One of the greatest challenges in sustainable development is reaching consensus among viewpoints that can vary as widely as sustainable development solutions can be perceived. Defining a ‘sustainable development path’ is no easy accomplishment. The attempt to define sustainability virtually began in 1972 during the Stockholm Summit on People and the Environment. This Summit marked the first time world leaders gathered to discuss environmental matters, and from it, the United Nations Environment Programme was founded.
Since then, numerous publications, summits, programmes, civil society groups, covenants and more have risen in an attempt to define, promote and ultimately to achieve sustainable development. Just as this debate has been raging on the world stage for decades, so it is happening in Grenada now. Civil society groups are raising a critical eye of observance on a recent amendment to the parks act, and plans to develop an area that has been reserved to protect the country’s national and critically endangered National bird, the Grenada Dove.
The Government does not believe they are abandoning their environmental responsibilities by allowing development to take place on Mount Hartman Estate; the land area that had been reserved as parkland, and is now at the centre of this controversy. The Government is attempting to balance economic needs with long term land management options. The environmental screen of the proposed development plan suggests that the steps being taken to protect the Dove may actually enhance its preservation rather than threaten it. For the Government, this is better than relying on project based funds, which bear a heavy accompanying administrative burden and no long term guarantees for financial support.
Civil society on the other hand, is attempting to point out that economic benefits and conservation can be achieved using different models of development. Ecotourism has been presented as one of those alternatives. In this model, tourism development and long term ‘value for land’ can be achieved by preserving natural assets and fostering the development of markets that generate profits through conservation, rather than through the more traditional brick and mortar approaches to development. Ecotourism has also proven to be a successful model for poverty alleviation, disaster risk mitigation (through environmental protection) as well as enjoying growth rates that have been reported as high as 30% in places like Costa Rica.
Is one side right and the other wrong? Regardless of where these stakeholders stand, any position that is focused on being in opposition of, or counter to another, is wrong: If the desired result is a sustainable solution. The only factor that we do know that must always be present is that people, from all walks of life, have to buy into an idea, concept or plan for it to be sustainable.
And thus, if a sustainable solution is to be realized from this currently polarized debate, both sides will have to take the time to listen to the other, and agree to work together so that if a win-win solution exists – it can be found.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Cricket World Cup Editorial: Winning Ingredients
When a team lets its fans down, it is natural for the fans to want to identify the source of their disappointment. This usually comes in the form of pointing out a coach, a player, funding or some other factor that may have led to the poor performance of the team. However sometimes losing is a part of the process of learning how to win.
Winning in sport or any profession is the result of success at many stages of a process; and hence, winning should be seen as a process, rather than a result. Winners usually emerge after the successful application of a number of factors that release potential in individual, as well as team players.
Losing on the other hand, is usually the result faltering in one or more of the stages of winning.
Talent is a significant first step that provides competitive edge in sport or any discipline. However, it is not a determining factor in itself and can sometimes prove to be a secondary consideration when measured up against willpower and the other elements of success.
Willpower is a critically important ingredient, as talent alone will not provide the competitive edge that is needed to be a successful player. Willpower is the foundation of competitive drive, and when it is strong, willpower can even overpower some fundamental physical limitations; such as sports player who finishes a game without feeling the pain of an injury until the game is over.
For a team, the competitive edge in high performance almost always rests on the cohesiveness of the group. In a high performance team environment, the players perceive themselves as part of a collective whole. In this vein, personal responsibility and accountability is a very important characteristic.
To best understand the value of cohesiveness, picture some of the winners in Cricket World Cup, and remember the times when the teams played ‘on top of their game’ as if they were telepathically connected. At times like this it seems like each player knew what the other was going to do next, before it was done. This is cohesion, and this is the ‘win-zone’ in team sports.
Another ingredient of winning is self belief, which is equally important on an individual and team basis. Without self belief, wins are rare. This is because the thoughts and images in the mind often determine the outcomes of an effort.
For example, if a person stands at the edge of the stream and imagines that the stream is too wide and their legs too weak, they are very likely to end up with wet feet.
However, if that same person stands on the edge of a stream believing that the stream presents an enjoyable challenge, and that their legs are strong enough to leap to the other side; they are more likely to have dry shoes at the end of their effort.
In the event that wet feet are the result anyway, positive self belief will be the driving factor in sport that keeps people working towards their goals until they get it right.
