poverty in jamaica essay

End Poverty Day Jamaica: Focusing on the Immediate but Prioritizing the Future

Ozan Sevimli Jamaica Observer

On October 17 each year, the World Bank Group marks End Poverty Day. This year’s theme is ‘Surmounting Setbacks,’ which recognizes the significant challenges the world is currently facing, and the need to overcome them. The setbacks are acute. Extreme poverty is expected to rise in 2020, for the first time in over 20 years, due to the impact of the global pandemic. A recent report,  Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2020: Reversals of Fortune , estimates that the pandemic may push 115 million more people into extreme poverty. An estimated 9.2 percent of the global population still lives below the international poverty line of US$1.90 a day. This figure amounts to 689 million people living in extreme poverty. 

Jamaica’s successful economic reform program has enabled the country to manage the crisis better. Nonetheless, some of the progress made in recent years will likely be reversed, and an increase in poverty is forecasted for this year. Unfortunately, many people who escaped poverty in Jamaica in recent years have been forced back below the poverty line by COVID-19 and its economic impact. 

Tourism numbers have fallen, small and medium-sized business are struggling to keep the lights on, farmers cannot plan for their next harvest, and families are struggling to adjust to, or in some cases, to access online schooling.  

Understandably, much of the focus is on how to alleviate these immediate challenges Jamaicans are facing. However, it is also critical to look toward future opportunities to reduce poverty in Jamaica in the longer-term. Investments and policies that reduce inequality and systems that build resilience will ensure Jamaica is prepared for future shocks, such as climate change. This can only happen if the potential of the Jamaican people is harnessed. I believe that investing in people, and taking a community-centric approach, can strengthen some of the country’s key sectors of growth and reduce poverty. 

For instance, I have seen the difference Jamaicans living in rural areas can make in the tourism and agriculture sectors, provided the right enabling environment. At the recent launch of the second phase of the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI), I spoke about Louise. She is one of 172 greenhouse operators who benefited from the work done in REDI I, where prospective farmers were introduced to new technologies and new skills. Louise now sells her produce to the tourism industry, earns a living, and can send her children to school.  

In tourism, similar transformative experiences are possible if we embrace a more inclusive and diversified approach. I was in Treasure Beach in St. Elizabeth over the summer, and I saw first-hand how much potential there is in community tourism. I was running on the beach, and a local gentleman, Thelwell, invited me to run together.. The next morning, we ran through the village, and I greeted neighbors I would have never met, saw farmers working their fields I wouldn’t have known existed, and climbed up hills with amazing views I wouldn’t have found. These are invaluable experiences for tourists, and there is earning potential for community members if the right investments are made to develop these local opportunities. 

The pandemic has shown that Jamaica’s tourism sector, a key driver of economic activity, needs to diversify, be more resilient and inclusive. The dominant form of tourism in Jamaica is the sun, sand and sea approach, which currently benefits thousands of hotel workers, tour guides, and other service providers. However, it does not sufficiently link to rural environments where most of the poor live. One way to make tourism more sustainable and resilient to shocks is to integrate rural communities, which will spread the benefits derived among more Jamaicans.  

The REDI project showed that Jamaicans are resilient and have innovative ideas to better connect tourism and the agriculture sectors to their communities, so the benefits are more widespread. The World Bank is focused on meeting immediate needs, like investing in key sectors of the economy to help generate growth. However, in doing so, we will not lose sight of the priorities for the future of Jamaica: investing in people for a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive recovery.  

And we are not alone in this, World Bank projects reflect a shared vision with the Government, and are implemented with the support of local partners, and other multilateral and international organizations. As the World Bank commemorates End Poverty Day, I am confident that Jamaica has the potential to surmount the setbacks that are before us and to move towards a more sustainable, resilient future for all. 

Return to paradise: A poverty perspective on Jamaica’s COVID-19 recovery response

Maria emilia cucagna, suzette johnson.

