People look down on you.” “They don’t talk to you because you have nothing.” “You get blame for things you did not do.” “Because I disable and poor some people think I foolish.” Has serious psychological effects including low esteem and feelings of frustration “People look at you as if you don’t count.” “Less than a person, as if I am nobody.” “I feel bad and upset.” “I feel sad not being able to enjoy life.” “Unwanted, dependent and helpless.” “Down spirited.” “I worry about everything, nobody feels my pain” “A woman always have problems and worries.” Poverty also affects some interviewees’ ability to do things that they would like including improving their living conditions, furthering their education, traveling, visiting friends, having a social life, and owning a business.

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Respondents identified some of the things that would help them to move out of poverty and some that would keep them in poverty. Things that would help them to move out of poverty included being able to work, getting a good paying job, and further education and one person said that if she got a husband and married she would be able to move out of poverty. Things that would keep them in poverty included their present situation, not able to go back to school and get a degree, disability and ill health, and one said that it was too late now to try to move out of poverty. 3.13.11 Quality of Life and Sense of Well Being Achievement and enjoyment of a good quality of life and a sense of well being depends on more than having access to financial and material resources. All of the interviewees are aware of this so they identified a number of other things that are necessary for anyone to be able to achieve these. However while they all wished to have a sense of well being and to enjoy a good standard of living, because of their circumstances many who are poor are actually experiencing various states of “ill being.” The quality of life and the sense of well being have material as well as psychological, emotional, and spiritual dimensions that reflect the richness or otherwise of p eople’s lives. These dimensions describe if and how life has progressed and people’s level of satisfaction with the all aspects of their reality. However interviewees also understand the importance of the psychological and emotional dimensions of a good quality of life and of a sense of well being include high self esteem, positive feelings, good relationships, a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose, opportunities to realize potential and to be involved in societal processes, and a sense of achievement and fulfillment. Achievement of aspirations and goals also contributes to a sense of well being. While the interviewees who are poor stressed the material dimension, including the need for jobs and money to be able to enjoy a good standard of life and a good quality of life, they are handicapped by their poverty and by the lack of the type and amount of economic and material resources that they needed to be able to achieve this. T hey ar e t her ef or e dissatisfied with their standard of living and with the quality of their lives and they identified other reasons for this including spiritual, psychological and emotional factors that in their view a r e necessary to achieve a sense of well being. Among these are: faith in God, moral values, love, positive attitudes, happiness, kind heartedness, good family life, good relationships, good health, absence of abuse and domestic violence, a sense of security, and peace of mind. While several of the interviewees said that they are satisfied with the quality of their lives others are not. Those who are satisfied live in good conditions, have jobs and enough money to be able to meet basic needs, are content with what they have and have faith in God. Some of those who are not satisfied live in substandard housing, lack jobs and enough money so cannot meet basic needs or afford to pay their bills, and can’t further their studies. Achievement of a sense of well being also depends on the extent to which people are able to achieve their dreams, aspirations, and goals and the data show that interviewees have several of these. Some dreamed of living in better conditions, having proper shelter and a comfortable bed, of seeing their houses repaired or finished, and of having a better life. Others would like to further their children’s education as well as their own, to own their own business, and to travel. However because of their poverty many have been unable to realize their dreams or to achieve their goals.

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3.13.12 Coping and Survival Strategies The data show that those who are poor and whose income is insufficient to meet their needs use a number of strategies to survive, to cope with their situation, and to sustain their livelihoods. In order to make the best use of scarce financial resources some make do with and use what they have, others prioritize and budget, and others spend money on their needs rather than on their wants. Some said that they do not know how they manage and others rely on God. “Focus on basic needs and cut back on unnecessary things.” “Prioritize, keep within budget.” “Sacrifice leave things out.” “I really don’t know how I manage.” “Ask the Lord for help.” “We manage by the grace of God but we still need help.” Interviewees identified some other strategies that are used to sustain their livelihoods and to survive including looking for work, working more than one job, and making sacrifices. A small number admitted that either they or others in their households rely on illegal activities, especially selling of marijuana and/or wrappers, to gain an income and a few said that to deal with the challenges of living in poor conditions and being poor that they sometimes turn to alcohol and to crime. 3.13.13 Household Problems and Needs Information provided during interviews by heads of households provide empirical data that highlight the many challenges and problems that several heads of households face as they attempt to meet the basic needs of their families, to maintain their households and to sustain their livelihoods. All of the interviewees identified a number of problems they faced and several things that they needed to be able to maintain their households. The major problem facing several heads of households and their most urgent need is for jobs and for sufficient money to be able to provide basic needs, especially food, for household members, especially children. In addition several interviewees said that they are unable to provide their families with the basic needs of food and shelter on a regular basis, and some are also unable to effectively meet health needs, and/or psychological and emotional needs of household members. Their need is therefore not only for opportunities to earn an income but for other assistance and support that would enable them to cope with the adverse conditions that they face. While this could include in-kind assistance it might also require counseling and other types of emotional support as well as activities through which they could increase their self confidence. 3.13.14 Initiatives Taken to Improve Living Conditions and Alleviate Poverty According to some records and reports the Poverty Alleviation Bureau has taken a number of steps to improve living conditions and alleviate poverty. However the information provided by interviewees suggests that many people are unaware of the various projects and programmes that have been implemented

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to improve living conditions and alleviate poverty. This may have resulted from the Bureau’s lack of knowledge of specific needs and lack of communication with and involvement of the proposed beneficiaries, as well as from not stating that initiatives are specifically intended to improve living conditions and to alleviate poverty, and by targeting of certain communities or households and not of others. As a result over half of the interviewees eit h er said that there are no such projects or programmes in their community or that they did not know of any, and that their household had not benefited from any initiatives. “No programmes here.” “I don’t know of any projects.” “Nothing is being done here.” “People come round and inspect your place but you don’t get any real help.” In spite of this some of the interviewees did identify initiatives, projects and programmes, implemented by the government and by a few NGOs. Among the former are projects to allow some people to own land, projects like Housing Every Last Person (HELP) to help people own government housing units and projects to repair houses, road projects, stalls for fisher folk in Six Mens, and cheques from the Welfare Department. The Welfare to Work Programmes and building projects have also provided employment for some people, and the Ministry of Social Care and the Community Development Department offer courses in a variety of subjects including IT and skills training. Some churches also provide food, clothing and money, the YWCA that provides breakfast for some school children, and the Rotary Club and Auntie Olga provide various types of assistance to needy persons. 3.14.

Individual Life Stories

Life Stories of individuals provide a greater understanding and deeper insights into their lives and the meanings that they attribute to their experiences, but these cannot be measured or quantified by quantitative data. The qualitative data that emerge from in depth interviews with selected individuals provided opportunities for them to reflect on their lives, and draw attention to their experiences and realities, as well as to their needs and to the needs of others who have had similar experiences. The life stories presented here are the result of a lengthy and extensive interview that was conducted with each of the five individuals in different types of households including nuclear, single parent female headed, sibling, and an extended family household. The stories present snapshots of the lives of the interviewees and they draw attention to several issues that emerge from living in poor conditions and from the experience of poverty characterized by stringent economic circumstances that sometimes result in food insecurity and hunger. They also provide insights into male-female relationships that are sometimes characterized by abuse and violence, into mating patterns and high fertility, and into their dependence on social agencies for assistance and sometimes for survival, and into the copping strategies that they use to survive. As stated earlier pseudonyms have been used to ensure anonymity and the stories vary in length.

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3.14.1 SHEILA Background and Living Conditions Sheila is a forty something woman who is the third of her parents’ six children and according to her she had it rough growing up. “My mother was a hawker and my father a carpenter, there were six of us and I was the third. My father and mother break up. I had it hard growing up. It was rough, I had to come out of school so I did not do any CXCs. At sixteen I had my first child. She died but I does still remember her.” Sheila lives in a three bedrooms wooden house in a small rural community. Her son’s father left the house for her but it is badly in need of repair and is on rented land for which she pays $32.00 per month. She would like to get a piece of “ground” so she won’t have to pay rent. Financial situation Like other poor women Sheila’s economic circumstances are precarious. She is not employed and has no steady source of income so she depends on her partner and to some extent on her children for money to buy food, but this not always forthcoming. “My husband used to work at water works but he resign. He gets pension and gives me some money sometimes. He gets $480.00, but when he drunk and he get he pension he drink and when the woman in the rum shop ask him he give her $200.00 he give her and he come back hom e with $105.00. He had two cents in the bank but that done. He expect that when he put money there I must feed he, but not when he taking money and carrying to the other woman I ain’t lighting no stove.” Sheila’s husband gives her a little money sometimes and except for one son, her children help out sometimes. One of her sons and one of her daughters are employed so they give her some money to help out. However another son who is also employed does not give her anything and she refers to him as ‘a different kettle of fish’. “He don’t give me nothing, I don’t know how much he does work for but I does get some money from the other children once they have and I ask they will give me but I don’t depend on it.” An Abusive Relationship According to her, her husband was alright but she didn’t have children with him. Her relationship with her current partner is characterized by continuous verbal abuse over many years and this is still a common feature of the relationship. “The first two years were alright but then things turn bad. He used to abuse me curse me and call me the worst kinds of names. Everything come out of he mouth is a dirty word. Too much verbal abuse but he wasn’t so drunk to raise his hand at me. He hit me once and I get so angry I feel I would lick he upside down. I tell him never again I ain’t standing for no man to hit me.”

