Data from this publication may be reproduced with acknowledgement from source.

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2 Copyright 2006 Published & Printed By: Statistical Office Department of Economic Planning and Statistics South Base, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands British West Indies Telephone: (649) Fax: (649) or Website: December, 2006 Data from this publication may be reproduced with acknowledgement from source.

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5 FOREWORD The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is committed to observing international obligations. In that regard, all of the important guidelines set by the United Nations (UN) elicit the attention of the Government. In the year 2000, the international community identified and committed itself to 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), 18 targets, and 48 indicators to be fulfilled by TCI has therefore adopted these goals, therefore, which now inform policy. The Statistical Office of the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (DEPS) is officially releasing this report on the status on these goals, five years after the signing of the Millennium Declaration, which is covered in the subsequent chapters. The TCI has made some strides in implementing the measurement, monitoring and delivery of some of the indicators. Of the 48 indicators, 29 are currently measured and monitored in an attempt to evaluate the status of the country in respect of the achievement of the 8 Goals. In many cases, measurement is not possible, largely due to the unavailability of data in some areas, the only data sources are occasional surveys or the census. In the cases where measurement is possible, monitoring is much simpler and the results reported are much more reliable. Examples of areas where significant improvements in the measurement were achieved include Indicators 6 and 7 and Targets 5 and 6. Goals 4 (Reduce Child Mortality) and Goal 5 (Improve Maternal Health) are completely measured and have already been attained. Several other indicators, such as Indicator 8 (Literacy rate of 15 to 24 year-olds), still present some problems in measurement and monitoring, hence reporting on the performance on Target 3 and Goal 2 is adversely affected. Support is needed mainly in building the capacity to measure these indicators: thus, in a number of cases no data are available to report on the various indicators. The main problem faced in reporting on the performance of the TCI on the MDGs, appears to be in deciding how to measure these targets and to set up an accountability mechanism to deliver on the set targets. Another challenge faced, is the applicability and relevance of some of these indicators to small-island states such as the TCI, thus demonstrating the need to customize some of these indicators to better suit the country. As a result of the above challenges, and the call by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and other regional and international organisations, the TCI has formed a National Social Indicators and Millennium Development Goals (SIMDG) Committee to deploy the means at hand in order to make good on the promises of these simple, but powerful, objectives which are the blueprint for achieving the desired end-goal by Moreover, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has been collaborating with other agencies in the development of Caribbean specific targets and indicators that would be more useful in monitoring developments in the region. The MDGs provide an internationally recognized benchmark against which the TCI can measure its socioeconomic development progress. Furthermore, as part of the TCI Ten Year National Development Plan (NDP), the government is considering country-specific development goals with the MDGs being factored in as part of the NDP and being the point of departure for the achievement of these national goals. In general, the TCI is well on its way to the realization of the MDGs, and in fulfilling its international obligations in that regard. On the other hand, the rapid influx of immigrants from abroad, could stretch the limits of its resources in sustaining a path to improved provision on the MDGs. i DELTON B. JONES Chief Economist & Head of Department Department of Economic Planning & Statistics December, 2006

6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Statistical Office of the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics would like to acknowledge the contribution of the following persons and offices/departments that have, in one way or another (whether they were the collection source or facilitated the submission of the required data and information) aided the successful compilation and presentation of MDGs Status Report, 2005 Five Years After. The substantive contribution of the staff of the Statistical Office cannot go unmentioned for their dedicated effort expended in compiling the data and preparing the report. Dr. Rufus Ewing Director of Health Services Ministry of Health Ms. Juneth Reynolds Medical Records Manager Medical Records Department Grand Turk Hospital Nurse Jackurlyn Sutton Primary Health Care Manager Primary Health Care Department Mrs. Cheryl-Ann Jones National AIDS Coordinator National AIDS Programme Mrs. May Batas Deputy Chief Statistician Department of Economic Planning and Statistics Ms. Leila Viriña Statistical Programmer/Analyst Department of Economic Planning and Statistics Nurse Mary Forbes Chief Nursing Officer Ministry of Health Mr. Richard Robinson Education Planner Ministry of Education Ms. Deborah Astwood Registrar Turks and Caicos Islands Community College Ms. Ruth Blackman Cabinet Secretary House of Assembly Mr. Delton Jones Chief Economist and Head of Department Department of Economic Planning and Statistics Ms. Tashema Bholanath Statistician Department of Economic Planning and Statistics ii

7 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Foreword... Acknowledgements. Notes, Symbols and Abbreviations... Highlights... Background... i ii vii x xiii Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger Table 1.1: Poverty Assessments by Island, Table 1.2: Poverty Status by Gender, Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education Table 2.1: Net Enrolment Ratio and Proportion of Pupils Starting Grade 1 Who Reach Grade 5 by Sex, 1998/ /06. 8 Table 2.2: Literacy Rate of Year-Olds by Sex, Chart 2.1: Net Enrolment Ratios by Sex, 1998/ /06. 8 Chart 2.2: Proportion of Pupils Starting Grade 1 Who Reach Grade 5, 1998/ /06. 9 iii