Ms. Ellard-Deveney has worked as an equestrian coach in Canada for ten years.
Winning in sport or any profession is the result of success at many stages of a process; and hence, winning should be seen as a process, rather than a result. Winners usually emerge after the successful application of a number of factors that release potential in individual, as well as team players.
Losing on the other hand, is usually the result faltering in one or more of the stages of winning.
Talent is a significant first step that provides competitive edge in sport or any discipline. However, it is not a determining factor in itself and can sometimes prove to be a secondary consideration when measured up against willpower and the other elements of success.
Willpower is a critically important ingredient, as talent alone will not provide the competitive edge that is needed to be a successful player. Willpower is the foundation of competitive drive, and when it is strong, willpower can even overpower some fundamental physical limitations; such as sports player who finishes a game without feeling the pain of an injury until the game is over.
For a team, the competitive edge in high performance almost always rests on the cohesiveness of the group. In a high performance team environment, the players perceive themselves as part of a collective whole. In this vein, personal responsibility and accountability is a very important characteristic.
To best understand the value of cohesiveness, picture some of the winners in Cricket World Cup, and remember the times when the teams played ‘on top of their game’ as if they were telepathically connected. At times like this it seems like each player knew what the other was going to do next, before it was done. This is cohesion, and this is the ‘win-zone’ in team sports.
Another ingredient of winning is self belief, which is equally important on an individual and team basis. Without self belief, wins are rare. This is because the thoughts and images in the mind often determine the outcomes of an effort.
For example, if a person stands at the edge of the stream and imagines that the stream is too wide and their legs too weak, they are very likely to end up with wet feet.
However, if that same person stands on the edge of a stream believing that the stream presents an enjoyable challenge, and that their legs are strong enough to leap to the other side; they are more likely to have dry shoes at the end of their effort.
In the event that wet feet are the result anyway, positive self belief will be the driving factor in sport that keeps people working towards their goals until they get it right.
Ms. Ellard-Deveney has worked as an equestrian coach in Canada for ten years.
Monday, April 2, 2007
World Cup Eco-Tips
Cricket World Cup 2007 is expected to bring thousands of visitors to the island, and there are environmental impacts that will result from this short term boom in Grenada’s population.
First, there is the amount of solid waste that will be generated: The local organizing committee (LOC) has estimated that 13,000 tonnes of garbage will be produced per (game) day in the Stadium alone. The LOC and Grenada’s Solid Waste Management Authority are prepared to remove waste at night so Grenada and the Stadium look clean and fresh every morning, but there is much more to consider than that. Once removed, where does all the garbage go?
The waste will go to the landfill, but any landfill, anywhere, can only take a finite amount of waste; and for a small island state like Grenada, any effort to reduce the ammount of waste generated is a better course than producing too much of it. You can do a lot to help:
1. If you are heading out on a day trip, you can pack reusable containers in your bag and ask persons serving you food to put it in the containers instead of in a disposable one.
2. You can carry a reusable cup or mug, which will also help prevent unnecessary litter from ending up in the landfill. You can carry shopping bags with you if you intend to do some shopping.
3. If you do make garbage, don’t throw it away in the street or into the ocean. Extra waste bins, and extra waste service pick ups will be provided, so use the bins available.
Try to do what you can at home, in your hotel or in your workplace to minimize waste that is not directly related to Cricket World Cup. You can recycle office paper by stapling them together and using them as your note pads. You can turn off lights when you leave the room. If you are using air conditioning, raise the temperature so you are not using as much energy to run the machine, or if possible, turn it off altogether and open a window instead.
Traffic congestion will impact the local air quality in some areas and you can do your part to help out by leaving using the bus, or carpooling with neighbours. Try not to use your car if you will be the only person in it.
Grenada is paradise, so let’s keep it clean while we enjoy Cricket World Cup.
First, there is the amount of solid waste that will be generated: The local organizing committee (LOC) has estimated that 13,000 tonnes of garbage will be produced per (game) day in the Stadium alone. The LOC and Grenada’s Solid Waste Management Authority are prepared to remove waste at night so Grenada and the Stadium look clean and fresh every morning, but there is much more to consider than that. Once removed, where does all the garbage go?