Russia community in Westmoreland, Jamaica. Credit: Mariana Kaipper Ceratti/World Bank

Jamaica, one of the Caribbean’s most iconic destinations, has attracted a growing number of tourists. In 2019, Jamaica received 4.2 million annual tourists, doubling the number of visitors from 20 years ago.

However, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, tourism came to a halt as many countries in the Caribbean, including Jamaica, closed borders to air and sea passengers to prevent a spike in infections and deaths.

Tourism is a valuable source of employment, government revenue, and foreign exchange earnings in Jamaica. Since the global pandemic hit, services industries in Jamaica, like hotels and restaurants, which only represent a proportion of the tourism sector, have been hard hit  . Data from the Ministry of Tourism indicates that a minimum of 50,000 employees directly employed in the tourism sector have been laid off, and this figure could be even higher when considering indirect impacts and the informal sector. 

COVID-19 impacts on poverty

Jamaica’s real GDP is expected to decrease 9% in 2020, with hotels and restaurants contracting more than 30%. These developments could jeopardize recent progress on poverty reduction  .

In Jamaica, the percentage of the population living below the official poverty line was 19.3% in 2017   and according to projections based on GDP per capita growth poverty declined between 2017 and 2019  (Figure 1).

But, as elsewhere in the world, the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to reverse these trends in 2020. Many people who may have recently escaped poverty could be forced back below the poverty line by COVID-19 and its economic impacts.  World Bank projections based on the latest GDP per capita growth estimates for Jamaica suggest a likely increase in poverty by over 4 percentage points in 2020. 

According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica , the unemployment rate, which was at 7.3 % in January, is expected to enter the double digits for the remainder of the year as COVID-19 forced lay-offs in almost every sector.

As in other countries, the pandemic crisis may have a greater impact on female workers. In Jamaica, 78% of health and social workers - those on the front lines against COVID-19 - and 55% of the workers in the sectors most affected by the COVID-19 crisis (including trade, hotels and restaurants services, and education) are women.

Pushing to return to paradise: actions to encourage recovery

There is hope for a quick recovery, but the pace will mostly depend on the duration of the global lockdown and travel restrictions as well as on how quickly policy actions are taken.

The Jamaican Government has executed a series of interventions for both rapid and medium-term responses to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic  . According to the Jamaica Macro Poverty Outlook , this includes tax cuts equal to about 0.6% of GDP, along with targeted spending measures equal to about 0.5% of GDP.

Foremost among these measures is the COVID-19 Allocation of Resources for Employees ( CARE ) Programme, which provided assistance in the form of cash transfers to support the most vulnerable in the population. Nearly 500,000 Jamaicans received assistance, including persons who lost employment during the pandemic. They include beneficiaries of the Programme of Advance through Health and Education (PATH): businesses in the tourism sector, specific groups of small business operators, students, the elderly, farmers and fisher folk, and the infirmed and homeless. CARE provided J$25 billion to support economic activity, which is the largest social intervention ever in the history of Jamaica.

Other measures included a reduction in the General Consumption Tax, tax credits for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and a reduction in regulatory fees for certain agricultural commodities. The government also waived some fees on certain personal protective equipment and sanitation supplies. Commercial banks also joined the effort by offering customers the option to defer principal payments and providing new lines of credit and other services to the sectors most affected.

Under the National Poverty Reduction Programme (NPRP), institutions and agencies have adapted their programs and modes of operation to meet the needs of their beneficiaries. Cash benefits increased and conditions for receiving these benefits have been relaxed. Care packages, psychosocial support, and other services have been provided for persons with disabilities, the elderly, young people, and other vulnerable groups.