8 Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women Table 3.1: Table 3.2: Table 3.3: Table 3.4: Ratio of Girls to Boys in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Education, 1998/ /06. Ratio of Literate Women to Men, years Old, Share of Women in Paid Employment in the Non- Agricultural Sector, Proportion of Seats Held by Women in National Parliament, Chart 3.1: Girls Primary and Secondary Enrolment Ratios in Relation to Boys, 1998/ /06. Chart 3.2: Share of Women in Non-Agricultural Wage Employment, Chart 3.3: Share of Women in Total Employment by Job Status, Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality Table 4.1: Infant and Under-Five Mortality Rates by Sex, Table 4.2: Proportion of 1 Year-Old Children Immunized Against measles by Sex, Chart 4.1: Under-Five and Infant Mortality Rates, Chart 4.2: Under-Five Mortality Rates by Sex, Chart 4.3: Infant Mortality Rates by Sex, Chart 4.4: Causes of Deaths Among Children Under Age Five, Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health Table 5.1: Materiality Mortality Ratio and Proportion of Births Attended by Skilled Personnel, Table 5.2: Adolescent Fertility Rate, Chart 5.1: Adolescent Fertility Rate, iv

9 Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases Table 6.1: Newly Reported HIV/AIDS Cases by Age and Sex, 2004 and Table 6.2: Newly Reported HIV/AIDS Cases by Year and Cumulative Total, Table 6.3: AIDS Deaths by Sex, Age and Cumulative Total, Table 6.4: Reported Cases of Malaria and Tuberculosis, Chart 6.1: Chart 6.2: Prevalence Rate in Total Population and Number of AIDS Deaths, Prevalence Rate in Total Population, 1990 and Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability Table 7.1: Protected Land Area as a Percentage of Total Land 42 Area, Table 7.2: Indicators for Coastal and Marine Resources, 1970, , 1990, 2000 and Table 7.3: Quantity (Gallons) and Value ($) of Imported Fuels 43 by Type, Table 7.4: Value of Mineral Fuel, Lubricants and Related 43 Materials Imported, Table 7.5: Proportion of the Population Using Solid Fuels, Table 7.6: Population with Sustainable Access to Improved 47 Water Source, Table 7.7: Population with Access to Improved Sanitation, Table 7.8: Type of Tenure and Dwelling of Households, Map 7.1: Proportion of Population Using Solid Fuels, Map 7.2: Proportion of Population with Access to an 46 Improved Water Source, Map 7.3: Proportion of People with Access to Improved 48 Sanitation, Map 7.4: Proportion of Households by Type of Dwelling, Map 7.5: Proportion of Households by Type of Tenure, v

10 Goal 8: Develop Global Partnership for Development Table 8.1: Telephone Line and Cellular Subscribers per 100 Population, Chart 8.1: Telephone Line and Cellular Subscribers, Glossary 60 Appendix 1: Millennium Development Goals Appendix 2: Data Table on TCI s Status on the MDGs.. 68 References 74 vi

11 NOTES, SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS Section Notes This MDGs Status Report, 2005 Five Years After presents relevant data and information for the period for the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is the first report on the various indicators, targets and goals used to highlight the TCI s status on the MDGs and to present statistics and basic descriptive analyses that are non-technical. There are eight (8) main sections in this report. Each section covers a separate MDG. The sections are: Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger, Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education, Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women, Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality, Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health, Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Diseases, Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability, and Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development. Most of these sections have tables with data disaggregated by sex and some have illustrative charts and maps for graphical representations of these indicators and to convey what can be generalized from the data. The tables which have derived indicators are accompanied by statements of how the indicators are calculated and defined (found in the glossary); the source of the data; and in most cases, even brief modules of text as descriptive analyses of the derived indicators and how they can be interpreted. In addition, there is a section on Highlights, Background, Glossary, and Appendix to supplement the core sections. Sources of Data Statistics and indicators have been compiled for MDGs Status Report, 2005 Five Years After mainly from official administrative records and databases of various government departments, as these are more authoritative and comprehensive, more generally available as time series and hence foster monitoring and comparability from year to year. In some cases, the official source was data directly obtained from the 2001 Population and Housing Census or estimates based on this. However, the data contained in this report are themselves subject to future revision. Statistical Abbreviations and Conventions A hyphen ( ) between years, for example, , indicates the full period involved, including the beginning and end years; a slash (/) indicates a academic year or financial year, for example 2004/05. The unit used for the data, in most cases, is number, unless otherwise specified. Reference to dollars ($) indicates United States (US) dollars. Details and percentages in tables do not necessarily add to totals on account of rounding. vii