The waste will go to the landfill, but any landfill, anywhere, can only take a finite amount of waste; and for a small island state like Grenada, any effort to reduce the ammount of waste generated is a better course than producing too much of it. You can do a lot to help:
1. If you are heading out on a day trip, you can pack reusable containers in your bag and ask persons serving you food to put it in the containers instead of in a disposable one.
2. You can carry a reusable cup or mug, which will also help prevent unnecessary litter from ending up in the landfill. You can carry shopping bags with you if you intend to do some shopping.
3. If you do make garbage, don’t throw it away in the street or into the ocean. Extra waste bins, and extra waste service pick ups will be provided, so use the bins available.
Try to do what you can at home, in your hotel or in your workplace to minimize waste that is not directly related to Cricket World Cup. You can recycle office paper by stapling them together and using them as your note pads. You can turn off lights when you leave the room. If you are using air conditioning, raise the temperature so you are not using as much energy to run the machine, or if possible, turn it off altogether and open a window instead.
Traffic congestion will impact the local air quality in some areas and you can do your part to help out by leaving using the bus, or carpooling with neighbours. Try not to use your car if you will be the only person in it.
Grenada is paradise, so let’s keep it clean while we enjoy Cricket World Cup.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
LUCKY DUBE: MUSIC THAT MATTERS
People from every walk of life in Grenada were represented in the crowd that came to see world famous South African performer Lucky Dube live at Moonlight City on Sunday. Lucky Dube’s performance in Grenada was part of a world tour to launch his new album, “Respect” which features music every bit as magical as his previous albums. The inspiring music captured the audience as they swayed, sang and danced along with Dube and his incredibly talented performance troupe.
There is something special about a performer like Dube that goes far beyond a good album or a well attended concert. It is the same kind of special that has been found in other musical legends who have been able to create music that spans generations and cultures across the globe. Performers like John Lennon, Bob Marley and Dube have something in common: Their music tends to be about things that matter. When music matters it can shape the world, such as John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” and Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier”, raising the consciousness of people all over the world.
Music that is inspired inspires others; and thus is capable of touching the souls of people across the globe. For Dube, the source of that inspiration likely stems from the life experience of someone who has lifted himself out of poverty and made his dreams come true, as shared in one of the tracks of his new album titled, Touch Your Dream. For Dube, anything is possible if you hold onto your dreams, and his own life story entitles him to preach to others through is music.
He is man whose faith guides him. ‘I only worship the All Mighty, through his prophets I have learned to give respect to everything he created” and although a world famous Rastafarian, he is a man who does not drink, smoke, or consume marijuana. In fact, the societal problems the world faces today are an obvious source of musical passion and a vehicle for Dube to express things he cares about. Dube wants, “To be living in a world where there are no homeless people, to be living in a world where little children don’t have to die because their parents are poor”. While many of his social commentaries are about poverty, domestic abuse, HIV/AIDS, or love; his eyes are also on the landscape of world power. ‘We’re living in a world with a lot of crazy people, we’re living in a world with psychopaths - every one of them wants to rule the world”.
There is an abundance of music on the world market that glamorizes gangsters, drugs, violence, crime and depressive thought, but when an artist like Lucky Dube rises like a phoenix on stage, we are reminded that the universal truths that really bring people from multiple continents, cultures and age groups together; is the good in all of us, not the bad.
There is something special about a performer like Dube that goes far beyond a good album or a well attended concert. It is the same kind of special that has been found in other musical legends who have been able to create music that spans generations and cultures across the globe. Performers like John Lennon, Bob Marley and Dube have something in common: Their music tends to be about things that matter. When music matters it can shape the world, such as John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” and Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier”, raising the consciousness of people all over the world.
Music that is inspired inspires others; and thus is capable of touching the souls of people across the globe. For Dube, the source of that inspiration likely stems from the life experience of someone who has lifted himself out of poverty and made his dreams come true, as shared in one of the tracks of his new album titled, Touch Your Dream. For Dube, anything is possible if you hold onto your dreams, and his own life story entitles him to preach to others through is music.
He is man whose faith guides him. ‘I only worship the All Mighty, through his prophets I have learned to give respect to everything he created” and although a world famous Rastafarian, he is a man who does not drink, smoke, or consume marijuana. In fact, the societal problems the world faces today are an obvious source of musical passion and a vehicle for Dube to express things he cares about. Dube wants, “To be living in a world where there are no homeless people, to be living in a world where little children don’t have to die because their parents are poor”. While many of his social commentaries are about poverty, domestic abuse, HIV/AIDS, or love; his eyes are also on the landscape of world power. ‘We’re living in a world with a lot of crazy people, we’re living in a world with psychopaths - every one of them wants to rule the world”.