Timely and effective policy actions are needed for economic recovery. Locally, there are coordinated research efforts to inform policies, institutional arrangements, and other interventions aimed at sustained poverty reduction. The World Bank is working on key analytics that will help to inform poverty reduction policies. A Poverty and Vulnerability Assessment as well as a Gender Assessment are being prepared by the World Bank in partnership with the Government of Canada. These are expected to identify key barriers to gender equality and the impacts of COVID-19 on poverty, and inform the design of policies to speed up the recovery. In addition to contributing to the knowledge base, the World Bank will financially support the economic recovery. In particular, the World Bank will provide support to Government’s  COVID-19 Response and Recovery efforts through a budget support operation. Although many challenges remain, Jamaica has already started implementing measures to support those most affected by the pandemic and return to a path of poverty reduction. 

• Jobs & Development
• Latin America & Caribbean
• COVID-19 (coronavirus)

Development Economist, Poverty GP, LAC

Director, Policy Research Planning Institute of Jamaica

Join the Conversation

• Share on mail
• comments added

The Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Jamaica

Businesses, such as eateries and resorts, have experienced a significant decline in business. As a result, 50,000 Jamaicans working in tourism lost their jobs, illustrating the substantial impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Jamaica. Thus, many persons that finally overcame poverty will most likely face this reality again. Before COVID-19, the World Bank’s graph depicted Jamaica’s poverty rate at around 19% in 2018 and 2019; however, it increased to about 23% in 2020.

COVID-19 Effects on Working Women

According to the World Bank, like other nations, the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Jamaica has had a tremendous effect on working women. About 78% of healthcare and humanitarian employees and 55% of staff in industries highly susceptible to COVID-19, such as commerce, resorts, restaurants and schooling, are women.

The Inter-American Development Bank stated that women have always had lower-income and less stable employment than men in Jamaica. Now, females are suffering more than males once again, because of higher unemployment rates and business closures. Also, the need for free healthcare has risen due to school closures and households staying indoors. In addition, with less money, more single mothers are unable to purchase sufficient meals compared to males.

How COVID-19 has Impacted Jamaica’s Economy

The Inter-American Development Bank stated that before the pandemic, it expected GDP for FY2020/21 to increase by 1.1% due to more tourist visits and sales of products like bauxite. However, the impact of COVID-19 on poverty has changed this scenario .

Also, the International Monetary Fund projected Jamaica’s economy to decline by more than 5% in 2020. It also forecasts government income to continue to fall twice as much as medical, societal and commercial costs increase. According to the World Bank, GDP declined from around 310,000 in 2019 to 280,000 in 2020, showing an actual reduction of 9.67%.

Recovery Strategies

The Jamaican public system has implemented various strategies to combat the impact of COVID-19 on poverty. The World Bank states that the country has reduced taxes to around 0.6% of GDP and has limited expenditures to 0.5%. Also, the government has diminished General Consumption Taxes for smaller-scaled businesses along with mandatory costs for farming products. Jamaica also relinquished some expenses for tactical gear and cleaning supplies.

CARE Programme

Jamaica has implemented its CARE Programme , which provides monetary compensation for the country’s neediest citizens. The Jamaican government implemented this program on March 24, 2020. So far, approximately 500,000 Jamaican citizens have benefited from this initiative, especially individuals who became jobless due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jamaica Information Service reported that these qualified persons received $9,000 bi-weekly every month.

According to the IMF, this strategy also includes:

• Considerate contributions to persons without work or with casual employment before COVID-19.
• Provisional allowances to persons who were working but lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
• Funding to freelance workers whose income reduced due to the pandemic, as well as small-scale companies.

The program also assists senior citizens and persons who are ill or incapacitated.

Financial Budget Changes

Jamaica is also adjusting its financial plan to fit with reduced income, more medical expenses, changes to initial spending plans and the use of monetary supplies. For instance, the government has suspended import tariffs for essential healthcare materials. In addition, the Central Bank of Jamaica has reduced its required reserves for funds while keeping the rate at 0.5%. Doing so has helped to increase the amount of money in the economy. Also, the country has asked the IMF for $520 million to help them recover from the pandemic.