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Dependence on the Social Services Sheila is obese. She is very over weight and the doctor told her to that she has to get off some of her weight and that she needs to get some iron. She has diabetes and she sometimes goes for a walk sometimes, but she says that when ‘the sugar get into the body’ it is hard to get it out so she tries to cut out sweet things. Sheila uses the public health services at the polyclinic but she has not always been satisfied with the service. Once when she had a pain in her hand she went to the polyclinic and the doctor ask her: ‘Dat what you come here for?’ She says that she gets no help from the Welfare Department and that once when she went to them for help they asked her for her receipts from the supermarket. But she pointed out to them that: “When you go to the super market you don’t keep the receipts.” Stress and worry have contributed to the rough time that she has had with menopause and sometimes this causes her to be irritable and aggressive and can limit her interaction with others. She says: “I does get hotheaded quick so I don’t get into anything with nobody.” Reflections On reflecting on her life Sheila does not believe that she is poor as there are others who are worst off, but she says that if she had to live her life over she would live it differently. In spite of this she says that she is content with her life now. “I won’t really say I poor the challenge is the house but they got some worse than me. Life in the country is alright I prefer it I won’t live in the town or in Christ church. If I had to live my life over again I wouldn’t live it like this I would live it different. My life now I just home all the time but my grandchild getting ready for preschool and I’ll be free from there. If I had a chance I would like to go back to school. I does make my own clothes so I could improve. I would like to be happier but you can’t be happy if you being curse. But I contented. I have made a life for myself and don’ let things get to me. I content don’t nothing worry me. I go to church and I go out with a church group sometimes.” 3.14.2 AVIS Background and Living Conditions Avis is a seventy three old woman who lives on the outskirts of Bridgetown. She was born in the city and grew up in a four bedroom house where she slept on sugar bags on the floor. As a child she had to bring water from the pipe and sweep the yard. Once she left her mother’s house she had nowhere to live. Her search for housing led her to live in several places in and around the city and eventually to the community in which she now lives. Over her life she has made several attempts to obtain affordable acceptable housing for her and her children but she had not been always acceptable.

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“In 1962 I see a house they was selling but it didn’t suit a rat and it did long side the road so anything could run in and hit me so I refuse it. I then got another house but it was not so good. When I was pregnant eight months I went through the floor and hit my belly I had to go to the hospital and the baby born in August. In sixty eight I went to get a house. I went in the morning and lay out my case they give me groceries and I get a unit. I move in sixty nine, the house had three bedrooms but it had things in it, old suitcases and boxes and it was very dirty. The children help me clean the house. We wash the walls and spray and I still living here today. At first I used to pay four dollars then it went up to forty and I couldn’t afford to pay so I pay whenever I could and eventually they stop me paying so I don’t pay rent any more only lights and water.” Sexual relations, mating, and fertility Avis’ first sexual experience was at fifteen years when her cousin tried to rape her. “When I lie down about one o’clock, I feel like a load on me and a burning and he putting he….. between my legs and as I holler he went through the window he was my cousin. I follow him through the window and went to my father. My father take me to a doctor who say that he didn’t get no way there only slime The police was looking for he but could not find him although he was right in their eyesight.” Over her life Avis has had sexual relations with a number of men and her description of these relations highlights a pattern of serial mating and a high level of fertility that produced fifteen children from five of the men with whom she had intimate relationships, and with some of whom she had several children. She had her first child at eighteen years of age. “I went to live in ….. and I got my first child and then I had three children with this man and when I was pregnant with the fourth, one morning he got up with paralysis and couldn’t walk.” “After that I get four children, three boys and a girl from someone else and then I was seven months pregnant for another fellow. But he had another woman. The child was a girl but she died from worm fits. Then I find myself pregnant for a fellow in town.” “Then I meet up this fellow and get two for him. It went long so till I get a husband but he had another woman and every time I pregnant so was the other woman. Every time I get a child she get one I ask him what going on here.” “Then I find myself pregnant for a fellow in town. After I had the child I put he in court and I find a little job ten dollars a week. But then I got two babies and this one grandmother say she will keep her. But she want to command the child wholly and solely as if she is the mother and wanted me to sign papers, but I refuse so she put the child in their name. She send the father to England so I won’t got nothing to do with he.” In all Avis had fifteen children, nine boys and six girls all of whom were born at Beckles Road District Hospital. One daughter of thirty six years old has severe physical and mental disabilities and is really a vegetable. Avis says that when she was born her father rejected her but Avis refused to put her in an institution and elected to care for her at home.

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“One child, a girl born disabled she born feet first one foot smaller than the other. Her father say I could throw her in the dust bin or drown she, but I never put her in a home I give up my work to stay with her. But her brother from another woman claimed her as his sister and would bring things for her.” Mating with different men did not seem to be a problem for Avis and it appears that she accepted it as being “normal” and some of the men with whom she had sexual relationships were also engaged in serial mating. It also appears that once the child/children were born her relationships with these men did not last long. While Avis did not specifically say that she mated with different men in order to obtain economic help some research has shown that this is a reality for some poor women. On the other hand the men with whom Avis mated were also poor and were unable to provide any financial support or to take responsibility for their children. Mavis recalled that on one occasion a woman came by her house and shouted: ‘Wakefield come she got to look for a man she got all them children in there and expect you to feed she and them.’ “But I didn’t use he money to support the rest of children I want he to support he own. Financial Situation Avis has never had access to enough money to enable her to meet her basic needs and to provide for her children as she would have liked. Her children’s fathers were poor and many of them did not take responsibility for their children and did not usually give Avis money to support them. So even when she took them to court they only provided small amounts that were insufficient to provide even their children’s basic needs. Consequently, she often had to go to the Welfare Department to get any financial support at all. “After I had the child I put he in court. Then I went to welfare for money they give me ten dollars and they tell he to put another ten dollars with that money because the children want shoes to wear to school. The two of them was getting ten dollars each and I was struggling with the rest on my own.” “The fellow that I was pregnant for won’t give nothing for the little boy. I went to court for the fellow who I had the child for cause he was married but he tell the magistrate he could only give me a dollar, the magistrate say he must give me three dollars. I put he in court so many times for the children money, five children for him but I never get the support I want although I put him in court, but he come in when he like he ain’t bringing no money so I tell he not to come back here.” “I didn’t have no money to give the children food for Xmas Day but he come in drunk and ask for food. Once I find a roll of money in he shoe, I dig a hole in the yard and put the money there.” “Then this man come and ask me to press some shirts and he would give me a little dollar. He is a married man but he give me a little something and I appreciate it.” While some of Avis’s adult children do give her money sometimes some don’t. But she gets $462.00 a month in disability allowance and a pension of $252.00 every two weeks. “The children help me out sometimes. Three live here with me. One of my sons put $500.00 but the other didn’t want to put nothing.”

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In order to gain some kind of income and just to be able to feed her children, from time to time Avis has done a number of menial jobs that earned her small amounts of money “One time I went and work servant work, I wash bottles, I pick potatoes, I work on a bus, I do everything I had to do to give my children a meal cause they have to go to school. I used to sell drinks too but my neighbor got rape and killed five years ago so I stop cause I scared I don’t feel safe.” One of the challenges that women face when they have multiple partners and several children from different men, and when some of them, a boyfriend, lives in the same house with children from other men, there is the possibility that the boyfriend can become sexually attracted to the woman’s young daughters, and this was Avis’ experience. “Once I had a boyfriend here and he tell me I have to keep an eye on my twelve year old daughter, so I don’t like to bring a man in here with the children.” Dependency on Public Services Avis depends on public health services and on the Welfare Department. In terms of health she is obese and suffers from diabetes and hypertension. She also has a growth on the back of her neck which she says she will not get cut as it does not pain her and she is scared. She and her daughter use the health services and get their medication from the Polyclinics and she finds that the nurses there treat her and her daughter well and according to her they are very attached to her daughter. She also receives a pension of $252.00 per fortnight and a disability allowance for her daughter of $462.00 per month from the Welfare Department and this goes a long way to enable her to buy food and other basic necessities Reflections While Avis acknowledges that she is poor she is also aware that there are others who are worse off then she is. “I don’t have it but they got people poorer than me who ain’t get a cup of tea this morning, but I had one.” She admitted that many people have helped her and she says that if she was able she would like to help people too. “If I had money I would help people. That is my desire. I know who help me so I would help people. That’s my way.” 3.14.3 MONICA AND JOAN Monica and Joan are two elderly “poor white” sisters age seventy two and seventy three respectively. They live in a small quiet village in St John’s Locale. They come from long line of “poor white” families many of whose descendents still live in various communities in the St John’s Locale. They grew up in the Clifton Hall Woods. Their parents had fourteen children, eight girls and six boys and their father worked as a boiler at Colleton Factory. The family was very poor and life was very rough. The children had to work hard bringing water from the pump, cleaning out the pig pens before going to school, and cutting trees to get wood to burn in the wood fires. As children they went to St Margaret School.

