In Part 1 of this series of articles, the nature and types of poverty were explored. It was established that both absolute and relative poverty exist in Guyana where some 38.8 percent of Guyanese live below the internationally recognised poverty line. That is, almost half of Guyana’s population can afford to spend no more than US$5.50 per day. It was established, too, that while many people survive in abject poverty, an elite group live in obscenely luxurious splendour. This situation – it was shown – exists because of the unequal and unfair distribution of the country’s resources.
This second article in the series will further explore what international agencies say about poverty, and what are some of the effects of the scourge in the local context.
Sustainable Development Goal # 1
Guyana is a signatory to a United Nations document called, The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) or Global Goals. The document which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015 is a collection of seventeen interlinked objectives designed to serve as a, “shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.”
Goal number 1 is to, “End poverty in all its forms, everywhere.”
One will recall that in part 1 of this series, it was emphasised that poverty is much more than not having money; poverty is a whole range of issues including the denial of basic rights and entitlements.
The UN defines poverty as follows:
“Poverty is a denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity. It means a lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society. It means not having enough to feed or clothe a family, not having a school or clinic to go to, not having the land on which to grow one’s food or a job to earn one’s living, not having access to credit. It means insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It means susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living in marginal or fragile environments without access to clean water and sanitation.”
Guyanese should study that UN definition of poverty very carefully because it seems to refer to exactly the conditions under which many Guyanese survive. Further, the UN definition explicitly states that poverty is denial of choices and opportunities, thereby implying that some outside force is capable of keeping people – including Guyanese – in a state of poverty.
Since we know that money is flowing in as our oil flows out, Guyanese may wish to ponder: who has control of that money, who is benefiting, and who or what force is keeping the majority of Guyanese in a state of poverty?
The effects of poverty
Experts say that the effects of the cycle of poverty on individuals, communities, and whole societies can be catastrophic.
Those effects are all interrelated. For example, health.
Poverty can cause physical illness because of lack of proper nutrition, clean water, good sanitation and other factors. Poorly nourished women who may have other poverty related health issues may give birth to sick and underweight babies. A sick child in a poor household may require special medical care, resulting in mental stress on parents. Mental stress can lead to serious mental illness. And, so, the cycle of poverty is perpetuated.
Research has found, too, that there is a high risk of educational underachievement for children who are from low-income housing circumstances. This is often a process that begins in primary school, that is, if those children even attend school at all.
Poorly educated children will become poorly educated adults who may have limited earning ability. That new generation will have families of their own – likely poor families.
And, so, the cycle of poverty is perpetuated.
Recalling that Guyana is a signatory to the SDG, Guyanese are left to wonder if Goal # 1 will ever be realised; is there even the political desire to seriously pursue poverty elimination?
The next article in this series will address ways to escape from the cycle of poverty.