12 The following symbols and abbreviations have been used in the text and tables: Not Available % Percent Euros AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ARV Antiretroviral BNTF Basic Needs Trust Fund CAREC Caribbean Epidemiology Centre CARICOM Caribbean Community CDB Caribbean Development Bank CFC Chlorofluorocarbons CSME Caribbean Single Market and Economy DECR Department of Environment and Coastal Resources DEPS Department of Economic Planning and Statistics EC European Commission EDF European Development Fund EPA Economic Partnership Agreement ESC Economic and Social Council EU European Union FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FGT Foster, Greer, Thorbeke GDP Gross Domestic Product GIS Government Information System HH Household HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus IDB Inter-American Development Bank IEA International Energy Agency ILO International Labour Organization IMR Infant Mortality Rate IMF International Monetary Fund IPU Inter-Parliamentary Union ITU International Telecommunication Union kg kilograms km kilometer LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas MDG Millennium Development Goals viii

13 NDP No. OCTA ODP OECD OTEP PAHO PC PRSP SIMDG SLC STI TCI U-5MR UK UN UNDG UNDP UNEP UNFCCC UNGASS UN-HABITAT UNICEF UNSD VCT WB WCMC WHO National Development Plan Number Association of Overseas Countries and Territories of the EU Ozone-Depleting Potential Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development Overseas Territory Environment Programme Pan American Health Organization Personal Computer Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Social Indicators and Millennium Development Goals Standard of Living Assessment Sexually Transmitted Infections Turks and Caicos Islands Under-Five Mortality Rate United Kingdom United Nations United Nations Development Group United Nations Development Programme United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change United Nations General Assembly Special Session United Nations Human Settlements Programme United Nations Children's Fund United Nations Statistics Division Voluntary Counseling and Testing World Bank World Conservation Monitoring Center World Health Organization ix

14 HIGHLIGHTS The following provides a summary of status of the various Goals, Targets, and Indicators. Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger Status: The 1999 poverty assessment estimated that the proportion of persons living on income below the poverty line was 25.9%; the severity of poverty measured by the Foster, Greer, Thorbeke (FGT) index was 2.6%; the Gini coefficient was 0.37; and poverty gap ratio, 5.7%. No updated data are available. Data on the prevalence of underweight children and on the proportion of population below minimum level of dietary energy consumption were also not available. Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education Status: Net enrolment ratio in primary education was 84.37% as early as 1998/99. The proportion of pupils starting grade 1 who reach grade 5 increased from 86.58% in 1998/99 to 98% in 2005/06. The literacy rate of year-olds in 2001 was estimated at 95.12%. Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women Status: The ratio of girls to boys in primary school was 101:100 in 1998/99 and 98:100 in 2005/06; the ratio of girls to boys in secondary school was 104:100 in 1998/99 and 91:100 in 2005/06; at the tertiary level, the ratio of girls to boys in tertiary education was 302:100 in The ratio of literate women to men, years old was estimated in 2001 as Women are still significantly under-represented in key decision-making positions in public life and leadership, although significant strides have been made in the last five years the proportion of seats held by women in national parliament was 15.79% in 2000 and 21.05% in The share of women in paid employment in the non-agricultural sector was 41.96% in 2002 and increased to 42.73% in Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality Status: Under-five mortality rate reduced from 20.7 per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 3.1 in 2005; infant mortality rate decreased from 6.9 per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 3.1 in Widespread immunization programmes are needed if the TCI is to achieve 100% coverage for immunization against measles it was reported that 49.13% of 1 year-old children were immunized against measles in Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health Status: In past years, there have been no maternal deaths and hence maternal mortality ratio was 0; and almost 100% of births were performed by skilled personnel except for approximately 1% of the births which were born before arrival. x

15 Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases Status: Condom use at last high-risk sex was reported to be 63% in a 2003 survey. Prevalence of malaria cases in 2000 was 9.57 per 1,000 and reduced to 0 by 2005; prevalence of tuberculosis cases was in 2000, in 2003, but reduced to in 2005; no cases of malaria or dengue were reported between 1998 and 2000 (PAHO); during the period , there was one death and 28 hospitalisations due to TB. Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability Status: 79.1% of the TCI is forested. The proportion of protected marine is 10.29% of the total marine area. Hydrocarbon fuels are the main sources of energy used. According to the 2001 Population and Housing Census 3.0% of the total households used wood/coal as their cooking energy source. The majority of households either use LPG fuel (44.3%) or electricity as their cooking energy source. No data are collected for the TCI on energy use per unit GDP and on carbon dioxide emissions. According to the 2001 Population Census, 95.74% of the total households have access to improved water source (21.9% of households have piped water into their dwelling; 67.9% of the total household receive water through the private catchment source; and 6.0% access water through public wells/tanks). The Census also showed that 95.86% of the total households have access to adequate sanitation. However, this includes 27.6% of households having pit latrines, which is not always considered to be an adequate excreta waste disposal system in the Caribbean because of poor maintenance. Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development Status: Unemployment rate for young people aged years (both sexes) was 18.4% in 2001 according to the Population and Housing Census; telephone line and cellular subscribers per 100 population increased from 35 in 1998 to 105 in xi