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Living Conditions Monica and Joan have lived in poor conditions all of their lives. At one point Monica was sleeping in an open shack but eventually got a house for eighty dollars but it had no bed so she slept on the floor. While Joan does own land and a house in Newcastle, the house is not only in a very poor condition, but her daughter put her out and took it over so she now lives with Monica who takes care of her. The conditions in which they now live are bad. The house given to them by a brother has two bedrooms but it is in very bad condition, many of the boards are rotting and the house needs extensive repairs. Although they do have some amenities and appliances these are old and do not always work. For example the bathroom and toilet are in the house but they are not in a good condition and do not always work properly. Even though they have an old gas stove that works they often cannot afford gas so they sometimes cook on three stones in the yard. However they do not always have anything to cook and many a time they go hungry. “Lord I feel like a dog not a drink in the house nothing for me or for her.” “Yesterday all we had was a cup of tea and three biscuits and today we boil two plantain and eat that.” “Sometimes a little rice and corn beef.” “Every morning I get up if I can get anything from anybody or go by my sister and help her and get a hand of banana, whatever she got she give me.” “Sometimes I go up the road and help a lady clean chickens and she my give me some of the feet or necks.” “Sometimes I go down by the Bay and fish with a line and catch some fish.” Food is therefore their most urgent need and they often have to depend on what people give them or stay hungry. When they do have food their diet is inadequate and is comprised mainly of carbohydrates and the occasional protein but no vegetables so their nutritional needs are not being met and their health is being jeopardized. Sexual harassment, mating and parenthood At various times throughout her life Monica had experienced some sexual harassment but she always had strong feelings about this and never tolerated it and on several occasions she threatened the harasser with violence. The harassment began while she was a child going to school when according to her one of her male relatives tried to “interfere” with her several times while on her way to school, but she reacted violently. As an adult even though a policeman was present, she threatened to stab a man who was sexually harassing her on Swan Street. “In Swan Street even with the police around I threatened to stab a man who was sexually harassing me. The police call me a vagabond but said he had seen the harassment.” Monica was also sexually harassed on the job by her employee’s sons but when their father ignored her complaints and threats she eventually left the job.

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“I was working as a cashier at - - - - - and two of his sons frequently touched me on my bottom. I threatened them and complained to their father, it did not stop so I eventually left the job.” Both Monica and Joan have children. Monica is a single parent and she had four children from a man in town but they were not married as his mother told him not to marry, and he n e v e r supported the children. “I had four children. The children father never support them and I never ask him for a cent. I raise them by myself. It was hard sometimes when I had nothing to give them. Sometimes I had men friends and they would give the children things, sometimes I thought they doing this to get at the girls but I warned them not to interfere with my children or I would cut their throat.” Financial Situation Joan had lived and worked in Canada for a few years, but over the years Monica did several things in order to obtain money. At one time she worked at a food store for four years, then she was employed on two occasions as a cashier at a department store but during that time she had to leave for four months to care for her ageing mother. Eventually she left that store because she was being sexually harassed by the owner’s sons. She then did a number of other jobs including as a gardener and as a domestic. “I work at ------to help with the garden but because of my hard work I get an offer to clean the big house, to prepare 15 rooms for people who were coming in the next day.” She also worked as part of a team that was doing road works and that paid well. However when she went for this job, her brother-in-law said that that was no job for a white woman, but this did not deter her and she replied. “Man which you prefer for me to do this or to go in a cane ground and take a man?” In recent years Monica still continues to explore opportunities to obtain some money so at one time she rented a bedroom to a Guyanese young man for fifty dollars a week, but although he lived there for three weeks he only paid for one week before he left. In addition she sometimes picks up coconuts and coconut shells which she sells and sometimes she helps a woman up the hill clean chickens. However given her age and her multiple health problems, she is now not able to work at anything for any length of time. Consequently her pension and some money occasionally from one of her daughters are the only financial resources to which she has access. Dependence on Public services Monica and Joan depend on and use public health services provided at the Polyclinic and at the General Hospital. They have multiple health problems among which are heart problems, severe eye problems including cataracts and impaired sight, diabetes, hypertension, poor circulation, and sores on their feet. Both of them need operations and although they have been given dates for these the latter have been changed several times and even though they have been hospitalized on several occasions, to date none of the operations have been done.

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“Both of us have eye problems, I can’t even always see to do the garden and the house work properly.” “I have diabetes and get a nail juck in my foot so it taking long to heal.” “We does go to the Polyclinic and the hospital. The treatment not bad I went in for the operation but my pressure was too high so they had to postpone it”. Monica used to receive a small amount of money from the Welfare Department but this was stopped three months before she reached sixty five years and she was never told why. She now gets $254.00 in old age pension every two weeks and she uses this mainly to pay light and water bills so very little if any of it is left to buy groceries. Joan does not get a pension here. She used to get a pension from Canada where she had worked for a while but her daughter wrote and told them that she was dead so she gets nothing. As a result she is dependent solely on Monica for her survival. Poverty and Sense of Well Being While Monica and Joan both admitted that they are poor, they are in fact destitute because they are unable to even meet their basic need for food. “We poor we have nothing, nothing to eat sometimes.” Information provided from other PPA activities also reveals that several poor whites in the St John’s Locale are also poor. Several live in poor housing conditions are either unemployed or underemployed and have very little disposable income. This in a society in which being better off, rich or wealthy are generally connected with being white, and being poor generally connected with being black. However it has also been generally recognized that “poor whites” have been traditionally poor and sometimes even poorer than some blacks. Relationships In addition to the basic needs of food, shelter and clothing, a feeling of belonging is also essential for individuals to enjoy a sense of well being and this is achieved and nurtured through relationships, and relationships provide important support networks on which people can rely. However when there are few meaningful relationships or where relationships have become damaged people can feel neglected, excluded, and abandoned. Monica and Joan both feel neglected, abandoned and excluded. Over and over they said that they had no one on whom they can rely. “I don’t have nobody, nobody to give me nothing.” “I like a dog begging for a bone and nobody won’t pelt me a bone.” Monica and Joan described their relationships with each other, with their children, with other family members, with other poor whites, and with blacks. The relationship between Monica and Joan is very strong. Joan is dependent on Monica for her survival and Monica is committed to caring for Joan. Their relationship with two other sisters who live nearby and

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who are just as poor, while not as strong is still fairly good and when they can from time to time they do help out each other. Relationships with their children vary significantly. Monica has a fairly good relationship with one of her daughters who calls her often and who while not much better off, would like her mother to come and live with her in town. However Monica feels that she cannot leave Joan to live on her own. Joan’s relationship with her children is different as she is the victim of elder abuse by her son who has threatened her and by one of her daughters who according to her has robbed her of her house and land as well as of her pension. She feels bitter about this because according to her, her daughter works her land and sells the produce but don’t give her anything. Her grandchildren also verbally abuse her. Most of the poor whites in St John’s Locale are related and while some relate to each other well, some others do not. As far as Monica is concerned their few white friends don’t respect them. “I have more friends with coloured people than with white. My parents raised plenty coloured children in our house with us so we don’t pass them. They treat me better than my own colour. The few white friends are not so good. All the years they don’t show us any kind of respect. One of my cousins stop Auntie Olga from coming and from and giving us anything.” When asked about their relationships with other better off whites in the society both said that the former usually do not relate to them or to other “poor whites” “They don’t have nothing to do with we.” Observation and information obtained in household interviews provided some evidence of miscegenation and of intimate relationships between poor whites and blacks. For example several “poor white” women are either married to, are in common law relationships with, and/or have had children with black men. While the PPA did not produce concrete evidence of the reasons for these phenomena, they could well be the result of “poor white” women being rejected by better off white males in the society. Reflections Monica and Joan say that they are contented, that they live one day at a time by the grace of God, and that they are thankful for what anyone gives them. They reflected on their experience of poverty and on its impact on their lives and of the loneliness and abandonment that they feel in these words. “Things could be better sometimes days down but have to take life as it come.” “I does get lonely sometimes.” “I ain’t got no future. I feel as if I loss I does sit down and cry. I don’t have nobody.” The life experiences Monica and Joan mirror some of those described in an undated article by Peter Simmons entitled “Red Legs”: Class and Color Contradictions in Barbados”. When compared with some of the situations described in this article, Monica’s and Joan’s experiences as well as some of the other “poor Whites” who were interviewed show that over time little has changed in situation of some members of this group most of whom live in the St John’s Locale.