Strategy Results

These various government initiatives have significantly helped to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Jamaica. The CARE Programme donated $25 billion Jamaican dollars to assist the economy, which is the most significant accomplishment the country has achieved thus far in fighting the economic effects of COVID-19.

Nigel Clarke, Jamaica’s Minister of Finance and the Public Service, said that due to these strategies, the country has a lesser deficit than it did a decade ago with the global financial crisis. “In addition, we had accumulated cash resources of over [3%] of GDP through public body reform, inclusive of divestment of state enterprises, and fiscal over-performance,” he stated. Also, by controlling prices, the country now has more than $1 billion in reserve funds that it did not borrow. As a result, Jamaica is now in a better place with more possibilities for recovery.

Loop, a Jamaican News Website, reported that the Minister also said that some persons have returned to work due to various government initiatives. As a result, the rate of unemployed persons dropped from around 12% in July 2020 to 10.7% in October 2020. However, it will take two to four years to get back to the pre-pandemic rate of 7.2%.

According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica , as of January 2021, the percentage of persons unemployed was 8.9%, which is an improvement from the previous year. However, the Jamaican government must continue developing innovative strategies to economically recover and reduce the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Jamaica.

– Jannique McDonald Photo: Flickr

“The Borgen Project is an incredible nonprofit organization that is addressing poverty and hunger and working towards ending them.”

-The Huffington Post

Inside the borgen project.

• Board of Directors

Get Smarter

• Global Poverty 101
• Global Poverty… The Good News
• Global Poverty & U.S. Jobs
• Global Poverty and National Security
• Innovative Solutions to Poverty
• Global Poverty & Aid FAQ’s

Ways to Help

• Call Congress
• Email Congress
• 30 Ways to Help
• Volunteer Ops
• Internships
• Courses & Certificates
• The Podcast

• Mobile Apps
• Subscribe Now

Secondary Menu

• Art & Leisure
• Classifieds

Editorial | The politics of poverty

The recent publication of the 2017 Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC) by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), showing a 2.2 percentage point increase in the rate of poverty, has set off the usual national hand-wringing debate about who or what is responsible.

The opening salvo came with the opposition spokesman on finance, Mark Golding, blaming what he points out as the “regressive” measure to increase the income tax threshold to $1.5 million, implanted in 2016. This measure was paid for by a significant increase in consumption taxes, and which the Government advertised as part of its strategy to shift from direct to indirect taxes and to fulfil an election promise.

Minister of Finance Dr Nigel Clarke, in a rather ­curious response to the regressive impact of the new tax measure, dismissed the argument that “low-­income wage earners, unemployed, pensioners and micro business operators” were made to bear the impact of the additional taxes, since inflation in 2017 was the same as in 2016.” The fact is that the new tax measures, directly or indirectly, affected a broad cross section of taxpayers, including those who did not benefit from the income tax threshold increase.

The standard practice in debating the JSLC is for the Government of the day to be on the defensive once the poverty rate increases, while the Opposition goes on the offensive. If, on the other hand, the rate falls, the Government reports the numbers with glee and takes the credit. The Opposition then either remains silent or dismisses the numbers.

These political point-scoring debates usually miss the essence of the problem, i.e., the high levels of ­poverty in the country and the need for policy changes to build wealth and improve welfare.

Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox

Jslc and social policies.

The JSLC was started in 1988 to measure the impact of structural adjustment policies on the Jamaican ­population. Over the years, the survey has been broadened to cover a range of topics and to look deeper into the issue of poverty in all its ­manifestations. The almost-exclusive focus on the poverty rate is, therefore, short-sighted. It is important that there be deeper interrogation of the wide amount of data collected. Close attention needs to be paid to how government policies are impacting various marginalised groups of the population, and what is happening in different geographic areas.

The limitations of the JSLC as a poverty measure, with its emphasis on household consumption expenditure, are well known. The measure does not capture wealth or asset distribution, for example. After 30 years, it may be timely for STATIN/PIOJ to move to the next level and start measuring income and wealth distribution to better capture inequality in Jamaica – a huge problem deeply rooted in our colonial history.

