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Categories: Economy

EMPTY BELLIES FOR CHRISTMAS

TENS of thousands of people in Trinidad and Tobago would not enjoy the goodies of the Christmas season.

A large number of children would go without seasonal foods, toys and the popular treats of this happy time of the year.

They would be the little children that Santa Clause forgot.

Empty bellies have become a sad fact of T&T life, because of rampant destitution caused by the soaring cost of food and lack of job opportunities.

Research organisations have found a high level of poverty, with at least 300,000 people barely able to feed themselves.

Poverty is at one of its highest levels in decades, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Borgen’s Report.

“The rate of child poverty in Trinidad and Tobago constitutes a staggering 50 per cent of those living in poverty in the islands,” the Borgen Report stated.

The study said that some children do not have family support, and endure poor health and lack of access to educational opportunities.

The research group Macrotrends put the 2023 poverty rate in T&T at 30.2 per cent – almost one in three nationals.

That rate is based on the number of people who cannot afford to spend US $5.50 (about TT $36) a day.

Local researchers and sources employed with the State social security system speculate that the poverty rate is at least five per cent higher.

They point to the fact that the cost of food has risen significantly, with some items almost 100 per cent higher than a decade ago.

Transportation and housing costs have also climbed.

The closures of Petrotrin and energy service companies and of hundreds of small businesses have displaced thousands of workers.

The high crime rate has led to hundreds of street-side vendors abandoning their respective “hustles,” causing further economic hardship.

The Government has repeatedly boasted of expanding the social welfare system but this has not made any dent on the number of people eking out a living.

The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, which has several welfare programmes has a budget of $5.8 billion this year.

Some families take home just over $1,200 as month, which must cover all living expenses, including food.

“There is need for a much greater social welfare intervention,” one experienced State employee said.

“In many cases, the current allocations could barely cover the basic food items,” she said.

Single mothers are suffering the most, she stated.

She acknowledged that there are several “mitigation strategies,” including support in paying water and electricity charges.

“But the reality on the ground is that there is multi-dimensional poverty.”

In 2018, the Ministry revealed a plan to reduce poverty to less than 10 per cent of the population.

Instead, the level of destitution has risen.

Some commentators suggest that the current domestic economic circumstances are the worst since the 1980s.

Researchers said they found that some students have been pulled from school because of their parents’ inability to provide meals, uniforms and books.

The Ministry of Education has reported that the school dropout rate has been increasing.

There are reports of more borrowers defaulting on bank loans and mortgages.

The Central Bank said the number of “non-performing loans” has risen.

As of last March, Housing Development Corporation (HDC) tenants were delinquent in their loans to a value of $157 million.

Many private landlords have had to negotiate rental charges with tenants.

University enrolment is at an ebb and this is being blamed, at least in part, on tough financial times.

The University of the West Indies has introduced a Hardship Grant Fund.

The five increases in fuel prices over the past decade and poor roads conditions have caused higher transportation costs.

Against those circumstances, many families would not enjoy the traditional niceties of Christmas.

In particular, a large number of children would do without seasonal goodies of this time of cheer and merriment.

Ken Ali

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