16 TCI Millennium Development Goals 2005 Progress Chart Goal 1 Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Reduce extreme poverty by half Very low poverty Reduce hunger by half --- Goal 2 Achieve universal primary education Universal primary schooling very high enrolment Goal 3 Promote gender equality and empower women Equal girl's enrolment in primary school Women's share of paid employment Women's equal representation in national parliaments high enrolment medium share low representation Goal 4 Reduce child mortality Reduce mortality of under-five-year-olds by two thirds Measles immunization very low mortality moderate coverage Goal 5 Improve maternal health Reduce maternal mortality by three quarters* very low mortality Goal 6 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Halt and reverse spread of HIV/AIDS Halt and reverse spread of malaria Halt and reverse spread of tuberculosis very low prevalence very low risk very low mortality Goal 7 Ensure environmental sustainability Reverse loss of forests Halve proportion without improved drinking water Halve proportion without sanitation Improve the lives of slum-dwellers* high forest cover very high coverage high coverage very low proportion of slum dwellers Goal 8 Develop a global partnership for development Youth unemployment Internet users low unemployment high access *Analysis was only based on the 2001 Population and Housing Census Legend Insufficient data No progress, or a deterioration or reversal Target is not expected to be met by 2015, if prevailing trends persist Target is expected to be met by 2015 if prevailing trends persist Target already met or very close to being met xii

17 BACKGROUND At the Millennium Summit in September 2000, 147 Heads of State and Government, and 189 nations in total adopted a declaration, also known as the Millennium Declaration of 2000, which synthesized the priorities of the international agenda and reflected the commitments that had been painstakingly negotiated during the previous decade of world conferences. The objective of the Declaration 1 is: a comprehensive approach and a coordinated strategy, tackling many problems simultaneously across a broad front. A framework of 8 goals, 18 targets and 48 indicators (see Appendix 1) to measure progress towards the Millennium Development Goals was adopted by a consensus of experts from the United Nations (UN) Secretariat, as well as representatives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the World Bank (WB). This Declaration and the 8 goals or the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) it identified, have become a road map for tackling poverty, instability, HIV/AIDS, gender inequality, violence and sustainable development in virtually all parts of the world. This also recognizes the central challenges that all societies have to confront, including the generation of sustainable economic growth and the equitable distribution of the benefits of that growth, establishing stable institutional conditions, ensuring the quality, efficiency, and transparency of government systems, defining and implementing policies to promote investment and reduce poverty, and being open to the rest of the world. 1 Furthermore, this illustrates and guides to help find solutions on the social ills the society is facing through the goals and targets and the means in order for them to be attainable. The following means are associated with these goals: mobilization of international and domestic resources; design and execution of programmes and policies to follow internationally agreed-upon guidelines; creation or strengthening of national capacities; and definition of partnerships within the nation (between governmental and nongovernmental actors) and internationally. 2 It is believed that full attainment of the MDGs will only be possible through international cooperation or substantial support from the developed countries in the form of aid, trade, debt relief, and investment. This was established during the International Conference on Financing for Development which was held in Monterrey, Mexico in March The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set targets for progress in 8 areas: poverty and hunger, primary education, women s equality, child mortality, maternal health, disease, environment and a global partnership for development. 3 These goals are composed of targets and indicators which are expected to have considerable improvements by 2015 (see Appendix 2). The baseline for the assessment of progress is 1990 for most of the MDG targets. Achievement of these goals through sustainable economic 1 United Nations Millennium Declaration [A/RES/55/2] 2 Inter-American Development Bank (2005). The Millennium Development Goals in Latin America and the Caribbean: Progress, Priorities and IDB Support for Their Implementation. Washington, D. C. (accessed December, 2006) 3 UN (2004). Implementing the Millennium Declaration. Fact Sheet. UN Finds Progress on World s Anti-Poverty Goals, but Crisis Areas Remain. UN Press Release, Embargo, Department of Public Information. xiii

18 growth is therefore a recognized challenge for industrialized and developing countries. Meanwhile, the United Nations is assisting and coordinating MDG campaigns and country-monitoring activities in order to reach the goals. According to the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi A. Annan, "We will have time to reach the Millennium Development Goals worldwide and in most, or even all, individual countries but only if we break with business as usual. We cannot win overnight. Success will require sustained action across the entire decade between now and the deadline. It takes time to train the teachers, nurses and engineers; to build the roads, schools and hospitals; to grow the small and large businesses able to create the jobs and income needed. So we must start now. And we must more than double global development assistance over the next few years. Nothing less will help to achieve the Goals." 4 The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is one of the countries that recognizes the MDGs. During the period June 23 27, 2003, the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics hosted officials of the Statistics Programme of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) s who visited the TCI in connection with the commencement of the process of establishing the Social Indicators and Millennium Development Goals (SIMDG) Committees in the CARICOM Member States. This is a joint project between the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD) and CARICOM. Supporting organizations include the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) sub-regional offices with other organizations also collaborating in the effort. The meeting was attended by different TCI government agencies or departments. During the meeting, formation of the SIMDG Committee which will assess and measure the current social status and set targets and objectives in the many spheres, such as those set by countries under the umbrella of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), for the future so as to improve the quality of information and to feed into the programme at the national and regional levels was proposed by the CARICOM representatives. In November, 2005, the SIMDG Committee was formed in the TCI after obtaining approval from the Executive Council. The Committee composed of 28 officials from various local government departments and aims to collect, compile, analyze and disseminate reliable and timely statistics and indicators on a sustained basis and achieving the MDGs. Thus, it is a major role of the Committee to improve the data collection and monitoring systems and update the necessary statistics as inputs for the MDGs. It can be noted that unavailability and lack of updated data, are some limitations of the TCI MDGs Status Report, 2005 Five Years After. The TCI MDGs Status Report, 2005 Five Years After shows the status of the country based on indicators in each goal or area in attaining the MDGs which will serve as a benchmark for analysis and identification of challenges and obstacles necessary for policy reforms, institutional change, and resource allocation in general. It also provides some reflection priorities in order to sustain the country s economic growth for the period to 2015 and beyond. 2006). 4 United Nations (2005). United Nations Millennium Development Goals. (accessed August, xiv