There is a vast amount of research worldwide which demonstrates that widening inequality in a society weakens social capital and undermines social cohesion. Growing inequality tends to lower GDP growth over the medium term and feeds instability, crime and corruption. Given the nature of the Jamaican society, the Government should have every incentive to want to know the impact of its policies on income distribution. For example, are there clear links between the current tax structure, macroeconomic policies and growing inequality?

History will recall that during the period of very rapid economic growth during the 1950s and 1960s, inequality and social instability grew sharply in Jamaica. The attempt to correct some of the problems caused by the sharp rise in inequality, by a programme of redistribution, had a very negative impact on GDP growth. It is therefore very important that the issue of inequality and the link with social and economic policies be studied carefully.

Many of the existing social and poverty ­programmes, including PATH, the social safety net, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, and the Jamaica Drugs for the Elderly Programme flowed from careful attention to the data flowing from the JSLC during the 1990s into the 2000s. A legitimate question to be posed is how effective these programmes have been, and whether they are still relevant in their current form. These are very deep, non-trivial questions that the JSLC can help us to answer.

• «Michael Abrahams | Girls need their fathers
• Gordon Robinson | The Lord will provide »

View the discussion thread.

• Donor Login

Food For The Poor

Fighting to End

Poverty in jamaica.

Jamaica’s geographic beauty stretches from its pine-tree covered mountains, through dense tropical rainforests, to fertile plains and pristine beaches, but the real beauty is in its people.  Unfortunately, high rates of poverty, lack of resources, and limited employment opportunities have contributed to the growth of violent crime, widespread food insecurity, and poor housing conditions.

Jamaica Poverty Facts

• Overall 17.1 percent of the population lives below the poverty line
• More than 7 percent of children under age 5 suffer from stunting due to malnutrition
• The life expectancy is 75.75
• Unemployment is 7.72 percent
• The GDP per capita is $5,369.5

Changing Lives in Jamaica

Hearts United Community Day: FFTP Volunteers Pack Toys, Write Cards to Vulnerable Children in Jamaica

International Literacy Day 2022: Laptop Program Benefits Angels Of Hope Children

Good Things Come in Trees – Tree-Planting Project Thrives in Jamaica

Help for Jamaica

In 1982, Jamaica became the first country to receive assistance from Food For The Poor. FFTP-Jamaica was established one year later and is today the island’s largest charitable organization. FFTP partners with more than 1,300 churches and institutions to distribute food, medicine, educational supplies, and other items to impoverished families.

*Tap each icon to learn more

Since its inception, FFTP has built 36,645 homes island wide, including 89 in 2023.

Since early 2021, FFTP has established 17 water harvesting projects for schools across the island.

In 2024, FFTP shipped more than 34.2 million lifesaving meals to Jamaica.

FFTP has built, repaired, or expanded 322 schools throughout Jamaica.

FFTP has constructed medical clinics across the island to improve existing facilities and provide quality care.

Emergency aid

In 2023, FFTP sent one prepositioned disaster relief kit to Jamaica with enough supplies to support 250 families in the event of a disaster.

FFTP helps care for more than 343 children in 23 Angels Of Hope children’s homes. In addition, more than 60 children from inner-city communities participate in the FFTP Band Camp Program.

Sustainability

Animal Husbandry, such as programs such pig, chicken, and goat-rearing projects, as well as fishing projects, tree planting initiatives, greenhouses, and climate-smart crop cultivation, provide food and income for families in Jamaica.  In addition, FFTP equipped more than 360 beekeepers throughout the island with supplies and training to generate income by harvesting quality honey and other apiary byproducts.

Community Support

Inner-city communities, schools, children’s homes, and farmers receive help with producing crops and livestock for food and profit. Constructed a multipurpose facility for community development and worship.

