WPC  i 5pw tWZPWEːB^btTF )kKa8ZH@)\~1S j8OƭpSG|@-'S^| Z!zL"USN*V`D3QRQ F"Qӕ7Iخ{@w#=b@pUͪrqt4@K?᛹_jF+&=m 0D- 1q 72&;............................................................ Bi 0D A D-- 0KZ Lexmark X1100 SeriesPX,..,PX0(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX($yP03|xU  WPCM Q gQ g7 KKKK9  *6ee{ d"$~ `! & /Nx>g5$'((;g 1CJOG4# tS~ `" I [ m E L ` o Ip Z  c  F v        p i J  "  t k g g~ `# L`FoIF %-&R""kBgg~ `$ +=L`oSI@*3FXGUjs|tdTA:"pEkgg~ `% }zL9`oI8;F           ~ ":kg<g~ `& #L`{o9I&F>-;PYbZJ:' "V+kxgg~ `' O!a!s!K!L !` o Iv `  i F|voP" z k g!g~ `( 7 -  ,B`qrY^[U RIC @>CY2 ( 1 e9 G~ `) p -Y A "  , B `" q0 -          | y x |  2 & E b j er G~ `* - ,B`q|[-   2deG~ `+ C-, ,B`q~ejga ^UO LJOe24=eEG~ `, -w XH,;B>`Xqfb0  2[zeG~ `- (- ,B`qcJNLF B:4 0/4J2"e*G~ `. x"-b"J" *"","B"`*"q9"5""!!!!!! !!! !!!!2!."M"j"r"e{"G~ `/ | R*C#*T3}`^{g h Z ? . " % ~6 mE ^] bm r 4 `P&~ `0  c | #  d  3 ` ^ # {   x h \ ^ ~o m~ ^ b r n  P3  _  ~ `1 9 #H38`^E{"#~m^b(rYP;~ `2  ^6O#6`3`^{stfK:.1~BmQ^ibyr@lP2~ `3  #=3`S^Y{~m^br Pi?~ `4 m C4#}E3n`^{{XYJ0~&m6^Nb^r%QPp~ `5  k# l  3 `&!^!,"{""""p"d"f"~w"m"^"b"r"v"!P theeffectsofpoverty,byadoptinginitiativeswhichwoulddeliverthegoaloffullemployment P andthefosteringofstable,safeandjustsocieties,astheoverridingobjectives.   `     h     Mr.President ,thereisnogreaterthreattohumanityinthetwentyfirstcenturythanthatof ( worldpoverty.Itiscommontodefinepovertyinpurelymaterialtermsasastateofhavinglittle @ ornoresourcestoallowforacquiringthemostbasicneeds. ! Poverty,however,isalsoafunctionofseveralsocialandculturalfactors.Itshouldbenotedas f % wellthat,thepovertyanddeprivationexperiencedbymanycountriesaretheconsequencesofthe !' unfaireconomicrelationships,whichexistamongcountries.MayIhastentoadd,therefore,that *#z) asweaddresstheissueofglobalization,thatampleattentionisgiventotheeconomic $+ relationshipamongcountries. %>!- Asweareallaware, oneofthemajortenetsof_globalisation_Ԁisthatthefreeplayofthemarket, ($1 particularlyfreetrade,canleadtogrowth.Whilethismaybetrue,insomecases,many *d%3  developing countrieshavebecomevictimsofawideninggapbetweenthehavesandthehave v+&5 nots,whichcancontributetosocialconditionsthatleadtopoverty.  Undoubtedly_globalisation_Ԁoftheworldeconomyhascreatedopportunitiesforthedevelopment & process.Inevitablyhowever,ithasalsocreatedunstable_labour_Ԁmarketsandincreased 8  _marginalisation_Ԁofindividualsandgroups.    Theworldis heading veryrapidlyalongthepathof_globalisation_ ,_and _Ԁthereisanurgentneedto ^  developmechanismsatthenational,regionalandinternationallevelsto_minimise_Ԁitsnegative   effects. (x   Mr.President ,individualGovernmentsarewellaware,andcertainlyweinTrinidadandTobago < are,thatdespiteexogenousinternationalfactorswhichmilitateagainstthelesspowerful,policies T andprioritiesmustbeadjustedtocreatethenecessaryenvironmenttocompeteatthe  internationallevel.Modificationherewouldmeanenablingpeopletoaccessthenecessary h meanstofitintotheglobaleconomyandcultivatesustainablehumandevelopmenttothepoint z wheresocietyandtheeconomicenvironmentoptimizetheirinteractions. ,  TheCopenhagenDeclaration and_Programme_ԀofAction present anopportunitytoeffectsuch $ developmentthroughthepledgetoeradicatepovertybyseekingtofullyintegrateallsocialissues X& inthedevelopmentmatrix. j (  TheGovernmentofTrinidadandTobagoiscommittedtosupportingtheimplementationofthe .#~, Summitgoals.Asaconsequence,followingtheSummit,TrinidadandTobagoimmediately $. soughttoinstitutestrategicpoliciestoalleviateproblemshinderinggrowthandsocial %B!0 development. Itadoptedanintegratedfocusinordertoensurethatsocialdevelopment T'"2 objectivesareincorporatedinallareasofgovernmentaldecisionmaking . ( $4 WiththesupportfotheUnitedNationsandotherdevelopmentalpartners,_programmes_Ԁhavebeen +&8 developedatthenationalandcommunitylevelstobroadenthescopeofsocialdevelopment  issuesin_favour_Ԁofthevulnerablegroups.AReportbytheGovernmentofTrinidadandTobago b concerningtheimplementationoftheOutcomeoftheWorldSummitforSocialDevelopment, t detailingourachievementstodateandconstraintsencountered,hasbeenprepared.This R eport & hasbeenpublishedintheSocialSummitDigitalLibrary,aCDROM,aprojectfotheILOand >  theDivisionforSocialPolicyandDevelopment.     