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3.14.4 CHERYL Cheryl is a twenty six year old young woman who lives in one of the housing areas. She lives in an extended family comprised of her aunt and uncle, their two sons and their daughter and her baby, and her two children. Cheryl is a single mother of two children, a boy in primary school and a girl in secondary school, both of whom are doing well at school. Cheryl’s parents were poor and it appears that they did not care much about her. She grew up with her grandmother who was also poor but who struggled to make ends meet and she observed the life that her mother. “My mother had a lot of boy-friends. She got pregnant at fifteen and had me when she was seventeen. She sit an wait on a man for money. My father didn’t care about me.” “I grew up with my grandmother, I was on my own a lot but my grandmother struggled and tried to make ends meet to send me to school.” Living Conditions and Poverty The two bedroom unit in which Cheryl lives is small but because it has to accommodate nine people a room has been added on in the back. Cheryl’s grandmother lived in this unit for forty seven years free but when she died the Welfare Department gave them the house for which they now have to pay rent of thirty dollars per week. However they owe several hundred dollars in arrears. The unit is one of the older government units and is badly in need of repairs. The structure is weak, it leaks, the windows need changing and the house is neither safe nor sanitary. Rats often come up from the sewerage and run around in the house, birds live in the roof and the plumbing and electricity need fixing. For Cheryl poverty has been inherited and has been passed on from the previous generations. “My grandmother was poor. She struggled. We went through a cycle of poverty and the cycle continued and was repeated so it hard to change it.” Because she is currently unemployed Cheryl is finding it hard to survive. She is not always able to meet either her own or her children’s needs and to provide food so they sometimes go hungry. “It is difficult being a single parent. I am poor and struggling with two children and I can’t get a job.” Financial situation At present Cheryl is unemployed and one of her main concerns is her lack of access to enough money to meet basic needs and to provide for her children as she would like. The latter’s father does not support them and even though her current boyfriend does give her some money, she wants to be financially independent so she is looking for a part time job. In the past she has had a number of jobs that paid low wages and has worked in conditions that were not always good. She worked at a fast food outlet as a cashier and a waitress for the minimum wage of five dollars per hour and when she had to work at the one of their branches she had to leave home at three o’clock in the morning to open at five o’clock and then had to work until one thirty in the afternoon with no

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extra pay for overtime. For a short while she worked at a store and at a supermarket for four dollars an hour. Cheryl has a certificate in Geriatric Nursing obtained when she lived in England for a short time after she was raped. At one time she used this certificate to get a job as a geriatric nurse at a private nursing home for a wage of six dollars an hour. Dependency on the Social Services Cheryl’s attempts to obtain assistance from three government agencies the Polyclinic, the Welfare Department, and the Courts, have been unsuccessful and this suggests that some social agencies do not always provide help and assistance to some people who are most in need. Cheryl and her family depend on and use the public health care services provided at the Polyclinic, but she said that while the services are available the service is poor and the attitude of the nurses is unacceptable. “The doctors are OK but some of the nurses treat you as if you come to beg. But it is not their money, it belong to the government and it is free to everyone.” On one occasion Cheryl also went to the Welfare Department for assistance but the officer was unmannerly and told her: “You too fit to get welfare assistance and your children father out there.” But Cheryl sa ys t hat she wasn’t asking for money but for food vouchers so t hat she could get some groceries to provide food for her children. She also took the children’s father to court but after three months they said that they couldn’t find him and that she should go back and reapply to the Welfare Department. “They know where he works so I can’t understand why the court can’t send a Marshal up there to get him.” Cheryl’s experiences with these social agencies, like those of some others who participated in PPA activities draw attention to the ways in which the attitudes and unprofessional behavior of some service providers are preventing people from accessing and benefitting from the many services that are available. Relationships with Men When Cheryl was eighteen she was raped by three men. It was a very traumatic experience which nine years later is still affecting her. After the rape the police promised to assign her to a counsellor but they never did. “So I have been my own counsellor trying to battle this for years. Although one of the rapists is in gaol, the other two are not. Two of them are walking. I see them sometimes. When they see me they don’t say anything. One will not look at me he look as if he is shame, and may walk in a different direction, but the other one would look me full in my face. This makes me feel uncomfortable and I would get a panic attack.” As it to be expected, being raped was a very traumatic experience that has changed Cheryl’s attitudes and her emotional responses and behaviours. S h e s a y s t h a t p eople are insensitive to the emotional

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scars that remain and with which she must live for the rest of her life. They therefore think that she is rough, hostile and aggressive but these are some of the behaviours displayed by survivors of rape. “Sometimes I get irritable, annoyed, flip off, or get hostile. Some people say I have an attitude but they don’t understand the cause of my hostility. I also get aggressive. I still trying to come to terms with it.” The experience of being raped has affected Cheryl’s ability to trust men and to manage relationships with them. “I got into the relationship with my current boyfriend solely for the money he gives me and I told him this up front. He wants me to love him but this is not going to happen. He don’t understand. He says that he can’t take my hostile attitude but I can’t tell him the reason because he might look at me different.” Like many survivors of rape Cheryl has never seen a psychologist or had counseling. The counselor promised by the police never materialized and Cheryl cannot afford to pay a psychologist. “That cost money and I can’t afford but I would like it.” In addition to the need for counseling for herself Cheryl stressed the need if not for qualified counselors, for experienced adults who could provide young people with guidance that would help them to overcome some of the many challenges that they face. “As a young girl there were not many adults that I could go to talk to so I tried to learn from my own mistakes and try to pull up myself. But there are a lot of young people with challenges.” “‘We young people we need guidance. Without it we are nothing. We don’t understand this world, the older people know the world they been through it. We are young and without a guiding hand and without someone to talk to say if you going wrong or right you keep repeating your mistakes.” “You don’t always need advice, sometimes you just need to talk and for somebody to listen. But you have to be careful to who you talk to. For example you can’t talk to people out here or everybody will know your business/problems. You want somebody with whom you not too close but who can be trusted and who see you as a person.” These comments of Cheryl’s not only highlight but emphasize the need for special services designed to meet the emotional and psychological needs of those who may have had traumatic experiences. They also suggest that there ar e many young people, who are facing challenges for which they are not mentally or emotionally equipped and who are in need of the special attention and help that such services can provide. The Future Cheryl is a very ambitious young woman and has a number of goals that she hopes to achieve. She believes that in order to achieve her goals furthering her education is important so she is currently a full time student at the Polytechnic and is halfway through a course on Garment Construction and Design. She is using her hands and she says that this is something that she likes and it is where her talent lies.

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She hopes to be able to own her own small business designing and making clothes and while she is aware of possible competition from boutiques she is prepared to do alterations and other aspects of garment making that she says is needed. “As part of my training I get to help the tutor with alterations. I could do alterations. A lot of people throw away clothes while they could be altered.” She is also prepared if necessary to work in a garment factory until she can develop her business. “My plans try to get job in a factory until I can branch off and work for myself.” Cheryl also plans to eventually own a house so that her children can grow up in a different environment than the one in which she did and still does. . “I give myself ten years to own my own house, nothing elaborate, something simple so my children can grow up in a different environment. My mother had a lot of children for different men she didn’t teach me anything. I don’t want that for my daughter.” Cheryl would also like to get married and to help people in the community, especially children, and to provide them with the assistance that they need but that is not now being provided. 3.14.5 ROY Roy is a twenty six year old young male who lives with his mother in one of the semi-urban communities that was studied. He is referred to as The Philosopher by his peers. While he was born in this community he grew up in St James but now lives with his mother in a house that his grandmother left for them. He comes from a large family and has many brothers and sisters. He says that he had a happy childhood with his mother and stepfather, a white man whom his mother married but from whom she is now divorced. Roy says that his stepfather is one of the top chefs in the country and is a good man. He raised him for eighteen years, introduced him to cooking, and was responsible for him being able to get jobs in several restaurants. He has a good relationship with his stepfather and still keeps in touch with him. During his childhood and teenage years when he lived with his mother and stepfather he lived in several middle class communities including Heywoods and Prior Park. According to him life in these communities is significantly different from the one in which he now lives. “In them communities it is very quiet people only see about themselves but here people more malicious but there is more unity and togetherness.” Roy went to a private primary school and then to one of the newer secondary schools. But he left at fourteen years. “I didn’t care about education then I only wanted fun so I played around and left at fourteen.” Later he enrolled in evening classes at another secondary school and obtained and five CXC certificates including a Grade One in English Literature. He is now an avid reader and is well informed on a variety of subjects, he speaks out on things like injustice and he believes that is why people in the community call him The Philosopher.