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20 The report, released November 22 by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), says that if each of the world's developing regions continue to reduce hunger at the current pace, only Latin America and the Caribbean will reach the first goal of eight U.N. millennium development targets that calls for cutting by 50 percent the proportion of hungry people in the world. (U.N. report documents region's success in reducing hunger, child mortality, International Information Programs, News from Washington, 22 November 2005).

21 GOAL 1: ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY AND HUNGER TARGET 1: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day Indicator 1A: Poverty Headcount Ratio (World Bank) This is the percentage of the population below the national poverty line. The indicator allows for monitoring the proportion of the national population that is considered poor by a national standard. National poverty lines tend to increase in purchasing power with the average level of income of a country. While the one dollar a day poverty line helps in making international comparisons, national poverty lines are used to make more accurate estimates of poverty consistent with the characteristics and level of development of each country. The disadvantage is that there is no universally agreed poverty line, even in principle, and international comparisons are not feasible. Extreme poverty in this goal is measured in monetary terms against a threshold of roughly one dollar per day, standardized across countries for comparable purchasing power. This is considered to be the monetary equivalent of the minimum a person needs to survive. 5 Poverty Level To ensure comparability with other studies that have been conducted on poverty, the definitions used in the 1999 Poverty Assessment the only one every conducted for the TCI are standard in the literature. A minimalist definition of poverty relates it to a deficiency of resources. The World Development Report 1990 notes that poverty is the inability to maintain a minimal standard of living. 6 Where that standard relates to food needs that are unmet, an individual or household is deemed to be indigent. Minimum requirements for existence and survival are not being met. Poverty embraces this, but includes some imputation for non-food requirements. The poor fail to meet these other requirements, but may not necessarily be indigent. However, the indigent fail on both counts. 5 United Nations (2004). Progress Towards the Millennium Development Goals, Goal 1 Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger. Statistics Division Internet Site (accessed September, 2004). p DEPS (2000) Poverty Assessment Report. Volume 1. p. xii. 1

22 The 1999 Standard of Living Conditions (SLC) Assessment revealed that 25.9% of all individuals in the TCI were poor. This means that their annual expenditure was less than the cost of meeting their minimal food and other basic requirements or less than US$2,424 (national poverty line where $ was the indigence line and $1, was the per capita non-food expenditure of the two poorest quintiles). These individuals comprised 18.3% of the total number of households in the country. The Foster, Greer, Thorbeke (FGT), which measures of the severity of poverty, is a more refined and sensitive measure of the differences among persons below the poverty line and the distribution of these persons. In other words, it is the proportion of the poor who are very poor relatively to the mildly poor. The TCI recorded a 2.6% as the FGT. In addition, the Gini Ratio or Index, which measures the inequality in the distribution of income in the population, was estimated as 0.37 in The Gini Ratio ranges from 0 to 1, and therefore, given that the ratio for the TCI is relatively low this indicates that the distribution of expenditure is less skewed. Indigence At the same time, 3.2% of all individuals in the country were found to be extremely poor or indigent, among the lowest in the Caribbean. This means that their annual expenditures were less than the cost of satisfying their minimal food requirements and other basic requirements. This amounted to a minimum of $880 per annum or $2.41 per day, and was derived from the cheapest way of satisfying the requirement of 2,400 calories for an adult living in the TCI in July, While an estimate of 25.9% poor may appear to be high, at first glance, the percentage of extremely poor individuals in the TCI is very low. Thus, almost all individuals in the country are able to satisfy their basic nutritional requirements. Area Distribution The poorest islands were North and Middle Caicos, with South Caicos following. However, just over 16% of the population was resident on those islands. It was estimated that 52.5% of the population lived in Providenciales, but only 30.9% of the poor were on that island. Grand Turk, with 30.4% of the population had 38.5% of the poor. Indeed, except for Salt Cay, it was only Providenciales that had a smaller percentage of poor than its contribution to the total population. The continuing exodus to Providenciales is understandable. (See Table 1.1). 2