There is an abundance of music on the world market that glamorizes gangsters, drugs, violence, crime and depressive thought, but when an artist like Lucky Dube rises like a phoenix on stage, we are reminded that the universal truths that really bring people from multiple continents, cultures and age groups together; is the good in all of us, not the bad.
COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH
(Part 2 of 2) Last week’s article examined some of the issues and vulnerabilities associated with the H5N1 Avian Flu virus and the possible threat of a pandemic this virus presents to the world. In Grenada, the free roaming practices of chicken farming presents a number of risks if the avian flu reaches the shores of the tri-island state.
Part two is examining an economic alternative that can provide Grenada with a substantive buffer in the event that such a disaster occurs. The alternative is found in developing a practice already common in Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique. In rural areas, such as Carriacou, it is not uncommon to see a local farmer walking down the street carrying a large green iguana by its tail; a lizard destined for the dinner table.
For some of us, the thought of eating an iguana may not seem very appetizing, but for many this barrier does not exist, and for those who require adjusting to the concept, iguana meat is reportedly just as tasty as chicken, and can be used as an effective substitute for most chicken dishes.
Although commonly hunted in the wild, farming this endangered species is a relatively new practice that has been pioneered in Central America. Farming practices that have been developed there have shown that farming iguanas can produce ten times the amount of meat per hectare than cattle (making it significantly more viable for small scale farming). They have also proven to be far less labour intensive to raise, and have many other beneficial side effects, such as forest protection which can help Grenada handle other disasters which require forest cover as a first line of defence; such as flooding and landslides.
Iguana farming is quite simple in practice. It involves raising hatchlings for approximately 7 months, and then releasing them to forested areas. The fattening and maturing of the animals can be sped up using feeds such as broken rice, meat, bone, fish meal, papayas, mangoes, bananas, avocados, leaves and flowers. In addition to meats, the eggs are edible and the juvenile iguanas can often be sold as pets.
To date, iguana farming has been pioneered in Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua. Should the practice of iguana farming get established here in Grenada, doing so would result in repopulating an indigenous species that has been hunted near to extinction; provide income and meat for farmers and local markets in the event of the arrival of the avian flu; and protect Grenada’s forest cover by promoting forest based farming of iguanas and fruit bearing trees.
Count your chickens before they hatch: Iguanas are low fat, low cost, environmentally friendly and bird flu free.
Part two is examining an economic alternative that can provide Grenada with a substantive buffer in the event that such a disaster occurs. The alternative is found in developing a practice already common in Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique. In rural areas, such as Carriacou, it is not uncommon to see a local farmer walking down the street carrying a large green iguana by its tail; a lizard destined for the dinner table.
For some of us, the thought of eating an iguana may not seem very appetizing, but for many this barrier does not exist, and for those who require adjusting to the concept, iguana meat is reportedly just as tasty as chicken, and can be used as an effective substitute for most chicken dishes.
Although commonly hunted in the wild, farming this endangered species is a relatively new practice that has been pioneered in Central America. Farming practices that have been developed there have shown that farming iguanas can produce ten times the amount of meat per hectare than cattle (making it significantly more viable for small scale farming). They have also proven to be far less labour intensive to raise, and have many other beneficial side effects, such as forest protection which can help Grenada handle other disasters which require forest cover as a first line of defence; such as flooding and landslides.
Iguana farming is quite simple in practice. It involves raising hatchlings for approximately 7 months, and then releasing them to forested areas. The fattening and maturing of the animals can be sped up using feeds such as broken rice, meat, bone, fish meal, papayas, mangoes, bananas, avocados, leaves and flowers. In addition to meats, the eggs are edible and the juvenile iguanas can often be sold as pets.
To date, iguana farming has been pioneered in Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua. Should the practice of iguana farming get established here in Grenada, doing so would result in repopulating an indigenous species that has been hunted near to extinction; provide income and meat for farmers and local markets in the event of the arrival of the avian flu; and protect Grenada’s forest cover by promoting forest based farming of iguanas and fruit bearing trees.