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Employment When Roy left school at fourteen he got a job as a porter at a restaurant for about three months and then he started to cook there. He stayed there for about nine months. Roy says that he loves work, that he has worked at several top restaurants and that he finds it easy to get jobs because of his step father’s contacts. “He just have to call somebody and say I sending my son.” He is currently working at a top restaurant in Christ Church where the pay is not as high as that in restaurants on the West Coast where he benefited from a service charge and tips. However Roy says that working in restaurants he meets and gets to know many people and as a result from time to time he also gets opportunities to do private work cooking for people. Roy therefore has opportunities that the majority of his peers in his community and of his counterparts in some other “ghetto” communities like The Pine and The City don’t have. Several unemployed young people, especially young men, in his community and in the other two mentioned emphasized the fact that knowing the right people is important in obtaining a job and Roy’s experience confirms this. However while Roy believes that work is not hard to find, he thinks that many of his peers are neither interested in work nor in working hard. He said that he has helped some of the guys in his community to get jobs, but some of them was not willing to work hard and lost their jobs. “Work not hard to get I get work for six people out here but only two still working. You have to work hard.” Views and experience on Poverty Roy’s definition of poverty is when you don’t own anything, still using pit toilets or are dying from starvation, and when you can’t afford luxuries like cars or computers. He therefore believes that there is no poverty in Barbados. According to Roy Barbadians are lazy and spend their money on the wrong things. “The definition poor does not apply to Barbados. People may be less fortunate but they ain’t poor. There are no people in Barbados dying from starvation. How many people in Barbados still got pit toilets? Poor is places like Sierra Leone and those places.” “I don’t believe they got poor people in Barbados. Barbados got lazy people and people who channeling their money in the wrong places. They got a house with roof falling in but they got a car and a computer inside, so how they could be poor? They consider themselves poor because they can’t afford what another man affording.” In discussing poverty Roy described the class divisions in the society and the fact that most Barbadians, including him, are living above and beyond their means and are focusing on luxuries rather than on priorities. . “We have middle class and high class only but no poor. Carry and show me them. If an old man ninety five and live in a rotten house he ain’t poor he just in a bad situation cause he can’t work for heself. Ninety five percent 95% of Barbadians living above their means so they can’t be poor. Look at them fellows on the block them lazy them ain’t poor.”

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“Look at me I get paid weekly but I living above my means like every other Bajan. My luxuries include partying and clothes. I got nuf shoes, I love shoes. I got eleven pairs and I want twenty two by December.” Roy certainly is not poor and it appears that he can afford to focus on his luxuries because his basic needs of food and shelter, as well as some of his other needs are being provided by his mother. “My mother does everything for me.” Many of Roy’s comments suggest that he regards poverty in absolute terms or as destitution and the data obtained during the PPA show that this type and level of poverty while it does exist is not widespread in Barbados. Moreover because of this, like Roy, many people may be unaware of its existence. The indicators that Roy and many other respondents identified as contributing to poverty are those that refer to the physical, material and economic dimensions of poverty. But information provided by several respondents, including Roy, highlight the importance of recognizing a number of other factors that show that poverty is a multi-dimensional phenomenon. Views of and Experience with Violence Roy has some very specific views on violence and has been a perpetrator as well as a victim of violence, but says that he is not a criminal. “I chop up a man recently. I get chop up too. So I chop him up. I went to Harrison Point for about three weeks for resisting arrest, assaulting a police and for damaging police poverty, but it didn’t affect me cause I ain’t no criminal.” He sees violence as a way of getting rid of frustration and anger and as a way of retaliating. “People want something to occupy their mind. Say you want something and can’t get it you get frustrated and your mind start to go in the wrong direction and things escalate. Turning to violence is easy it let you get rid of your frustration and anger. I am also an angry person but I take out my anger in sport.” Roy says that he never fights or get violent with anyone in his community because he is well loved, he knows the people, and considers them family. He also does not believe in hitting women “Although I hit a woman once I won’t waste my time and energy hitting women now.” While Roy admits that his community has some characteristics of a ghetto, and while he agrees that there are some “ignorant” people in the community, he says that there are also sensible people and that the community is one of the quietest ghettoes Roy’s comments on violence as a strategy for solving problems and for dealing with frustration and anger is probably also the reason why so many young people, especially males resort to violence. However, this existing belief of violence clearly signals the need to expose young people to training in non-violent ways of dealing with emotions and with of problem solving and conflict resolution. Sexuality, sex and relationships Roy is very much aware of his sexuality and places a great deal of importance on sex. He started having sex at fourteen years of age and according to him he has had sex with over a hundred women. For him sex is a

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way of proving his manhood and he sees women as sex objects to satisfy his desire for sex, and he says that having sex is a habit that he says he cannot control. “I can’t do without sex for more than two days. I feel that my reason for being here is to please women and comfort them. I am a good listener and a good conversationalist. I like women but it is just sex, it like a star to me but I lose interest quick.” Consequently he does not see his interactions with women in terms of love or relationships. “They are not relationships I had one relationship in my life it was with a girl for five years, all the rest is just fooling around. I is a good flirter I know how to use my mouth. I does love some of them but I only love four girls in my life.” Roy says that initially he never used condoms but because of a scare he got tested three times now, so he uses them and is not worried about contacting HIV/AIDs or STIs. Reflections Roy believes that because he keeps to himself and minds his own business he could live anywhere but he is concerned about the behavior of many young people whom he feels have no respect for anybody. He is also concerned about some people in the community who are illiterate. “There are people out here who are illiterate women and men illiterarte and this little boy here not in school. All the people in that house illiterate, they need to understand the importance of education.” Unlike when he was a student in secondary school Roy now realizes the importance of education and is interested in continuing his education. He would like to get an Associate Degree in Hospitality Studies and eventually go to UWI and pursue a degree in Psychology and Sociology, but he doesn’t want to work and study. While many of his peers and friends in the community are on drugs Roy says that he is not. However he did admit that he had smoked marijuana from fourteen years until he was twenty four. Now he sees himself as a role model for young people in the community. “I am a role model for some young people out here.” While Roy is not poor he d o es n o t b e l i ev e t h a t h e is rich. He says that he wants to be rich now and when he thinks about the future he says that he wants to be a billionaire so that he could feed people and be able to give them thousands of dollars. “Rich means having millions, I want to be rich now.” 3.15.

Themes and Issues

Examination of the life stories of these five individuals reveals and highlights several important issues that have already emerged from information provided by other respondents. Among these are: Inter-generational poverty: A large number of the households studied are multigenerational households and a significant number of these are poor. The five women whose stories are told here all grew up in households in which their parents and grandparents were poor and they are still caught in this cycle of poverty from which they have been unable to break.