Micro-Finance

FFTP equipped 360 beekeepers island wide with supplies and training to generate income by harvesting quality honey.

Prison Ministry

Since 1998, FFTP has helped free 749 nonviolent prisoners through its Prison Ministry.

People’s faith in the light of Christ delivers them from the darkness shadowing their lives.

God’s Work

Our impact in jamaica.

Implemented three income-generating projects, including one beekeeping enterprise and two harvesting enterprises.

Provided two schools with rainwater harvesting and storage systems

Established a tree-planting initiative to increase the number of fruit trees planted around the island.

Provided 68 laptop computers to children living in Angel of Hope Children’s Homes across the island.

Embarked on a Climate Smart Agricultural program targeting primarily subsistence farmers. By providing rainwater harvesting, storage, and drip irrigation system along with training and resources to develop a ½ acre plot of land, the initiative aims to improve farming techniques and increase income for the most vulnerable farmer.

Implemented the Thatch Walk Hot Pepper Project, which holds the promise of transforming other farming communities.

Shipped 27 containers of essential goods and nonperishable food to Jamaica, including clothing, medical and assorted canned food.

Built, repaired or expanded eight schools.

Built 285 homes

Completed a project to provide chickens and fresh vegetables to the Jamaica National Children’s Home

Embarked on a new income-generating agricultural program to help farmers improve the quality and quantity of their yields. The program provides all equipment and supplies to establish a ½-acre farm and includes a rainwater harvesting, storage and drip irrigation system to assist farmers in providing water in the drier periods.

Provided equipment for 31 beekeepers, bringing the total to almost 360 beekeepers participating in an income-generating project that allows farmers to harvest quality honey.

Helped 139 students attend school through an annual grant program, which provides funding for school fees and books for students from pre-kindergarten to college and provided scholarships to help two students attend medical school.

Distributed $34,781,512 in aid

Built, repaired, or expanded seven schools

Shipped 485 tractor-trailer loads of aid to Jamaica.

Responded with emergency aid after the island was hit back-to-back by hurricanes Grace and Ida.

Responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by airfreighting hygiene and protective wear to the island nation, establishing various food and hygiene programs to address food insecurity and safety concerns. The charity has distributed packages to more than 15,000 families while maintaining the distribution of critical resources to a network of churches, missionaries and other institutions that provide food and other goods to tens of thousands island wide.

Shipped 35 tractor-trailer loads of medicines, medical equipment and other medical supplies to clinics and hospitals across the island. Durable medical equipment, such as walkers and wheelchairs, also are provided to needy recipients.

Initiated a program that aids individuals in need of funding for medical procedures or equipment critical to save lives or improve quality of life.

Established the Summerfield Child Care Agriculture Project, which includes crop production and an egg-laying hen coop.

Established the Muirton Boy’s Home and West Haven Children’s Home Water Projects, which include water storage, a rainwater-catchment system and a water purification system that provides an additional 6,000 gallons of water storage capacity for each facility.

A special distribution took place in December, with the entire FFTP Jamaica team fanning out across the island to deliver food packages to marginalized individuals in communities in celebration of Christmas.

FFTP-Jamaica partnered with UNICEF to improve water, sanitization, and hygiene in 19 schools located in high-risk COVID-19 parishes.

FFTP-Jamaica responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by bringing food and hygiene packages to the neediest families on the island.

Provided water-catchment storage tanks and filtration units to the Reddies Place of Safety, the Salvation Army’s The Nest Children’s Home in Kingston, Sunbeam Boys Home and Yadel Children’s Home in St. Catherine.

Provided broiler and layer-hen coops to the Strathmore Gardens Children’s Home.

Made history in Jamaica by building 100 schools in five years thanks to the generous support of its donors in the United States, Canada and Jamaica

Restored Wortley Home, initially opened in 1918 for vulnerable girls in Kingston, after it was destroyed by fire. FFTP built a beautiful two-story facility with the capacity to accommodate 32 girls, up from the previous capacity of 24. The facilities have two 16-bed dormitories, a sick bay, homework and study room equipped with computers, and separate bedrooms and bathrooms for the house mother and staff.

