Social and Economic Equity and Stability: Achievable for Most if Not for All

Abstract

There can be little doubt that an untapped source of human intelligence and creativity is found among the vast number of individuals in the lower socioeconomic levels . . . the by-products of this waste are evident ... in unemployment ... in rising crime, delinquency rates, and most important in human despair.-Joseph Renzullithe critical areas being identified for discussion in this article include but are not limited to innate perspectives and some evidence on the current socioeconomic status of Belize. Some theoretical and global perspectives that are applicable to the Belizean situation based on social stratification will be discussed, then recommendations made for achieving social and economic equity and stability for most, if not all.Current socioeconomic status of BelizeThe current concerns in Belize are of an unsustainable foreign debt, high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, high crime rates, and increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS. These are being addressed through a four-pillar approach: social investment through poverty alleviation; job creation through public-sector investment; improved access to credit; and reduction of crime and violence.Belize traditionally maintains a deep interest in the environment and sustainable development. A lack of government resources seriously hampers progress toward these goals.1 The United Nations Human Development Report for 20102 ranks Belize at 78 out of the 169 countries studied. The Human Development Index (HDI) has taken into account three dimensions: health, education and income. For Belize, the report found an HDI of 0.694. This figure places Belize into the 'high human development' bracket, but does not necessarily place the country in good standing, since the HDI of the Latin American and Caribbean region is 0.706. The difference of 0.012 places Belize below the regional average. While Belize ranks close to midway, Norway with its HDI of 0.938 was found to be in the leading position of all nations observed. Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Ireland followed closely. In contrast to the top five nations, the lowest ranked countries were Mozambique, Burundi, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe, which had the lowest HDI of 0.140.Social investment through poverty alleviationPoverty by definition is inadequate nutrition and the inability to buy supplies. Current research shows that 23 percent of Belizean households are poor. According to the Plan of Action for the Eradication of Poverty in Belize,3 the fight against poverty in Belize must have at the centre two key goals: sustained economic growth and an equitable distribution of the benefits of such growth. Sustained economic growth depends crucially on the ability to diversify the economy given the imminent end to preferential agreements. This diversification effort must ensure that measures are introduced to enhance the competitiveness of the existing key sectors. High on the agenda will be the need to improve the physical and technological agricultural infrastructure, create more secure tenure for small farmers and urgently adopt sustainable natural resource utilisation processes. Additionally, incentives for the growth of emerging sectors such as tourism need to be provided.Several Caribbean countries have committed to make serious efforts towards reducing poverty and to embark on such a difficult task with a plan of action to guide the process. Belize is one of the countries that have engaged in a participatory process whereby all segments of society have had the opportunity to make their inputs into the formulation of such a plan. The Plan of Action for the Eradication of Poverty in Belize is geared towards substantial changes in order to increase equity in the spread of benefits and greater efficiency in addressing the needs of the disadvantaged areas and groups in Belizean society.The plan identifies issues of poverty grouped under specific subject areas. …