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Their stories show that the legacy of this type of poverty has limited their life chances and their access to opportunities to further their education and to obtain well paying jobs so that they had to accept menial and low paying jobs. Another feature of many poor multi-generational households is the phenomenon of single mothers with full responsibility for supporting their children and who often have to depend on various social services agencies for their survival and that of their children. These trends run through the stories. Sexuality, mating and fertility: The stories also draw attention to issues of sexuality and to the existence of a pattern of serial mating and high fertility especially among some poor women. Roy’s views on sex and sexuality are interesting and are evidence of a high level of promiscuity. He sees women as sex objects who are there for his use and pleasure. Information provided by other male respondents did not specifically draw attention to their views on promiscuity, but there is evidence that some males did have children from several women. Moreover there is a lingering belief throughout the region that having sexual relations with several women is a sign of manhood. In terms of mating and fertility, although several women in the study had had children from several men, Avis having fifteen children from five different men stands out, and like other poor women she faced many challenges in her attempts to provide for them, including depending on the men for financial support. While this appears to be a strategy that some women use to obtain financial assistance Avis’ experience and that of some other shows that it is usually not effective. Several women also believed that having large numbers of children had contributed to their poverty. In addition serial mating and large numbers of children have implications for women’s general health as well as their productive health including risks of contacting various STIs and the stress and anxiety of having to provide for so many children. It is therefore important to expose poor women to different kinds of survival strategies and to provide them with more opportunities to obtain the financial resources that they need to provide for their families as well as with programmes that will encourage and convince them to use contraceptives. High level of dependency on existing social services: The stories of all five women draw attention to their almost total dependence on social service agencies for their survival and that of their families. Avis has benefited from several of these agencies in terms of free housing and good health care for her disabled daughter, and although Joan and Monica face challenges in travelling to polyclinics and the hospital, they have also benefitted from the services that they provide. However Sheila had not been so lucky. On the other hand, and Cheryl was not only unsuccessful in her attempt to obtain much needed food vouchers, but was rediculed by one service provider. Some other female respondents also commented on the unacceptable behavior of some staff members of social service agencies. This behavior of some providers not only prevents them from obtaining and benefitting from existing services, but according to some, has made them decide not to approach some agencies, even though they might be in need. Females as victims of sexual harassment, abuse, domestic violence, and rape and the ineffectiveness of existing services to help them deal and come to terms with the resulting trauma: All of the women whose stories are told here have been at one time or another been victims of sexual harassment and of verbal and sexual abuse. Verbal abuse is a common feature of Sheila’s life, Monica was a victim of sexual harassment in the street and on the job, Avis was a victim of attempted rape and Cheryl is a victim of rape. While the data provide little concrete evidence of domestic violence some people believed that it existed but was hidden. However, in one of the communities, it is common knowledge that one woman was raped and

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there is not only a concern, but anger that the rapist has not been brought to justice. On the other hand, the three men who raped Cheryl were brought to justice but two of them are “out” and she feels threatened and afraid. Victims of harassment, abuse, domestic violence and rape experience a great deal of trauma, and of psychological and emotional damage. However, to Cheryl and some other women these aspects of their reality are hardly ever dealt with, they feel that is an important issue that needs to be addressed. However although several judicial and social service agencies and services are available, victims as well as some other women pointed out the absence of special services, including psychological counseling and support. The need for such services is therefore critical as is the need to bring the perpetrators to justice. 3.16.

Data Analysis and Interpretation

Activities conducted during the PPA generated a large amount of qualitative data that increase understanding of the living conditions, of the types and levels of poverty that exist in the selected communities and of the factors that contribute to their existence and that reinforce and perpetuate them. An analysis of the information provided by those who participated in the various PPA activities provides insights into what it means to be poor and to live in impoverished conditions and draws attention to the negative outcomes and impact that living in poor conditions and in poverty has on individuals, groups, households and communities. The analysis also reveals some of the initiatives undertaken by various institutions and organizations to improve living conditions and alleviate poverty. However, they also draw attention to a number of gaps in the provision of services and of programmes and projects that are intended to improve living conditions and alleviate poverty. Information provided by individuals and groups who participated in various PPA activities also attention to:    

Various types of conditions in which people live, to the different levels and severity of poverty that exist in the communities studied, and to some of the factors that contribute to these. Some of the initiatives that have been taken to improve living conditions and alleviate poverty. Some of the services provided by social service agencies, and the sometimes negative experiences of some who attempt to access their services. Experiences of individuals and groups who face challenges in sustaining their livelihoods and to the strategies they use to cope and survive.

3.16.1 Living Conditions The living conditions and the standard of living in several of the communities studied are acceptable but this is not so in some others. The data show that living conditions in the rural communities in St John’s Locale and in St Judes as well as in Orange Hill are significantly better than conditions in the urban and some of the sub-urban communities like The City and The Pine. In the former there are many more single dwellings that are owned by their occupants, but in the latter while there are some single dwellings, more people live in government housing units for which they pay rent. There are also more houses in the rural areas that are in a better condition than those in the urban and sub-urban areas in which several of the government housing units as well as individual houses are in need of extensive repairs and in which there is overcrowding.

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In addition to poor housing, living conditions are affected by environmental factors including poor garbage disposal, open wells and unacceptable disposal of sewage all of are present in a few of the communities and which are health hazards. Pollution, devastation, and degradation of the natural physical environment also determine and affect the conditions in which people live and the data provide evidence that these are present in a few of the communities but especially in the coastal fishing village of Six Mens. There dust pollution and destruction of flora and fauna from road construction, soil and beach erosion and destruction of marine life not only contribute to poor living conditions but they also threaten the livelihood of several of the residents. On the other hand, while poor housing and environmental factors contribute to poor living conditions the data show that in all of the communities lack of job opportunities and unemployment, insufficient money to meet the basic needs, and limited access to financial resources have also contributed to the poor conditions in which some residents have to live. 3.16.2 Poverty The data have shown that those who live in poverty are aware and understand that it is multi-dimensional, that it means being deprived of essential things, and from their experience they know that it affects all aspects of their lives in negative ways. However while they see deprivation of basic needs as a threat to their survival, they are also aware that other things of which they are deprived also contribute to their impoverished condition. Many of those who participated in PPPA activities understand that in addition to the physical effects of poverty, it has social, psychological, and emotional effects that erode their self esteem, increase their dependency on others and their feelings of powerlessness, and decreases their ability to improve their living conditions or to move out of poverty. Given this, all attempts to address the issue of poverty and to alleviate a n d r e d u c e it must be based on recognition as well as on an understanding of all of its dimensions and of how they interact to impact negatively on the lives of those who are poor. 3.16.3 Contributing Factors and Consequences Information provided by residents and observations of living conditions in the communities studied showed that some characteristics of poverty as well as the factors that contribute to poverty are also consequences of living in poor conditions and of experiencing poverty. Among these are poor or inadequate housing, unemployment, low wages and insufficient income to meet basic needs, lack of and/or limited access to financial and other resources, low levels of education, poor health, unharmonious relationships and low self esteem. Several persons acknowledge that inadequate housing and their inability to repair their houses was a contributor as well as a consequence of their being poor, but the majority of those who provided information about the causes of poverty believe that lack of money and lack of access to other financial resources are the main cause of poverty. Several people attributed their lack of financial resources to the current economic recession, to the downturn in the economy and to the high and rising cost of living. Others cited unemployment and underemployment, lack of income, l o w wages and lack of money as major factors that contribute to poor living conditions, to their inability to meet basic needs, and to them being poor. Many of those who are unemployed or working in low paying jobs have low levels of education and this highlights the link between level of education and the ability to obtain employment and to earn good

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wages. But some people also said that because they are poor they are unable to pursue higher levels of education. Formal education is available free from nursery to university and there is a good network of educational institutions throughout the country, and many of the respondents had some level of secondary education, but the data show that several persons are leaving school without certificates and that even some with certificates are unable to obtain jobs. In addition while the curriculum of the Polytechnic is geared to providing training in technical and vocational subjects, several young people expressed concern about the emphasis within the secondary school curriculum on academic rather than on technical and vocational subjects and suggested that this is one of the factors that has prevented them from obtaining jobs. Poor health was also identified as a contributing factor and as a consequence of being poor. Free public health services are available to everyone but some individuals are dissatisfied with the quality of the services being provided and about the unacceptable attitudes of some health professionals. The data show that while some poor persons are in poor health so too are some persons who are better. Food is a basic need as well as an important contributor to good health, but several poor persons are unable to eat healthy nutritional diets on a regular basis and the food security of others in their households, especially of their children, is a matter of concern. Many respondents said that lack of enough money often prevents them from being able to provide enough and/or the right kind of food for themselves or for their families. This has serious implications, especially for the health of children and elderly persons and has contributed to significant cases of lifestyle diseases. In addition because of lack of money some poor persons, including some elderly persons and persons with disability are sometimes unable to purchase much needed medication and this contributes to their poor health. Residents in several communities also identified some environmental factors that are health hazards and that are contributing to the presence of several illnesses including respiratory diseases, in adults and children in poor as well as in better off households. Many individuals who provided information about poverty believe that living in unacceptable conditions, being unemployed, having low levels of education and few skills, and being unhealthy have contributed to them having to live in poverty. In addition many are also convinced that it is because they are poor that they have to deal with these situations. As a result several of those who admitted that they are poor appear to be caught in a cycle of poverty that is being reinforced by a combination of factors that contribute to, and are the consequences of poverty, and many feel unable to break the cycle. 3.16.4 Types and Levels of Poverty The research undertaken in the selected communities revealed several types and levels of poverty. Since most are well served with good infrastructure and physical facilities there is little public poverty but there is some degree of poverty in all of the communities. In most cases this is relative and residents, including some who are poor often compared themselves not only to people who were better off but to some in their communities and even in other countries who were poorer than they were. Destitution is not widespread but there are a small number of individuals in a few of the communities who are destitute and who are living in deplorable conditions and are barely surviving. They have nothing so they rely on the good nature of neighbours and although they are in dire of assistance, it appears that they have been unable to obtain neither the type nor the amount of assistance that is essential for their survival.

