The Causes Of Poverty In Jamaica
The Causes of Poverty in Jamaica
According to the Business Dictionary, Poverty is defined as a condition where people's basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter are not being met. Jamaica has a population of approximately 2.7 million and is a Caribbean small island developing state. According to the 2011 Human Development Report, the country ranked 78 out of 187 countries on the human development index based on indicators such as life expectancy at birth and expected years of schooling.
Poverty has been a persistent feature of the Jamaican landscape from the post- Emancipation period, and it is a subject of continuing concern and analysis for Caribbean academics and welfare practitioners (Anderson, 2001). According to Ben Henry, Managing Director of Customer Service Academy of Jamaica; attitude to work is a major cause of poverty in Jamaica. In his article entitled “Attitude To Work A Major Cause Of Poverty In Jamaica” published in the Jamaican Sunday Gleaner on April 1, 2012, Mr Henry argues that if Jamaicans would extend the same effort used in preparing for a party, to the work that enables them to pay the bills and send their children to school, then the country would become the Singapore of the Western Hemisphere. Jamaicans need to wake up to the fact that in order for us to get out of this poverty quagmire in which we find ourselves, we need to work when we go to work (Henry, 2012).
The poverty rate in Jamaica stands at 16.5%, having increased in the past two years. The result is that a larger proportion of the population now falls below the poverty line and inequality has risen, in many instances heightening vulnerabilities of the most-at-risk populations, including women and young people (United Nations Population Fund). In a study conducted by member of the American Counseling Association and the Association of Adventist Family Life, Professional Dr Alanzo Smith, findings were that some 1.1 million Jamaicans were living below the poverty line,
According to the Business Dictionary, Poverty is defined as a condition where people's basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter are not being met. Jamaica has a population of approximately 2.7 million and is a Caribbean small island developing state. According to the 2011 Human Development Report, the country ranked 78 out of 187 countries on the human development index based on indicators such as life expectancy at birth and expected years of schooling.
Poverty has been a persistent feature of the Jamaican landscape from the post- Emancipation period, and it is a subject of continuing concern and analysis for Caribbean academics and welfare practitioners (Anderson, 2001). According to Ben Henry, Managing Director of Customer Service Academy of Jamaica; attitude to work is a major cause of poverty in Jamaica. In his article entitled “Attitude To Work A Major Cause Of Poverty In Jamaica” published in the Jamaican Sunday Gleaner on April 1, 2012, Mr Henry argues that if Jamaicans would extend the same effort used in preparing for a party, to the work that enables them to pay the bills and send their children to school, then the country would become the Singapore of the Western Hemisphere. Jamaicans need to wake up to the fact that in order for us to get out of this poverty quagmire in which we find ourselves, we need to work when we go to work (Henry, 2012).
The poverty rate in Jamaica stands at 16.5%, having increased in the past two years. The result is that a larger proportion of the population now falls below the poverty line and inequality has risen, in many instances heightening vulnerabilities of the most-at-risk populations, including women and young people (United Nations Population Fund). In a study conducted by member of the American Counseling Association and the Association of Adventist Family Life, Professional Dr Alanzo Smith, findings were that some 1.1 million Jamaicans were living below the poverty line,