MODULE 2: ISSUES

IN CARIBBEAN
DEVELOPMENT
HOW DOES EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH
AND RESOURCES HINDERS
DEVELOPMENT?
WHAT IS DEVELOPMENT?

DEVELOPMENT: can be
defined as the process by
which a country uses its
resources to grow its economy
and improve the quality of life
for its citizens and conserve
and protect its environment.
 INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT
QUANTITATIVE INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT QUALITATIVE INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT(SOCIAL
(ECONOMIC INDICATORS) INDICATORS)

- Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - Human Development Index (HDI)

- Gross National Product (GNP) - Productivity

- Per Capita - Internet Penetration

- Gini Coefficient - Modern Technology

- Good Governance
FACTORS THAT
PROMOTE OR HINDER
DEVELOPMENT
GRADE 13
CARIBBEAN STUDIES
AREAS TO LOOK AT

CLASS BOUNDARIES
GENDER INEQUALITY NATURAL/MAN-MADE
DISTRIBUTION OF DISASTERS
WEALTH/ RESOURCES POLITCAL IDEOLOGIES

GOVERNMENT
GLOBAL FACTORS
POLICES
EDUCATION
TECHNOLOGY
GENDER INEQUALITY &
HOW DOES IT AFFECTS
DEVELOPMENT
SHIFT IN GENDER ROLES

Gender inequality looks at the discrimination of women and girls in any area
of public life. In addressing gender inequality through development,
government and organizations focus on the following :
 Reproductive health measured by the material mortality ratio and the
adolescent birth rate.
 Empowerment and representation in political life and achievement in
education
 Female participation in the labour market.
 In recent times women have been seen as a productive part of a country’s
workforce, allowing them to perform the same duties as their male
counterparts at work. This allows equality between genders and women
receive the same treatment as men.
 Women have now gained advancement in society through meritocracy,
that is, based on their education, training or skills. Many women have
gained entry into educational institutions and training programmes in
order, like men to be more skilled in their line of work.
 The rise of feminist groups has given a voice to oppressed women. These
groups have rallied on behalf of women to highlight the numerous
injustices against women in society.
 Due to major societal changes such as industrialisation and the increase in
the number of matriarchal families, the roles of women in the family have
changed significantly.
 Women have now moved away from the traditional role of caretaker of
household to being major income earners- sometimes the only income
earner in the family.
HOW GENDER INEQUALITY
HINDERS DEVELOPMENT
Even though women have gained mobility through meritocracy, they still face
gender inequality in the workplace.
 One form of in equality is that of wages. Both genders may perform the
same task and the male may get a better wage in comparison to the
women. This may be a result of the difference in gender.
 Traditional customs and belief have hindered development by
discriminating against and marginalising women. In keeping with the
traditional roles of genders in the home.
 Women may face the issue of sexual harassment at work; come in many
forms such as unwanted verbal and non-verbal advances by men to female
employees.
HOW WOMENCONTRIBUTE TO
DEVELOPMENT
 Women from rural villages may work on farms or in gardens cultivating
crops, that are sold at markets.
 Women have high-ranking positions in organizations. Their contribution
to development comes as a result of the collection of tax reveneues that
help to run a nation.
 Women also are working in the areas of security and defence; army, coast
guars and police force. Development often results in adoption of
institutions that favour gender in equality, e.g. women’s enfranchisement
and property rights.
POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES
&POPULAR MOVEMENTS
The political ideology of a government will impact on:
 The form of government, and the way it manages relationships and
conflicts.
 The chosen economic system, as well as the use of resources to earn money
and trade internationally.
CAPITALISM/SOCIALISM/MARXISM