23 TABLE 1.1 Poverty Estimates by Island, 1999 Islands % of Non-Poor Population % of Poor Population % of Island Population Poor % of Total Population Poor Total Island Population No. % Providenciales , North Caicos Middle Caicos South Caicos Grand Turk Salt Cay Total % No. 2, Source: 1999 Poverty Assessment Report, Statistical Office, DEPS Gender Males accounted for 48% percent of poor persons and females 52% percent. There was an equal percentage of poor males among males (25.9%) as were there poor females among females (see Table 1.2). TABLE 1.2 Poverty Status by Gender, 1999 Gender Poor (%) Non-Poor (%) Total (%) Within Socio- Within Socio- Within Socio- Within Gender Within Gender Within Gender Economic Status Economic Status Economic Status No. % Male , Female , Total % No ,191 2,957 Source: 1999 Poverty Assessment Report, Statistical Office, DEPS Children There were signs of an increased difficulty faced by children. There is a shortage of persons to provide foster care for children orphaned by death of parents through HIV/AIDS. There is also an increase in evidence noted by some of the authorities of malnutrition among children at schools. On the one hand, there is increasing incidence of obesity of children, and on the other, here was evidence of nutritional deficiencies, suggesting the need for a school meals service in some communities. 3

24 POVERTY PROFILE, 1999 The annual Indigence Line and the Poverty Line were estimated at US$880 and $2,424, respectively. 18.3% percent of households and 26% of the population were poor. Only 3.2% of the population was indigent in that expenditures were inadequate to cover dietary requirements. 17.4% of households headed by males and 20.4% of households headed by female were poor. TC Islanders comprised 49.5% of the poor, and Haitians 38%. 60.8% of persons living in North Caicos was poor and 61.4% of persons in Middle Caicos. The Poverty Gap for the country was 5.7%, but 18.3% and 10.4% for Middle Caicos and South Caicos, respectively. FFT (severity) was 2.6% The lowest quintile had an average household size of 3.9 persons, compared to 1.9 in the highest quintile. The unemployment rate for the country was estimated at 12.4% but was 21% in the lowest quintile. On average there were about two persons (1.5) employed in every household in the TCI. The lowest quintile had a lower participation rate in the labour force (42.6%) and a higher unemployment rate (21.0%) than the highest quintile (71.1% and 5.7%, respectively). Unemployment was highest among Haitian (18.7%) than any other nationality. Lack of educational attainment did not prevent entry into the labour marker. Most of the non-certified poor were employed in elementary and skilled occupation. A disproportionate share of persons in the lower level occupational categories were Haitians. There was no significant difference in the reporting of illnesses between the poor and the non-poor. There was a disinclination to report the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the sample although there is an increased prevalence among the population 94 officially confirmed cases since Respondents relied on the public health system for most of their medical care and were generally satisfied with the service provided. Inadequate garbage disposal posed a major environmental and health hazard in Five Cays. Rented dwellings was the predominant form of tenancy in Providenciales. Source: 1999 Poverty Assessment Report, Statistical Office, DEPS Indicator 2: Poverty gap ratio [incidence x depth of poverty] (World Bank) The indicator measures the poverty deficit of the entire population, where the poverty deficit is the per capita amount of resources that would be needed to bring all poor people above the poverty line through perfectly targeted cash transfers. The 1999 Poverty Assessment estimated the poverty gap ratio as 5.7%. In other words, there was a 5.7% aggregate disparity in the expenditure of the poor compared to the poverty line. Indicator 3: Share of poorest quintile in national consumption (World Bank) The indicator provides information about the distribution of consumption or income of the poorest fifth of the population. Because the consumption of the poorest fifth is expressed as a percentage of total household consumption (or income), this indicator is a relative inequality measure. Therefore, while the absolute consumption of the poorest fifth may increase, its share of total consumption may remain the same (if the total goes up by the same proportion), decline (if the total goes up by a larger proportion) or increase (if the total goes up by a smaller proportion). The 1999 SLC revealed that the per capita nonfood expenditure of the two poorest quintiles was calculated at US$1,

25 High levels of poverty retard progress towards sustainable development since poverty limits access to health and education services, which in turn produces intergenerational poverty. Consequently, poverty reduction is usually a primary objective of all governments. The Poverty Reduction Action Plan of the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) noted mounting pressure due to the impact of social change caused by the vibrant tourism industry. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) TCI Draft Country Programme (2004 to 2008) noted that high rates of immigration have exacerbated the existing problems that have been experienced over the years; the significant influx, particularly from Haiti and the Dominican Republic, have led to the growth of a relatively poor migrant community, which has placed severe strains on the social sector, especially on health and education. If the rate of poverty reduction of the 1990s continues, coupled with the continuation and improvement of plans and programmes which have started, the outlook for poverty reduction in the TCI is favourable, and economic growth has shown a positive trend. With the growth in aggregate gross domestic product (GDP) in recent years it may be perceived that there was a reduction in the proportion of population below the poverty line. Per capita basis GDP (constant prices) was US$15,683 in 2005 a growth rate of 2.34%. Given that no other poverty assessments were done since 1999; it is difficult to continually monitor any progress made on this or any poverty indicator. However, it is still uncertain whether any advances will be sustained and its impact on poverty is not yet known. Poverty reduction was addressed as part of the Ten Year National Development Plan (NDP) for the TCI which is currently being prepared. This presents an opportunity to implement programmes to reduce or alleviate poverty in the TCI context in a coordinated and consistent manner as well as put mechanisms in place to manage poverty on an ongoing basis. 5