Count your chickens before they hatch: Iguanas are low fat, low cost, environmentally friendly and bird flu free.
COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH
(Part 1 of 2) Communities with free roaming chickens have been the ones hardest hit worldwide for the H5N1 virus, commonly known as ‘the bird flu’. This is because transmission of the disease requires contact with infected birds, or contaminated surfaces. When chickens roam free (particularly in urban areas), playing children come into contact with contaminated surfaces, slaughter debris is carried in the gutters, and people simply walk on contaminated surfaces while heading to school, work or the local store.
In 2003, the bird flu spread over a great deal of Asia. In 2004, it reached Malaysia. By 2005 the flu was in Russia, Mongolia, Turkey, Romania and now the bird flu has spread to so many places it is truly a ‘global disease’. It is also a disease that kills more than half of the people who catch it. Healthy people, young people - the bird flu does not discriminate.
But it is not a pandemic yet. According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) a disease is not a pandemic until it presents three characteristics. To be a pandemic, it must: Infect humans, be a serious illness and spread easily and sustainably. The bird flu scores 2 out of 3, and medical authorities say it is only a matter of time before the bird flu masters human to human transmission and becomes a major scourge for this planet.
We can only hope that a pandemic is far into the future, and take steps in the meantime to protect the country from the disease that is already out there, and heading our way. Birds need to be kept in enclosures, called ‘coops’ or ‘aviaries’ that prevent them from mingling casually with humans and other chicken stock.
Free roaming chickens not only present a major health risk to Grenadians the potential economic impacts could be catastrophic. A bird flu outbreak in Grenada would not only have a dramatic impact on Grenadians through loss of life by those who die, but gathering up the free roaming birds for slaughter would be a dangerously time consuming task. In addition to this, if the bird flu was found in Grenada, this would cause serious quarantine issues for international travellers, because it would be virtually impossible for a person travelling from Grenada to declare they had not been on a farm recently. Grenada is a farm.
A key defence for the bird flu is containing the birds. Another defence is preparing the health community to deal with an outbreak, as its arrival is inevitable. Another defence will be the subject of next week’s article, where we will explore one creative way to help Grenada withstand the social, and economic impacts of the bird flu pandemic, when it arrives.
In 2003, the bird flu spread over a great deal of Asia. In 2004, it reached Malaysia. By 2005 the flu was in Russia, Mongolia, Turkey, Romania and now the bird flu has spread to so many places it is truly a ‘global disease’. It is also a disease that kills more than half of the people who catch it. Healthy people, young people - the bird flu does not discriminate.
But it is not a pandemic yet. According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) a disease is not a pandemic until it presents three characteristics. To be a pandemic, it must: Infect humans, be a serious illness and spread easily and sustainably. The bird flu scores 2 out of 3, and medical authorities say it is only a matter of time before the bird flu masters human to human transmission and becomes a major scourge for this planet.
We can only hope that a pandemic is far into the future, and take steps in the meantime to protect the country from the disease that is already out there, and heading our way. Birds need to be kept in enclosures, called ‘coops’ or ‘aviaries’ that prevent them from mingling casually with humans and other chicken stock.
Free roaming chickens not only present a major health risk to Grenadians the potential economic impacts could be catastrophic. A bird flu outbreak in Grenada would not only have a dramatic impact on Grenadians through loss of life by those who die, but gathering up the free roaming birds for slaughter would be a dangerously time consuming task. In addition to this, if the bird flu was found in Grenada, this would cause serious quarantine issues for international travellers, because it would be virtually impossible for a person travelling from Grenada to declare they had not been on a farm recently. Grenada is a farm.
A key defence for the bird flu is containing the birds. Another defence is preparing the health community to deal with an outbreak, as its arrival is inevitable. Another defence will be the subject of next week’s article, where we will explore one creative way to help Grenada withstand the social, and economic impacts of the bird flu pandemic, when it arrives.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
FOR THE SAKE OF THE POOR, "BUY GRENADA"
The government of Grenada is about to embark on a Country Poverty Assessment that will determine the characteristics, extent, geographic concentration, severity and causes of poverty in Grenada. The information generated by this assessment can help direct policy and decision making and possibly attract financial resources to help alleviate poverty.