 This is a system that is characterised by private ownwership. The

distribution of good and serives are determined by competition in a free
market and there is little or no government intervention.
 Capitalist ideology focuses on the roles of demiand and supply of products
in determining prices and the expected quantities that are going to be
placed on the market.
 Marxism is an ideology that was developed by Karl Marx that advocates
the proletariat should revolt against the bourgeoisie. It was based on his
observations that society is divided by social class and the bourgeoisie
exploited the proletariat for their labour.
 Marx was a major advocate for communism, in which class wars between
both parties would eventually lead to a classless society. Land and
resources would be held by everyone.
 All means of production and distribution is controlled by the state.
Examples of such countries are Cuba and China
HOW CAPILTALISM PROMOTES
DEVELOPMENT
 Capitalism encourages the use of technology to boost production levels and
increase efficiency. Businesses may reduce the amount of wasted
resources. As firms compete, consumers have a variety of goods and
services at cheaper prices and benefit from price wars between businesses.
 It promotes free trade, which allows easier movement of labour and
capital. Promotion of free trade allows businesses to set up, providing
goods and services and generating employment.
HOW CAPITALISM HINDERS
DEVELOPMENT
 High levels of pollution as businesses are unregulated by the state. Many
businesses are engaged in capital-intensive production, and use machines
rather than human labour, which may increase unemployment.
 Free trade can lead to the dumping of cheap, generic products in the
region. Furthermore, local businesses cannot compete with large foreign
internationals.
HOW MARXISM PROMOTES
DEVELOPMENT
 Revenue generated remains within the country since it is controlled by the
state. It can be used to make capital investments such as schools and
hospitals and the development of infrastructure.
 In a socialist society, citizens’ needs are addressed and social class is
eradicated. This removes social stratification; everyone enjoys the same
privileges and living standards. Once basic needs are met, people are freer
to become productive citizens.
 Socialist government control of businesses tends to mean lower pollution
levels. Since the economy is not engaging in free trade, local businesses are
protected from competition from multinational corporations. This
protection leads to jobs being saved and so less unemployment.
HOW MARXISM HINDERS
DEVELOPMENT
 The government may engage in more labour-intensive production
as opposed to the mechanisation in an attempt to save the jobs of Research on the
citizens. However, the resulting output may not be enough to meet Black power
the needs of the citizens or export demands. If these are not met , movement or
the country may lose credibility as a trading partner, and lose revolution of
valueable revenue from the sale of goods. 1970 in Trinidad
and Tobago as a
 In a socialist country the state manages the economy and may not popular
allow foreign companies or multinational corporations to invest. movement in
Citizens will have no choice but to buy expensive local products, relation to
and this will erode their disposable income. popular
movements.
 Some communist/socialist countries may not engage in much
international trade , again limiting the choice of products available.
DISTRIBUTION OF
WEALTH &
RESOURCES
 Every Caribbean territory possesses its own resources, which may either
be physical or non-physical. Examples of physical resources includes:
minerals, forestry and even livestock, while non-physical resources
ranges from human skills to that of capital in business.
 The possession of resources contributes to development. However, in
many cases there is inequality in its distribution and this may in return
hinder development.
HOW DOES EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH
AND RESOURCES CONTRIBUTE
TO DEVELOPMENT?
 All sectors receive the same share or all citizens receive a fair share of national income. If
the national income is shared fairly among the various ministries such as health, education,
national security, agriculture or transport, then more schools can be built or investments
made in education to make the workforce more skilled and equipped for working.
 It would also help all hospitals to have the equipment necessary to carry out operations or to
expand to carry out more treatments and treat more patients.
 Equitable distribution of resources/wealth will also result in the allowance of females greater
access to education and skills training so that they can be more employable.
 Inequities of resource distribution may take various forms rating from
inadequate allocation of national income, to certain groups of people
unduly or unfairly benefitting from the distribution of wealth and
resources. Ensure you look at
these terms:
 If wealth is unevenly distributed, it can hinder development. When
concentrated in the hands of a few it can lead to low levels of investment.
- traditional
High unemployment and a large unskilled labour force, as there is low
economies
expenditure on education.
- Planned economies
 It can also result in corruption. As a consequence, there is low productivity - free market
among high income earners and skilled workers leave the Caribbean region. economies
- Mixed economies
 Inequality in the distribution of wealth and resources can lead to certain
- Poverty
sectors of an economy being developed while others may remain
undeveloped.
CLASS
BOUNDARIES
 Caribbean countries are characterised by division by race, colour and class. This
division can be linked to a history of colonisation, enslavement and
indentureship.
 Sociologists M.G. Smith and R.T Smith were contributors in relation to the
plantation model and social stratification in the Caribbean and how the
occurrence of different ethnic groups further added to the complexity of the
social structure in the Caribbean.
 Social class to this day is evident as people are ranked in a particular stratified
order based on power, education skills and financial strength.
 In modern society, this level of division has contributed to an equality in
income distribution and the popular belief that the rich get richer and the
poor become poorer
HOW SOCIAL CLASS PROMOTES
DEVELOPMENT
 Education is seen as the main reason for the upward social mobility of the
lower class people. Education has allowed people to become more qualified
in different fields and eventually to acquire jobs.
 Once employed they may be able to sustain themselves and their families
as a result of moving into a higher income bracket. This leads to
development as there will be less dependence on the government for social
welfare. The money ear marked for social welfare can then be used in other
areas such as education, health and national security.
 Women have used education as a way to move from traditional roles in the
home to being employed individuals through their careers. This in turn
contributes to development and productivity.
HOW SOCIAL CLASS HINDERS
DEVELOPMENT
 Class stratification/Karl Marx/ Marxism- speaks on the different
classes being ranked in hierarchal order. Marx pointed out the upper class or
bourgeoisie control the means of production and the wealth of the economy,
thus in today’s society the bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat.
 The very nature of social stratification indicates social inequality in society
and class conflicts tend to be the norm in these stratified societies. There is
often the view that the upper classes tend to use the resources of the country
for their own gain and thus the lower class does not receive their fair share of
those resources.
 The changing boundaries have led to social exclusion of some groups
(Amerindians in Belize and Guyana) where these groups face
marginalisation. Also lower class groups are vulnerable to poverty since
discrimination in areas such as government services, education and health.
NATURAL , HUMAN
MADE DISASTERS
AND DEVELOPMENT
 CLASSIFICATION OF NATUAL
DISASTERS
GEOLOGICAL
HYDROLOGICAL METEOROLOGICAL DISASTERS
DISASTERS
DISASTERS  CYCLONIC STORMS
 EARTHQUAKES  FLOODS  DROUGHTS
 VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS  TSUNAMIS  FIRES
IMPACTS OF DISASTERS ON
DEVELOPMENT
 Development can be impeded by the adverse effects diasters can have on
economic growth and poverty reduction, especially because governments
cannot effectively prepare for the magnitude and with the effects of
disasters.
 They impact the earning power of citizens, which reduces the GDP, in the
Caribbean tourism and agriculture are the most affected.
 Disasters affect human development causing displacement, loss of life or
livelihood health care crises-often as a result of rise in disease cases and
epidemics.
 They can also cause significant damage to the environment and
development projects that have been put in place to safe guard it.
HUMAN MADE DISASTERS