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27 The Millennium Development Goals Report 2005, an interim survey launched recently by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, attests that in the area of goal number two of the MDGs, which is to achieve universal primary education, that "the greatest progress in primary school completion has been made in Latin America and the Caribbean and South-East Asia, where over 90 per cent of children reach the final grade." (Caribbean nearer to achieving universal primary education, Career & Education, The Jamaica Observer, Sunday, August 14, 2005)

28 GOAL 2: ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION TARGET 3: Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling Indicator 6: Net enrolment ratio in primary education (UNESCO) This indicator shows the extent of participation in primary education of primary age pupils and provides an indication of the educational system s coverage and efficiency. It is not an indication of the education system s shortcomings in coverage and efficiency but of a natural disparity. However, it should be noted that the difference from 100% does not necessarily indicate the actual percentage of students out of school, since some of these children might be enrolled at other levels of education. At the same time, the disparity in the primary age population may account for the slight differentials in the ratios for boys and girls. The TCI is close to achieving this target as primary enrolment is universal and education for all students of school age is mandatory and free in all public schools. In addition, in keeping with its international obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, all children residing legally in this country are allowed access to an education. Primary level enrolment ratio remained stable, over the last 8 years, at an average of approximately 80 enrollees per 100 children of primary school age (see Table 2.1 and Chart 2.1) and may actually be very close to 100%, but given the unavailability of population data for the respective age cohort it is difficult to present more reliable estimates. Indicator 7: Proportion of pupils starting grade 1 who reach grade 5 (UNESCO) In order to track progress towards the target of ensuring the completion of a full course of primary education, assessing trends in enrolment is not sufficient. Data indicate that countries may have a high initial enrolment ratio and low primary completion rates. Many countries are able to ensure students start grade 1 but fail to retain them in the school system until the desirable level of completion. The indicator used to track progress in level of completion is the survival rate to grade 5 of primary education. 6

29 This indicator shows the percentage of children starting grade 1 who eventually start grade 5. The survival rate is a relevant way to assess the capacity of educational systems to retain children in school and to allow them to be autonomous and productive individuals in society. It measures the holding power and internal efficiency of an education system. A survival rate approaching 100% indicates a high level of retention and low incidence of dropout. It should also be noted that this indicator only measures the probability that those entering the primary education cycle will remain in the school system. It therefore needs to be analyzed in conjunction with indicators on enrolment. There has been some improvement (8.1%) in the survival rate in 2005/06 over 2004/05 from 90.68% to 98%. However, there was a slight drop (2.4%) in the rate from 2003/04 to 2004/05, that is, from 92.88% to Nonetheless, the average survival rate over the last 8 years is approximately 90%. It must be noted that the survival rate is sensitive to dramatic year-to-year fluctuations. In almost all the countries where survival rates have declined during the decade, girls were more affected than boys. This situation, however, was not the case of the TCI. Survival rates for girls actually increased over the last 2 years from 80.75% in 2003/04 to 96.81% and % in 2004/05 and 2005/06, respectively. Survival rates for girls averages approximately 91.6% over the last 8 years when compared to 88.7% for boys. (See Table 2.1 and Chart 2.2). These changes may be a result of not only the number of students enrolled but also on the number of repeaters and dropouts. In the TCI, the total number of repeater ranged from , with 2002/03 being the year which recorded the highest number and 2005/06 was the year with the lowest number. From 2002/03 the numbers declined each year to its present low level. Repeater rates ranged from 3.3% to 10% in the last 8 years. However, more boys (93.9) than girls (77.5) tended to repeat on average, over the last 8 school years. In total, an average of pupils repeated some level of primary education. 7 Progression rates were above 90% and averaged 93.5% from 1998/ /04. In the school years 2001/ /04, an average net transfer of 66 pupils was recorded (33.33 girls and boys), hence accounting for survival rates above 100% in some instances in Table 2.1. At the same time, drop-outs and drop-out rates were quite low, averaging 25 pupils per academic year (12.67 girls and boys) with corresponding drop-out rate averaging less than 1% in any of the academic years under review. 8 7 Statistical Office, DEPS (2006). Social Indicators, Trends and Statistics, p Statistical Office, DEPS (2006). Social Indicators, Trends and Statistics, pp