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As in other Caribbean countries there is evidence of chronic, inter-generational poverty in some of the communities and the data show that multi-generational households are among the poorest and that a significant number of these households are headed by women. In several of these households the cycle of poverty has been passed on from grandparents and some of interviewees admitted that they had come from poor families, and some of them are of the view that the situation will not change and that the cycle of poverty will continue. A great deal has been written about this phenomenon and there is a great deal of concern about how to break the cycle, but in spite of this it continues to be a part of the poverty landscape. On the other hand the data revealed that there are some households that had once been poor but have moved out of poverty and are now better off. When compared to some of the interviewees in poor multigenerational households some of the interviewees i n s o m e o f t h e s e h o u s e h o l d s admitted that they had come from poor families and that their parents had been poor, and they identified factors that had enabled their families to move out of poverty and to be better off now. It appears that they did not feel helpless and powerless to change their situation but that they took advantage of increased access to free education, more job opportunities and jobs from which they were able to obtain fairly good wages on a regular basis. They also saved and they said that they worked hard to improve their lives. 3.16.5 Effects and Impact of Poverty It is widely accepted that people who are poor are affected negatively by lack of physical, material and financial resources and the data in this PPA also showed this. However, the most striking finding is the extent to which individuals continually stressed the negative social, psychological and emotional impact that living in poverty has on all aspects of their lives. The information that they provided not only identified the many factors that cause, perpetuate and reinforce these, but it also highlights some of their devastating outcomes. Among these are erosion of their self esteem and self confidence, their sense of being not a person, “a nobody” and of being unwanted and abandoned, feelings of helplessness and high levels of dependency, of stress and anxiety. These conditions draw attention to some of the stark realities of some people’s lives and are evidence that there are a significant number of people who have been “damaged” by their experience of poverty, and some of the respondents identified the need for counseling and other special support services to address these issues. Their experience of the negative impact of poverty emphasizes that while it is important to pay attention to the physical and material dimensions of poverty this alone is insufficient to alleviate or reduce poverty. Initiatives intended to alleviate and reduce poverty must therefore also provide counseling and other appropriate services, and must include programmes that will provide opportunities for poor individuals to develop their self esteem and to acquire confidence and skills that they need to become empowered and self reliant. 3.16.6 Initiatives to Improve Living Conditions and to Alleviate Poverty Poverty alleviation initiatives must be based on an understanding of the many dimensions of poverty and on the needs of those who are impoverished. Failure to base poverty alleviation programmes and projects on the specific needs of community residents and on the particular needs of those who are poor will mean that such programmes would have little chance of improving the living conditions in communities or of helping those who are poor to move out of poverty.

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Government through it social service agencies and through special poverty alleviation initiatives is attempting to improve living conditions and to alleviate and reduce poverty but it appears that some of its interventions and programmes are institutional driven rather than based on needs assessment research through which specific needs have been identified by particular individuals, households, groups and communities. In spite of this there is evidence that some of these initiatives have been successful in improving physical infrastructure and housing and to a limited extent in providing some employment opportunities. However some respondents believe that there are still not enough opportunities for them to be able to gain employment or jobs that provide them with sufficient wages to enable them to meet their needs. In order to address this shortcoming is it will be important to review the school curriculum and to align it more closely with the demands of the labour market. It will also be important to implement more community based education and skills training programmes that emphasize economic literacy and entrepreneurship. This is not only essential but critical because the data show that there is a high level of entrepreneurship and several micro income-generating activities in some of the urban and sub-urban communities. The data reveal that none of the communities are free of social problems and that in several there are a significant number of such problems including drug use and trafficking, gang violence, gambling and theft, alcoholism, and prostitution. The data also show that there are some institutions and organizations with mandates to deal with some of these problems and whose work could contribute to improvement of living conditions. There is also some evidence of remedial and rehabilitative programmes being implemented at the national level, but information provided by residents suggests that neither government nor civil society organizations had implemented the t yp es a nd number of r emedia l an d r ehabilitation programmes that are needed at the community level. Giving the existence of illegal drugs in all of the communities and the fact that residents in a few of the communities are concerned about the involvement young children, and that some link mental problems being displayed by a few people to this, there is a serious need for preventative and rehabilitation programmes. Similar programmes are needed to address the high and excessive use of alcoholism in several of the communities. With regard to gang violence residents in communities in which this activity is common are concerned said that they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel safe and that they fear for their safety. However the data suggest that it is mainly unemployed young males involved in these activities and while there is evidence that the police do make attempts to deal with and to minimize their effects. However some young men did provide evidence of being stigmatized and of police brutality. It might therefore important to review existing initiatives and programmes and to attempt to use other â&#x20AC;&#x153;creativeâ&#x20AC;? ways to deal with and reduce these problems. Another initiative by government to improve living conditions and to alleviate poverty is the creation of specialized social agencies that offer and provide financial and in-kind assistance to needy and vulnerable individuals, families, and households. The data provide evidence that even while some recipients are critical of the amount of assistance they receive and of the unacceptable and unprofessional attitudes of some of the staff of these agencies, a significant number do receive much needed assistance from them. However, some people are concerned that high levels of dependency could prevent people from taking steps to become self reliant.

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Government is well aware that an important part of its role is to provide a safety net to cushion some of the devastating effects of poverty, but it is also aware of the need to gradually wean people from their dependency on government “hand outs”. Consequently in addition to existing programmes to alleviate poverty it has recently implemented the ISEE Bridge Programme. Participation by members of selected poor and vulnerable households will receive various types of assistance that are essential for them to be able to meet their needs while at the same time they will be given opportunities to acquire and develop knowledge and skills, and to become empowered and self reliant. In the process they will be gradually weaned from depending on government “hand outs” for their survival. 3.17.

Other Important Issues That Have Emerged

Analysis and interpretation of the data obtained from PPA activities have identified a number of key issues that need to be address if living conditions are to improve and if poverty is to be reduced. However they also draw attention to two other important issues that determine the quality of life and sense of well being that people can enjoy. These are family life and gender. 3.17.1 Family Life Good living conditions and a reduction of poverty are desirable and desired by many people who participated in PPA activities. However, poor as well as better of individuals believe that although physical and material things are important, in order to enjoy a good quality of life and a sense of well being a good family life and good relationships among family members were not only very important, but that sometimes they are even more important than physical and material things. Several respondents expressed concern about what they referred to as the decay in moral values, about the breakdown in family life, about dysfunctional families, and about the type and quality of relationships between family members. They talked about unharmonious relationships between partners, between parents and children, and between younger and older persons in some families and they provided evidence to back up their concerns. They said that relationships in several households are characterized by disagreements, by arguments, by quarrels, and by conflict and violence. Some suggested that these situations had resulted because people, especially single women were frustrated by their inability to provide for themselves and their families and to obtain things that they had expected or would have liked. Another worrying situation that is of serious concern is the unharmonious relationship between some parents and their children and between younger and older persons. Some respondents believe that some adults behave in ways that have contributed to indiscipline and delinquency being displayed by children and to the lack of respect of youth for older people. Whether they know and accept it or not, adults are role models for children. They set the standards for which behaviours are acceptable and children and young people learn from, mimic, and follow their examples. Informants identified examples of unacceptable behavior of some adults including some parents using expletives when speaking to or scolding their children, some parents being involved in illegal activities, and some who encourage and allow their children to be involved in these activities. While there is some evidence of the existence of parent education programmes, few, if any of these were present in the communities studied. However given that indiscipline and delinquency were identified as problems in more than half of the communities, it seems that in order to increase the quality of parenting and to enable parents to be better able to handle “difficult” children, steps must be taken to implement parent education programmes in communities. Such programmes should also be designed to increase