However, these assessments are not without controversy. All these papers and consultations cost a lot of money, are often heavily influenced by foreign interests, and are not likely to have a great impact on poverty alleviation.
But a poverty assessment is not an optional exercise for any developing country government. It is a condition for receiving aid, obtaining country loans or being eligible for debt relief through the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The idea behind the Poverty Assessment is to conduct research that can provide information to draft a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), which is also a requirement for aid, loans and debt relief. In turn, the ‘PRSP’ is supposed to be a tool for understanding poverty, engaging citizens, and directing policy with the aim of alleviating poverty.
Supporters of the PRSP’s claim that these conditionalities put poverty first on development agendas, while also encouraging participatory decision making from all sectors of society (civil society, the private sector, faith based organizations and the government). Critics claim that the PRSP is merely an extension of the Structural Adjustment Programmes, of the 1980’s and 1990’s which were also forced upon developing countries by the IMF and World Bank. Critics claim that Structural Adjustment Programmes and now PRSP’s compromise the sovereign right of developing countries to determine their own development priorities and spending.
Supporters on the other hand, argue that the foreign influence on policies, research and spending help to protect the poor from governments who may not use aid, loans or debt relief wisely. This concern may be valid for some countries, but the policies are applied with a broad brush that does not discriminate between the responsible governments and those which are less accountable to their citizens.
Structural Adjustment Programmes forced governments to embrace ‘free market’ policies and to cut social spending (such as education), privatizing public utilities, devaluing currencies and opening markets to imports. These actions have been sharply criticised for worsening the conditions of the poor, as well as hurting domestic markets. The PRSP’s are now supposed to identify ways to alleviate poverty without changing the core structure of the world market system.
Grenadians and visitors to the island who are blessed with employment and the power to make consumer choices can use their spending power to help the poor, and foster Grenada’s economic independence. When shopping for meat, milk, eggs or vegetables, purchasing locally made products before the imports will help support local employment, production and trade, which in turn, will help alleviate poverty. By buying products that are produced or made locally, consumers are protecting their domestic market. In this way, whether the Poverty Assessment and the PRSP makes a difference or not, Grenadians can engage in poverty alleviation and support Grenada on their own terms.
However, these assessments are not without controversy. All these papers and consultations cost a lot of money, are often heavily influenced by foreign interests, and are not likely to have a great impact on poverty alleviation.
But a poverty assessment is not an optional exercise for any developing country government. It is a condition for receiving aid, obtaining country loans or being eligible for debt relief through the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The idea behind the Poverty Assessment is to conduct research that can provide information to draft a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), which is also a requirement for aid, loans and debt relief. In turn, the ‘PRSP’ is supposed to be a tool for understanding poverty, engaging citizens, and directing policy with the aim of alleviating poverty.
Supporters of the PRSP’s claim that these conditionalities put poverty first on development agendas, while also encouraging participatory decision making from all sectors of society (civil society, the private sector, faith based organizations and the government). Critics claim that the PRSP is merely an extension of the Structural Adjustment Programmes, of the 1980’s and 1990’s which were also forced upon developing countries by the IMF and World Bank. Critics claim that Structural Adjustment Programmes and now PRSP’s compromise the sovereign right of developing countries to determine their own development priorities and spending.
Supporters on the other hand, argue that the foreign influence on policies, research and spending help to protect the poor from governments who may not use aid, loans or debt relief wisely. This concern may be valid for some countries, but the policies are applied with a broad brush that does not discriminate between the responsible governments and those which are less accountable to their citizens.
Structural Adjustment Programmes forced governments to embrace ‘free market’ policies and to cut social spending (such as education), privatizing public utilities, devaluing currencies and opening markets to imports. These actions have been sharply criticised for worsening the conditions of the poor, as well as hurting domestic markets. The PRSP’s are now supposed to identify ways to alleviate poverty without changing the core structure of the world market system.
Grenadians and visitors to the island who are blessed with employment and the power to make consumer choices can use their spending power to help the poor, and foster Grenada’s economic independence. When shopping for meat, milk, eggs or vegetables, purchasing locally made products before the imports will help support local employment, production and trade, which in turn, will help alleviate poverty. By buying products that are produced or made locally, consumers are protecting their domestic market. In this way, whether the Poverty Assessment and the PRSP makes a difference or not, Grenadians can engage in poverty alleviation and support Grenada on their own terms.
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