30 TABLE 2.1 Net Enrolment Ratio and Proportion of Pupils Starting Grade 1 Who Reach Grade 5 by Sex 1998/ /06 Indicator Sex 1998/ / / / / / / /06 Enrolment 1 Girls 1,324 1,503 1,557 1,421 1,298 1,481 1,643 1,761 Boys 1,311 1,466 1,639 1,602 1,337 1,522 1,659 1,799 Total 2,635 2,969 3,196 3,023 2,635 3,003 3,302 3,560 Estimated Population 4-14 Years Girls 1,562 1,626 1,748 1,880 1,976 2,085 1,979 2,194 Boys 1,561 1,625 1,747 1,879 1,975 2,084 1,981 2,196 Total 3,123 3,251 3,495 3,759 3,951 4,169 3,960 4,390 Girls Net Enrolment Boys Ratio 2 (%) Total Girls Survival Rate 3 (%) Boys Total Source: Education Planning Department; Statistical Office, DEPS Notes: 1 Comprises of enrolment in both Government and Private Primary Schools. 2 The number of 4 to 14 years girls (boys) enrolled in primary education, divided by the total population of girls (boys) in that age group, times 100. This indicator is therefore affected by the overall sex composition of the population in the age group considered. 3 Number of girls (boys) completing Fourth Grade (or reaching Grade Five) of the primary stage as a proportion of the number of girls (boys) in the first primary grade (Grade One), four years previously. CHART 2.1 Net Enrolment Ratios by Sex, 1998/ /06 (Percentage) Girls Boys Total (%) / / / / / / / /06 8

31 CHART 2.2 Proportion of Pupils Starting Grade 1 Who Reach Grade 5, 1998/ /06 (Percentage) (%) Girls Boys Total 1998/ / / / / / / /06 Indicator 8: Literacy rate of year-olds (UNESCO) This indicator helps to assess the effectiveness of a country s basic education system in providing the necessary education for children to become literate. Literacy is internationally defined as the ability to read and write, with understanding, a short simple statement related to one s daily life. Literacy involves a continuum of reading and writing skills, sometimes extending to basic arithmetic skill and life skills. Literacy reflects the accumulated achievement of primary education and adult literacy programmes in imparting basic literacy skill to the population, thereby enabling people to apply such skills in daily life and to continue learning and communicating using the written word. 9 The 2001 Population and Housing Census provides the only available data for measuring this indicator but is also a valuable indication of the state of the literacy as well as a benchmark against which progress can be monitored. According to the 2001 Population and Housing Census, more than 95.12% of the youth population (15-24 years) could be viewed as having received sufficient schooling to function as literates (see Table 2.2). (See also Goal 3, Indicator 10). This is very near the rate recorded by the developed countries in 2000 of 9 United Nations (2004). Progress Towards the Millennium Development Goals, Goal 2 Achieve Universal Education. Statistics Division Internet Site (accessed September, 2004). p. 8. 9

32 99.7% and above the developing countries and the Caribbean which recorded 84.4% and 87.1%, respectively. 10 A gender gap in literacy is not a serious concern for the TCI given the relatively close literacy rates of women (94.04%) and men (96.3%), in These literacy rates are relatively high when compared to the projected 76% by 2015 of the least developed countries. According to the UN (2004) Projections based on current trends indicate that there will still be more than 100 million illiterate youths in In addition, the UN (2000) postulated that Nearly two thirds of the world s 876 million illiterates are women, and more than one in four women aged 15 to 24 are illiterate in 21 of the countries with data from the 1990 census. 12 TABLE 2.2 Literacy Rate 1 of Year-Olds by Sex, 2001 Indicator 2001 c Number of Literate Women Years Old 1,310 Total Number of Women Years Old 1,393 Literacy Rate of Women Years old (%) Number of Literate Men Years Old 1,223 Total Number of Men Years Old 1,270 Literacy Rate of Men Years old (%) Total No. of Literate Women & Men Years Old 2,533 Total No. of Women & Men Years Old 2,663 Literacy Rate of Year-Olds (%) Source: Statistical Office, DEPS Notes: c Population and Housing Census 1 Completed at least a primary level education The TCI has made great strides in the last few years with regard to investment in education. In 2004/05, public expenditure on education (both recurrent and capital) accounted for 17.78% of total expenditure, up from 16.34% in 2003/04. However, in 2005/06, education expenditure declined to 17.33%. 13 These expenditures include increases in teachers salaries, recruitment of additional teachers, building of libraries, new schools and upgrading of old ones. 10 United Nations Statistics Division, World and Regional Trends, Millennium Indicators Database, (accessed December 2003); based on data provided by UNESCO. 11 United Nations (2004). Progress Towards the Millennium Development Goals, Goal 2 Achieve Universal Education. Statistics Division Internet Site (accessed September, 2004). p United Nations (2000). The World s Women 2000 Trends and Statistics. New York: United Nations. Sales No. E.00.XVII.14. p Statistical Office, DEPS. (2006). Social Indicators, Trends and Statistics, p. 33. and Report on Government Finance Statistics, p. x. 10