Inclusive social protection and demographic change: The implications of population ageing for social expenditure in the Caribbean

As population age structures change over the coming decades, the cost of providing public education, pensions and health care will change significantly. Falling child dependency ratios and increasing old-age dependency ratios will affect the number of people that receive education and pension benefits. The changing age profile of the population will also affect the demand for health services. This study analyses how public expenditure in these areas, in 10 Caribbean countries, is likely to evolve in response to these demographic changes. It describes how populations are ageing in the Caribbean…

Review of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism for the implementation of the sustainable development agenda in the small island developing States of the Caribbean: A proposal for consideration by the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee

This paper examines the Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) for the implementation of the SIDS development agenda in the Caribbean1, with a view towards determining its future articulation. The paper outlines the RCM concept and its historical context and examines the continued relevance of the RCM in light of the changing multilateral framework for SIDS development. The current status of the RCM is reviewed and the required legal and administrative context for a renewed RCM is discussed. The paper also presents recommendations for the future operation of the RCM.…

Monitoring trade agreements: improving export performance and promoting industrialization in the goods-producing economies of the Caribbean

This study focuses on the identification of the challenges and capacity constraints faced by enterprises in the sub-region in exploiting trade opportunities provided by Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Partial Scope Agreements (PSAs). It concentrates on the goods sector and case studies for Belize, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, and seeks to develop a strategic framework aimed at addressing these challenges and constraints, thereby creating a platform for economic diversification and export expansion. It explores the recent trade performance of the countries in question under selected trad…

Caribbean development report: A perusal of public debt in the Caribbean and its impact on economic growth

This paper examines the genesis and evolution of debt and debt overhang in the Caribbean with individual case studies, to extract lessons and make broad recommendations with regard to appropriate mechanisms and policy measures that can be implemented to reduce the debt burden of the subregion. The econometric model utilized in the paper has shown that a one percent increase on debt to GDP ratio causes a 0.015decline in real GDP growth for the countries in the Caribbean panel, suggesting that debt has a pernicious effect on growth on Caribbean economies. What is even more worrisome was that Car…

Disability, human rights and public policy in the Caribbean: A situation analysis

This study presents a situation analysis of persons with disability in the Caribbean. It includes a compilation and analysis of national census data from 16 countries including data from both the 2000 and the 2010 census rounds. The study also assesses national laws, policies and programmes in the context of relevant international treaties and agreements. The topics covered include health and rehabilitation, accessible buildings, transport, information and communications technology, education and labour market participation. In each of these areas, good practices, gaps, and priorities for acti…

Economic Survey of the Caribbean 2017

Although the growth performance has been mixed in the Caribbean year, on averaged the economies posted an economic growth of 0.7 per cent in 2016. The goods producers achieved -3.1 per cent growth, due to weak commodity prices. While the service producers achieved 2.1 growth. Despite the anemic growth performance, the region managed to decrease its unemployment rate to 11.2 per cent in 2016, relative to the 15.2 per cent experienced in the previous year.…

Advancing the economic empowerment and autonomy of women in the Caribbean through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

This paper is focused on the economic empowerment and autonomy of women and girls as a strategy for accelerating gender equality through the implementation of the SDGs, which provides the framework for mainstreaming gender issues into all stages of national policies and programmes. In making this argument, the paper highlights some of the major challenges facing the Caribbean subregion in its efforts to achieve greater equality, particularly gender equality, and to promote sustainable development for all.…

The Hummingbird Vol.5 No.1

An analysis of the art and craft sector and its potential for sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean

Art and craft is considered to be an integral part of the tourism business, since it plays an important role as souvenirs and mementos, thereby spatially and temporarily expanding the visitor experience. It is also increasingly looked upon as an opportunity to diversify the tourism sector offerings, as well as the broader economic base. As part of the overall global creative economy, the art and craft sector has seen consistent trade growth over the past two decades, and has shown the capacity to forge even stronger linkages with the tourism sector. This paper examines the nature of this relat…

Addressing capacity gaps in the production of the SDG indicators in the Caribbean

The Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Indicator Framework is endorsed by the United Nations Statistical Commission as the monitoring mechanism for the 169 targets and more than 230 indicators of the SDGs. Reporting of these indicators will pose a formidable challenge to the Caribbean given the statistical capacity of countries of the subregion. The results of an ECLAC survey show that only three of the eleven countries that participated reported having the capacity to produce at least 50 per cent of the indicators. The capacities of National Statistical Offices will need to be signif…

The Hummingbird Vol.4 No.12

Hurricanes reloaded

The Hummingbird Vol.4 No.11

The Hummingbird Vol.4 No.10

The Hummingbird Vol.4 No.9

Mainstreaming disaster risk management strategies in development instruments: Policy briefs for selected member countries of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee

This policy brief has the objective of profiling disaster risk management policies in five selected member states of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee: The Bahamas, Belize, The Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica, and analyze their interactions with broader development issues and instruments, such as national development plans and climate change adaptation strategies. To this end, firstly, it presents the five pillars for Disaster Risk Managenent (DRM), namely risk identification, risk reduction, preparedness, financial protection, and resilient recovery, as well as their a…

Sustainable Development Goals implementation in the Caribbean

Report of the eighteenth meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee

Promoting energy efficiency in government transportation systems: A transition roadmap and criteria for a readiness analysis

The present study explores opportunities and challenges to increase energy efficiency in government vehicle fleets through electrification. It identifies international best practices in relation to fleet electrification, suggests the most suitable comprehensive approach for a fleet transition, and recommends the most immediate actions to deploy. Considering the leading role that the public sector plays in promoting the use of renewable energies and enhancing energy efficiency, the study presents a roadmap for government fleet transitions of vehicles that have equivalent alternatives in the mar…

The Hummingbird Vol.4 No.6