This is a catastrophic event that occurs as a result of the negligent or

deliberate actions of people. Below are examples of such actions:
 Residential buildings in close proximity to flood prone areas. Most
building may not be up to building codes/standards.
 Pollution
 Oil spills
 Slash and Burn
 Illegal Quarrying
 CRIME !
GOVERNMENT
POLICIES &
DEVELOPMENT
 Government policies are formulated with the aim of ensuring that
resources are used efficiently and that different sectors of the economy
receive equal share. This is done through the national budget.
 There are four main types of policy: distributive, redistributive,
regulatory and constituent.
 Policy making can be influenced by politicians , trade unions, professionals
and public opinion. They impact the lives of all people in a society. They
are not laws, but they can lead the creation of laws.
 There are 4 macroeconomic objectives that governments seeks to achieve
and these include economic growth, stability of prices or low inflation
rates, a favourable balance of payments position and full employment.
A favourable balance of payments occurs when exports exceeds imports.
POLICIES THAT PROMOTES
DEVELOPMENT
 Fiscal policy
 Tax holidays
 Social Policies
POLICIES THAT HINDERS
DEVELOPMENT
 Welfare policies
 Loss of revenue
 Agreements with the IMF
TECHNOLOGY &
DEVELOPMENT
 Due to the advent of globalisation, major technological innovations have

occurred that have now revolutionised the lives of people and firms.