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parents’ awareness about the negative impact that their negative and unacceptable behaviours have on children and young people. However for parent education programmes to be successful and to achieve these goals, it will be important to use strategies and approaches that would help parents to realize their value and to encourage them to participate. In addition given the concerns that were also expressed about the behaviours of many young people, especially males, programmes designed to encourage and facilitate behavior modification should also be implemented. There is a Family Services Section within the Welfare Department that provides individual and family counseling to persons who are experiencing difficulties with relations in the family, to victims of domestic abuse, and to children with behavioural problems. However although some of the respondents believe that there is a need for counseling, no one provided information about whether the services that are available from this Section were being used and by whom. It is therefore important for the Department to check whether they are providing services to individuals or families in the communities studied, as well as to identify people and families in these communities who are in need of some of the specific services that its Family Services Section provides. 3.17.2 Gender Issues It is now widely recognized that poverty is gendered because males and females become poor through different processes and that they experience and are affected by poverty differently. Consequently while it is important to obtain relevant quantitative data and to disaggregate such data by sex, this alone is insufficient to identify and examine the separate realities of poor males and poor females. To do this it is also necessary to examine gender relations and to identify gender issues that must be addressed in order to ensure that programmes to improve living conditions and to alleviate poverty will be based on the particular needs of poor males as well as of poor females. Qualitative data like those obtained during PPA activities are therefore not only essential but are critical because they increase understanding of and provide insights into the separate and different realities of males and of females. Informal discussions as well as interviews with males and with females provided opportunities for them to share experiences and to reflect on their living conditions and on their experience of living in poverty, to talk about the impact that these experiences have had on their lives, and about the different strategies they used to cope and to survive. Analysis of the data has also provided insights about gender inequalities, about gender division of labour within households, and about the gender segmentation of the labour market. For example in many households studied adult females are solely responsible for the care of children and other family members and for household management and maintenance. The data also provide concrete evidence of gender segmentation of the labour market. While in the communities studied, a small number of individuals, males and females, are employed in the public and private sectors, however the majority of persons who are employed work in low paying and low skilled jobs and it is here that the segmentation of the labour market is evident. As a result, males are doing jobs that are usually regarded as “men’s work” and that tend to pay higher wages than jobs that are regarded as “women’s work”. Some males work in construction, others do gardening and landscaping, and several also do odd jobs. On the other hand females are working in jobs that are an extension of their role as nurturer and care giver. Some are housekeepers or maids in hotels, some are domestic servants, some are vendors of

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clothes and some and braiding hair, and in all cases their wages are lower than those paid to men in construction or landscaping. Generally males and females conform to and play their respective roles as expected, but the data show because of poor living conditions and poverty males as well as females face challenges in performing their expected gender roles. While some males are unwilling to perform their role as breadwinner, several poor men are unable to do so and some have said that poverty and their inability to provide for their families emasculates them and makes them feel â&#x20AC;&#x153;less than a man.â&#x20AC;? The information obtained from several female respondents shows that several women, especially those who are single parent heads of households and in multi-generational households often have to become chief breadwinner. In the single parent female headed households and in some multi-generational households where there is no male, adult women have no choice but to perform the role of sole provider. This responsibility added to the responsibilities of their traditional female role places a heavy burden on their shoulders and this limits their ability to perform either role successfully. It also has serious implications for their health and the data show that more females than males suffer from stress, anxiety, and depression and that these ailments often result from their feelings of failure to provide for their families. Gender relations are based on and influenced by beliefs about masculinity and femininity and by societal expectations of male and female behaviour. The data show that living in poor conditions and in poverty affects gender relations, sex with partners of the opposite sex, mating patterns and fertility. Poor and unharmonious gender relations often result from unfulfilled expectations and poor living conditions and poverty can influence the quality of gender relations. The data show that relations between some men and some women are unharmonious and are characterized by disagreements, arguments, conflict and a f e w w o m e n a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e y h a d e x p e r i e n c e d v e r b a l a n d p h y s i c a l a b u s e . According to them being poor or being in a relationship with a poor man can lead to arguments and disagreements about money, and while these often begin and end with verbal abuse they do sometimes lead to violence. It is now well recognized that some men use acts of violence against women to exert power and control over them and a few females d es c r i b e d incidences of domestic violence, a n d of sexual harassment, and of rape in one of the communities. However residents in this community were outraged that no action had been taken to deal with the perpetrator. One woman who had been raped by three men said that although they had been brought to justice, she occasionally encounters them on the street and that this frightens her. In addition women who had been victims had never received any special support or counseling that would help them to come to terms with and manage the psychological and emotional damage that they suffered and in some cases continue to suffer from these encounters. Another gender issue that emerged from analysis of the data and that is of concern to some participants is relationships between older men and young girls. Such relationships often result in teenage pregnancies and it as was pointed out it affects their girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ability to complete or further their education, but it can also have serious implications for their reproductive health. From the data serial mating patterns, fertility, and multiple pregnancies emerge as important issues. Information provided is evidence that while some males had had relationships, mated with, and had children from several different females, there were fewer of them than of females who had engaged in

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serial mating that resulted in children from different men. While some women said that they use this as a survival strategy, they also said that multiple pregnancies and large numbers of children were responsible for their state of poverty. Moreover some of these women did not receive any financial or emotional support from the fathers of their children and this increased their burden of being the sole provider. Males and females use different survival strategies to cope and to sustain their livelihoods and while the data show that fewer women than men use illegal activities to generate income they also show that even though they are well aware of the risks, both are sometimes obliged to become involved in illegal activities. The data also show that more males than females, especially young men, depend on the drug trade and on criminal activities for their survival and that more engage on prostitution. Identification and recognition of gender issues are important in order to better understand the gendered nature of poverty and the different ways in which males and females experience, are affected by, and cope with poor living conditions and with poverty. Consequently, if poverty alleviation policies and programmes are to achieve their objectives of improving living conditions and of alleviating and reducing poverty, policy makers must understand and be committed to address gender inequity, gender inequality, and gender discrimination. To achieve this, it will be essential to conduct a gender analysis of poverty data generated by quantitative approaches like the Survey of Living Conditions as well as by the qualitative data generated by qualitative approaches like the Participatory Poverty Assessment. In addition, to ensure that pro-poor policies and poverty alleviation programmes and projects are based on and are designed to meet the specific and particular needs of males and of females, policies and programmes must take gender differences into consideration and be based on gender specific data. At the same time the gender sensitivity of policy makers and of those who develop and implement poverty alleviation programmes must be increased by exposing them to intensive and extensive gender training. 3.18.

Conclusion

PPA activities undertaken in the selected communities have produced a large amount of qualitative data that deepen understanding of the factors that contribute to poor living conditions and to poverty. They also provide insights into the many negative ways in which these phenomena affect and impact on peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives as well as about the survival strategies that they use to cope and sustain their livelihoods. The data have also increased understanding of the realities of those who live in unacceptable conditions and in poverty, of their experience of being poor, of the devastating effects and impact of poverty on all aspects of their lives, and of the survival strategies that they employ. The data also reveal the multi-dimensionality and complexity of poverty as well as the spatial dimension to poverty in Barbados and they highlight the physiological and emotional damage, including stigma and discrimination that poverty has on individuals. The rich amount of qualitative data generated by the PPA must therefore be used along with the quantitative data produced by the Survey of Living Conditions to influence and inform policy and programmes designed to improve living conditions and to alleviate and reduce poverty.

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Recommendations

The recommendations presented here are informed by the data generated during PPA activities undertaken in the twelve communities that were selected for study. They are not presented in any order of priority but all are important if initiatives to improve living conditions and to alleviate and reduce poverty are to achieve their objectives. It is being recommended that: The findings of this report be used to inform and contribute to the formulation of a national pro-poor policy. A comprehensive review and assessment of the work of all social agencies, including the Poverty Alleviation Bureau be undertaken. The results of the review and assessment should be used to influence their policies and programmes and to make them more responsive to the specific needs of communities, and of poor households, groups and individuals. A national training plan and programmes for the development of staff members of all social agencies be developed. The plan should be designed to ensure that staff members develop a high degree of professionalism, acquire increased awareness, knowledge, and sensitivity of the realities of the most needy and vulnerable in the society, and to equip them with appropriate attitudes and with the skills that they require to be effective in providing services to those who need them most. A national policy on adult non-formal, continuing adult education be formulated. Within the policy special emphasis should be placed on community based education programmes designed to facilitate personal development, and to improve basic literacy, economic literacy, and technological literacy. Emphasis should also be placed on conflict resolution and anger management Rehabilitation programmes be implemented in all communities. These should include parent education programmes, programmes on interpersonal relationships, and on sex and sexuality. A participatory approach and methodology be adopted in all programmes and projects that are being implemented or that are to be implemented in communities. The use of this methodology will ensure that individuals for whom such programmes are intended will be involved in identifying them, in planning and implementing them, and in monitoring and evaluating them.. On-going Monitoring and evaluation be made an integral part of all interventions that are intended to improve living conditions and to alleviate and reduce poverty. This will provide opportunities for various government departments and agencies to ensure that programmes are being implemented as plan and to deal with challenges and problems as they arise rather than wait until the end of programmes A policy on gender mainstreaming be formulated and that gender mainstreaming be integrated into all aspects of all aspects of the work of all government agencies and departments. The policy should include strategies to implement gender training, and to increase gender sensitivity and skills in gender planning and gender analysis.

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