Attemptshavebeenmade inTrinidadandTobago tomoveawayfromthetraditionalsocial d  welfareapproachtoonethatismoredevelopmentalandparticipatory,andtocreateamore   enablingenvironmentforsocialdevelopmentthrougheconomicreform.Suchreformhasbeen .~  gearedtowardsthe_stabilisation_Ԁoftheeconomyasaprerequisitetoimprovingthequalityoflife   ofourcitizens. B Thisdictatedthatweformulateandimplementpolicymeasuresthatwould,interalia:   (y3"3"  323  0 `   ensurethe_sustainability_Ԁofthegrowthprocess;3݌z` (#` (# Ќ  "3"  323  0 `   promoteagreaterdiversificationoftheeconomicbase;3݌, ` (#` (# Ќ  "3"  3 23  0 `   establishadynamicandenergeticbusinessclimateconducivetobothlocaland >" foreigninvestment;3 ݌$` (#` (# Ќ  "3"  3!23  0 `   keepinflationtoaminimumandundercontrol; and 3!"݌R&` (#` (# Ќ  "3"  3"23  0 `   createemploymentopportunities.3""݌j (` (#` (# Ќ  Iampleasedtoreportthattowardstheendof1997aboutforty(40)foreigncompaniesfrom .#~, Europe,Asia,theAmericasandtheCaribbeanweredoingbusinessinTrinidadandTobagoin $. varioussectors. %B!0 _ The_ԀeconomyofTrinidadandTobagoshowsgrowth,with_GDP_Ԁgrowthin1999recordedat T'"2 3.5%,inflationisatanannualrateof2%andunemploymentatitslowestinfifteen(15) ($4 yearsat11.7% . *h%6  +&8 IntermsofpovertyeradicationTrinidadandTobagohasmadetremendousstrides.Aclear  indicationofourprogresshasbeenourmaintenanceoffirstrankingintheUnitedNations b HumanDevelopmentIndexsince1997.Onenoteworthy_endeavour_Ԁhasbeentheestablishment t ofatheChangeManagementUnitforPovertyEradicationandEquityBuilding(_CMU_/_PEEB_)in & 1997.ThisUnitismandatedtoimplementpermanentstrategiesforpromotingintegrationand 8  collaborationamongGovernmentagenciesaswellastoempowerpoorcommunitiesforgreater    participationincommunitylife.  L  Oneinnovativeandsuccessful_programme_ԀofthisUnithasbeentheAdoptaCommunity   _programme_ԀwhichwaslaunchedinMay1998.Themainstrategyisthecreationofapartnership "r  betweenbusinessorganizationsandpoorcommunitiestoimprovethequalityoflifeandfacilitate   thesustainabledevelopmentofthecommunities. 6 Inanefforttoempowerthepoorthroughentrepreneurialactivities,aCommunityMicroCredit  System has alsobeendevelopedwhichallowsforthedisbursementofsoftloansthrough  \ communitybased_organisations_Ԁ(_CBOs_)toneedypersons. t TheCommunityDevelopmentFund,whichwasestablishedin1996,withassistancefromthe 8" InterAmericanDevelopmentBank(IADB),financescommunityinfrastructureandsocial $ assistancetocommunitieswhere80%ofthebeneficiariesareinthelowincomecategory. L& Amostsignificantfindingoftherecent_UNDP_ԀHumanDevelopmentReportisthatnew !* dimensionsofeconomic_marginalisation_Ԁareoccurringbetweenthedevelopedanddeveloping "#r, countries.Onesuchdimensionisthegrowingnewunderclassinthenewworldorder,thatof $.  theexcludedorthosewhobecauseoftheirsituationofpovertyareunabletohaveaccesstothe %6!0 Internet,theemergingpathwaytocommerce,information,education,trainingand H'"2 communicationwiththerestoftheworld. (#4 Thisisachallenge asitaffectsnotonlytheliteracyofourpeoplebutalsoourcompetitiveness , (: withintheglobalvillage.Asapeoplewemustensurethatwekeepapaceoftheseglobaltrends.   