 Technology has now become apart of daily life and can be found in people’s

homes, workplaces and schools.

 Technology has become an integral part of the development of the

Caribbean region too, although in some cases it has been shown to hinder

development rather than promote it.

BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGY

 Technology allows for quicker communication.

 Shopping and banking online

 Advancements in medical care

 Banking transactions made easier and more convienient

 Beneficial to business operation

HOW TECHNOLOGY HINDERS
DEVELOPMENT
 Businesses have become more automated due to technology and requires
less man labour.
 Small businesses are unable to afford machinery may have to shut down
as they as unable to compete in the market because of global companies
can produce goods in greater numbers and benefit from the economies of
scale.
 People have become reliant on technology as a result, laziness and
dependency sets in.
GLOBAL FACTORS
AND
DEVELOPMENT
WAR & INSURRECTION

 Middle eastern countries like: Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are major
producer of oil. Their pricing of oil influences the price of oil around the
world.
 Whenever there is a dispute (wars) , there has been restrictions on oil
supply causing international panic and leads to significant increase in oil
prices. In turn, the prices of products using oil have also increased.
 The Caribbean has a high dependence on oil. If oil prices go up, the
overhead cost of production will increase since machines need oil and fuel
to run. Firms’ expenses will rise, causing a reduction in profits and the
price of goods will increase.
TERROISM

 Terrorist attacks such as 9/11 on the World Trade Centre in the USA, the
Madrid bombings, the 7/7 bombings in London and multiple suicide
bombings in the middle east have had far-reaching impacts.
 These attacks have led to loss of multiple lives and property damages that
runs into millions of dollars. As a result ports of entry and exit are heavily
monitored to ensure that national security is not breached.
 Major acts of terroism can cause disruptions to tourism, potentially
affecting the economy of regions like the Caribbean. Productivity can also
be affected and slows down. If distribution chains are affected in the
Caribbean, there may be shortages of foreign raw materials, resulting in
higher cost to businesses.
NATURAL DISASTERS
 Production levels may reduce after a natural disaster; business premises may be damaged so
that they cannot operate to full capacity.
 Due to its location, the Caribbean region has suffered and impacted by hurricanes which ravage
parts of the region.
 Decades of development is sometimes decimated in hours in the wake of a hurricane making
some islands inhabitable.
 Economic activities such as tourism and agriculture are greatly impacted as they are crippled
and all social services, particularly education were disrupted.
 If unemployment increases following a natural disaster ,the economy will contact as pressure
will be placed on governmental organizations in an attempt to maintain economic stability.
 Exports too may also decrease which leads to a reduction in the national income since foreign
revenue will not be generated.
 If imports exceed exports, a payment deficit may be created.
DISEASE & EPIDEMICS

 Throughout history major diseases have spread, causing widespread loss of

human life.
 Over the past few decades diseases have begun to spread quickly because
people travel globally and carry diseases. In the Caribbean, HIV and AIDS
have become a cause for concern.
G8 MEETINGS