Established its first fishing village in Jamaica, providing local fishermen with boats, engines, fishing gear and storage facilities.

Established the FFTP Prison Ministry Program, which assists in freeing and reintroducing nonviolent prisoners into the community. Since the program’s inception, 743 men and women have had their fines paid. More than 8,250 ex-inmates have also benefited from the “Fresh Start Program,” which that assists with profitable income-generating ventures, such as welding, carpentry, farming and tailoring.

FFTP-Jamaica was established and is the largest charitable organization in Jamaica.

FFTP was founded, and Jamaica became the first country to receive aid from the newly established charity

Other Ways to Give

Choose your gift amount

• EssayBasics.com
• Pay For Essay
• Write My Essay
• Homework Writing Help
• Essay Editing Service
• Thesis Writing Help
• Write My College Essay
• Do My Essay
• Term Paper Writing Service
• Coursework Writing Service
• Write My Research Paper
• Assignment Writing Help
• Essay Writing Help
• Call Now! (USA) Login Order now
• EssayBasics.com Call Now! (USA) Order now
• Writing Guides

Poverty in Jamaica (Essay/Paper Sample)

Table of Contents

Poverty in Jamaica

Jamaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea and the third largest island of the Greater Antilles.  The country has been struggling with abject poverty for about half a century. The situation has been escalating due to higher rate of unemployment, extreme crimes and overpopulation as well as lack of sufficient resources. Jamaica has a population of approximately 2.1 million people whereby, 8.6% and 14.8% of men and women are unemployed respectively.  According to the World Bank, a large proportion of the Jamaican population fall below poverty line, which is expanding due to inequality. Notably, the most vulnerable demographic is women and children as they are the dependent group.

In terms of wealth, Jamaica is the land of extremes. The wealth is distributed mostly along racial lines and class which reflects on the Jamaican social demography. For instance, in the country, the descendants of the slaves tend to be among the poorest group, whereas the descendants of the white, the owners of the plantations and traders have a better off in the country. These depict a case of inequality and discrimination as poor become more poorer as while the rich continue to amass wealth. .

In terms of facilities and amenities, the slums residents are pathetic and characterized by congestion and poor sanitation.  Recent study by UNFPA has shown that due to the decline of services in the urban slums, the proportion of those population that access safe drinking water has declined from 96% to 70 %.  In the slums the access to sanitation has also declined from 91 percent to 74 percent. In the past 30 years the development in Jamaica has remained slow and this is one of the many factors that lead to poverty continuous poverty in the country.

Need an essay customized under your requirements? We can help you

Furthermore. The situation in the urban centers is not different from that of rural regions where the poor faces difficulties as they struggling with small scale forming which yield insufficient foods. In many cases these workers participate in the informal economy and in some cases they involve themselves in the drug trade as a way of earning income.

Corruption in the government is also another factor that has worsened the situation as the huge sums of money are embezzled by the politicians which could be used in the creation of industries and infrastructure that could boost the economy. Corruption has increased by the good relationship between the Jamaican officials and the crime groups. This has not only hurts law abiding citizens of Jamaica but it makes the foreign investors far from investing in the country. Poverty in this country is also increased by the fact many poor families do not take their children to school. This is caused by the fact that public schools are not entirely free and many of these families cannot afford to take their children to schools. This situation is contumacy increasing and worsening the situation because these children tend to involve themselves in crime activities.

Despite the poverty situation in Jamaica the World Bank has a positive view for the economy of this country. The World Bank is on help to help in economy development in the country. In addition, the government of Jamaica is currently working with the European nations such Netherlands and Denmark to curb the poverty through both micro and macro-economic strategies.  This has seen as improvement as at the year 2015 Jamaica jumped 27 places in the business ranking as the government has improved its credit rating and had decreased the national debt.