Mr.President ,theGovernmentofTrinidadandTobagohas placededucationasameansof t combatingpovertyattheforefrontofitsstrategiestotackletheproblem. , Accordingly,aNationalDistanceLearningSystemSecretariatwasestablishedtoreviewnational    _programmes_ԀandliaisewiththeInternational_Centre_ԀforDistanceEducationandother  R  internationaldevelopmentagenciesworkingintheareaofdistancelearning. d  Theexpansionofproductiveemploymentisafocalpointinachievingsustainabledevelopment. (x  TrinidadandTobagosmajorpolicyistoincreaseinvestmentsinthenonpetroleumsectorwith   theintentionofjobcreationwhilesimultaneouslypromotingsound_labour_Ԁrelations.Trinidad < andTobagohasalsoratifiedthILOConvention144ConcerningTripartiteConsultationandthe N International_Labour_ԀStandardsConventions,1996.  EntrepreneurialspiritisalsoencouragedbytheSmallBusinessDevelopmentCompanyLimited t whichwasestablishedtofacilitatethegrowthofthesmallandmediumsizebusinessenterprises. &  TheSocialIntegrationstrategiesadoptedhavefocusedonaparticipatoryapproachtoensurethat $ consensusisobtainedonmajorsocial,economicandenvironmentalissues. L& TheGovernmentofTrinidadandTobagohassoughttostrengthenpoliticalparticipationand !* promotetransparencyandaccountabilityinpubliclifebydraftingaGreenPapertohighlightthe "#r, efficienciesoftheexistingIntegrityCommissionandtheIntegrityinPublicLifeAct,1987  $. Otherpiecesoflegislationarealsobeingamendedtostrengthenhumanrightsandpromotenon H'"2 discrimination,toleranceandmutualrespectforhumandiversity.AnEqualityOpportunityBill (#4 iscurrentlybeingdebated.ThisBillprohibitsdiscriminationonthegroundsofsex,ethnicity,  *\%6 disabilityandeducation,theprovisionofgoodsandservicesandaccommodation.  n+&8  , (: _ Initiativesarealsobeingtakentostrengthenthefamilytopromotesocialintegration.The  GovernmentofTrinidadandTobagohassoughttobuildthenecessarylegislativeframeworkto b engenderequalpartnershipbetweenmenandwomeninfamilylife. t TheConventionontheRightsoftheChildwasearlierratifiedbytheGovernmentofTrinidad 8  andTobagoand,incollaborationwithUNICEF,anumberofinitiativeshavebeenundertakento    protectchildren.OnesignificantinitiativeisTrinidadandTobagosdeclarationoftheyear2000  L  astheYearoftheChild. ^  Topromoteintegrationofallpersonsintothemainstreamofcommunitylifeandtoensuretheir "r  productiveinvolvement,theGovernmentofTrinidadandTobagoestablishedaDisabilityUnit   andaSocialDisplacementUnit. 6 TrinidadandTobagoactivelycelebratedwiththerestoftheworld,InternationalYearofOlder  Persons(1999),andfullyendorsestheUnitedNationsprinciplesforolderpersons.Iamproudto  \ saythatseveralprogrammesweresuccessfullyimplementedtoassistolderpersonstocontinueto n participateinallfacetsofsociety.    Therehavebeenobstaclesintheimplementationofthestrategiessuchasthelackofa $ comprehensivecommunicationsstrategy,theincreaseinHIV/AIDSamongtheyoung,balancing F& socialequityandeconomicefficiencythesehaveallpresentedformidablechallenges.The X ( threattothestabilityofthefamilybydomesticviolenceandrisingdivorceisalsoofgrave ! * concern. #l, Wearewellawarethatgreatereffortsmustbemadetocontinuetoimprovethelivesofour %0!0 peopleandtocontinuetomeetthechallengesoftheeffectsofglobalisationondeveloping B'"2 countries.Thistaskcanbeverydauntingforindividualcountries.Thereisthereforeneedfor (#4 theinternationalcommunitytoassistintheprocessofeffectivelyintegratingthesecountrieson *V%6 equaltermsintheinternationalarenabyprovidingthenecessarysupportmechanisms which h+&8 includeadequatefinancialresources.Itisalsoimportantthatstructural_adjustment , (: _programmes_,whennecessary,shouldcompriseasocialdevelopmentcomponent.    ` [Paragraphonproposals/initiativesforfurtheractionatnationallevel]  t IwishtoclosebyreiteratingthefullsupportoftheGovernmentofTrinidadandTobagoforthe  L  Summitgoals_ for_Ԁwhich wehaveexpressedtangiblecommitmentbyadoptingpoliciesand ^  _programmes_Ԁtoeradicatepoverty,promoteproductiveemploymentandsocialintegration. We   endorsefurtheractionsandinitiativesrequiredtoimplementthetencommitmentsadopted .~  inCopenhagenwhichwillensurethatpeopleareplacedatthe_centre_Ԁofdevelopment.    Ithankyou, Mr.President.