 Meetings such as the G8 (Group of 8), consisting of the world’s eight

richest countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Russian
Federation, the UK and USA are held to discuss global issues and seek
solutions to global problems.
 Global warming has also been a significant point of discussion at meetings.
The effects of carbon emissions from industrialised nations, results in rises
in sea levels due to melting polar ice caps have impacted on the Caribbean
with many islands seeing the ocean encroach further onto their coastlines.
 As a result, many coastal towns and cities have consequently become
vulnerable to changes like this. This discussions taking place at G8
meetings look at how to tackle issues such as these.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS
 Genetically modified foods are usually crops created using biological and genetic
engineering. The plants may be grown in laboratories then planted on a mass
scale. There are many arguments for and against the creation of such altered
foods.
 They are often done to be deemed as “pest-resistant” so that they can survive
attacks. If crops were made in such a way this can in turn lessen the result of a
food shortage. They are also modified in such a way to mature more quickly,
leading to greater harvests.
 A major disadvantage of GM foods, such as in the case of corn, is that insects
required in the pollination process may be wiped out. There is widespread
concern that bees (essential pollinators of plants) are rapidly declining in
numbers.
 GM foods may also cause allergic reactions in humans which can lead to health
complications.
EDUCATION &
DEVELOPMENT
QUALITY & RELEVANCE OF
EDUCATION
Education in the Caribbean is seen as an integral part of the region’s development. Countries that
invest in education enhance their chances of development. Adequate schools and qualified
teachers result in a skilled labour force, increasing quality and productivity. Access to higher
education strengthens human resources through development of creativity, professionalism and
innovation. A good education system can:
 Help individuals obtain knowledge and skills that can be applied in future to generate income.
 Offer individuals access to jobs for their own betterment and to improve their social standing
by allowing them to fulfil their basic psychological needs.
 Provide the knowledge, skills and attitude required to be productive in the Caribbean Society.
 Prevent children from becoming involved in criminal activities. This is done through the
instilling of accepted norms and values and expected codes of behaviour and mannerisms.
INTRODUCTION OF
TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL SUBJECTS
 Vocational learning is related to the old-age apprenticeship system of
learning. Apprenticeship is desgined for many types of work from manual
trades to specialised skills. At post- secondary level vocational eduation is
typically provided by an institute of technology, university or a local
community college.
 Having an education may allow an individual to acquire a job and this is
vital for poverty reduction, economic recovery and sustainable
development. Many people in the Caribbean possess some technical skill
and they just need training in which to develop this.
 As a result, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is
increasing worldwide.
 TVET comprises of formal and informal learning for the world of work. Young
people gain knowledge and skills from basic to advanced levels across a wide
range of intuitional work and settings and in divderse socio-economic contexts.
 There is also the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) programme which is
based on the competencies that are required in the workplace, from leadership
and management to specific technical skills that is required to carry out
operations.
 The TVET and CVQ programmes are helping the workforce to make the
transition from purely academic skills to the more practical and technical skills
needed in the industry, manufacturing and even information technology.
CURRICULUM REFORMS
 The national curriculum of a country MUST be applicable to the culture of the
society. Historical Processes in the Caribbean have had great influence over
curricula, which were often based on those of former colonisers.
 After independence, reforms were necessary to create new, region specific
curricula and educational policy.
 However, due to increased demand from employers for technical skills, the
curriculum has been reformed. A good example is the introduction of
information Technology not only at the ordinary level but also the advanced
and CAPE level.
 Curriculum reforms have also seen a shift towards technical vocational
subjects such as : welding, metalwork, auto and diesel, electrical and air
conditioning maintenance being offered to both and girls.
FUNDING OF EDUCATION
 In most cases education is free to everyone since the governments pay all
expenses for school from Primary-Secondary level of education. The
government has recognised the importance of education and that’s why they
have made education free to all.
 Individuals must have the appropriate grades in order to get into tertiary
institutions. In countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, their government offers
programmes that help to pay for tertiary educational oppourtunities. However,
fees are paid only if students passed the required number of subjects. If not,
students will repay the government all the fees.
 Many universities have also established off-shore campuses. In the case of
UWI (University of the West Indies ), it has spread over the region and has
three main campuses in Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad. The UWI has also
set up platforms where distant learning has been made possible so that anyone
may study at the University of the West Indies (UWI).
THAT’S ALL FOLKS

SEE YOU SOON !!