With all these efforts from the government and other unions such as the European nation the rate of poverty in Jamaica is gradually decreasing. The World Bank has also made some efforts to decline the rate of poverty in this country. If only the government of Jamaica take action against the corruption in this country then it will be very easy Jamaica to end the poverty. Also with the recent increase in number of foreign investors is seen a start of an end to the poverty in Jamaica.

• Latest News
• North & East
• Environment
• International
• Social Love
• Horse Racing
• World Champs
• Commonwealth Games
• FIFA World Cup 2022
• Art & Culture
• Tuesday Style
• Food Awards
• JOL Takes Style Out
• Design Week JA
• Black Friday
• Relationships
• Motor Vehicles
• Place an Ad
• Jobs & Careers
• Study Centre
• Jnr Study Centre
• Supplements
• Entertainment
• Career & Education
• Classifieds
• Design Week

Poverty is the root cause of crime, Lisa

Dear Editor,

Lisa Hanna wrote two insightful articles recently in the Jamaica Observer about personality disorders and the impact on crime and violence in Jamaica. This is not the first time Hanna has spoken about these issues.

In 2013, as minister of youth and culture, Hanna raised the issue of mental disorders and the impact on behavioural problems among children in Jamaica at a Gleaner forum.

Hanna does have a point, but the deeper issue and root cause of crime, violence, and antisocial behaviour is poverty. Youth going before the courts and into State centres are primarily coming from poor communities. How many are from middle class, educated families?

We cannot ignore the socio-economic factors at the very root of these problems. Poverty, which equates to a lack of basic resources, will generally lead to poor education, inadequate parenting skills, and lack of family values, which creates other problems. It’s a vicious cycle which feeds into mental disorders and antisocial behaviour.

Providing counselling with scientific approaches might offer some benefits in specific cases, but this is hardly enough (or practical) to deal with the problem at a national level over the long term.

We must provide outlets to enable more individuals to break the cycle of poverty. I’ve always maintained that culture and sports are tools at our disposal which have been underutilised. We need investments in sports and culture to provide regular and ongoing mentorship, training, and programmes to hone skills and talent and nurture social interaction and self-worth. We need ongoing opportunities, not just seasonal ones. Sports and culture will provide a distraction, they relax and de-stress.

There are countless studies on the causes of crime and violence from people very qualified to speak on these topics. In Jamaica, we don’t need anymore studies or statistics or quotes from consultant psychiatrists and professors to tell us what we already know. What is needed is meaningful solutions aimed at reducing poverty and creating equality and economic opportunities.

I don’t believe anyone is surprised to know that most criminals experience violence and abuse as children. We also know that criminals tend to be young males and repeat offenders. We know that crime has an economic cost; it is an impediment to development. We also know that Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates in the world and our violent tendencies is well known throughout the Caribbean.

But we are still not using what we already know to help curb crime.

Why does Barbados, for instance, a country with one of the highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the region and a highly educated population have virtually no crime?

The questions we should be asking, 60 years post Independence, is: What have we done over the decades to deal with the cycle of poverty and the link to crime in Jamaica?

Government has a responsibility to keep people safe and stimulate the economy to enable greater equality. Too many of our citizens live in extreme poverty, they become marginalised and invisible to those on the outside and ultimately many become criminals.

Until there is greater social and economic intervention and equality, with specific projects with specific goals, we will continue to use Band-Aid fixes and continue to write about the topic.

There are many people who endured mental issues as youth who were able to break the cycle and improve themselves economically and otherwise. Others are not so lucky, and they remain stuck and in need of help.

We have enough studies and statistics to know that Jamaica has a very serious socio-economic problem at the root of criminality which requires urgent attention.

[email protected]

HOUSE RULES

• We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
• Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
• We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
• Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
• Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: [email protected] .
• If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: [email protected] .
• Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Comments are closed.

• Privacy Policy
• Editorial Code of Conduct