By Robert Andre Emmanuel
Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation to the Organization of American States (OAS) has called on the regional body to establish a working group to establish an inclusive response to the issue of poverty across the Americas.
The OAS Permanent Council met last week to discuss the proposal raised by Antigua and Barbuda and Colombia – a “Manifesto Against Poverty in the Americas”.
Joy-Dee Davis-Lake, Interim Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the OAS, highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action to combat poverty across the region.
“Poverty lies at the very root of economic tension globally. It is the single greatest contributor to inequality, inequity and underdevelopment, both within nations and between them,” Davis-Lake stated in her address to the Council.
The manifesto painted a stark picture of the region’s challenges, describing the Americas as “the world’s most unequal region” calling for a shift from “extractive institutions” to “inclusive institutions” to break the cycle of poverty.
“We do not identify with inequality, but we do identify with equity, justice, and equal access to rights and development,” the manifesto declared, emphasising the need for a multidimensional approach to poverty reduction.
The document also advocated for a “universal basket of services” to address various dimensions of poverty, including housing, education, health, and access to public services, emphasising the importance of targeted, territorial-level policies to break “poverty traps” and “vicious circles”.
“The fight against poverty is not impossible and it should be an imperative to tackle it with seriousness, discipline, and perseverance,” the manifesto stated, calling for collaboration among governments, businesses, academia, and civil society.
Davis-Lake proposed the establishment of a working group within the OAS to refine and implement the manifesto’s recommendations.
“Consequently, we recognise the strategic opportunity for this Permanent Council and [the Inter-American Committee on Social Development] to establish a cooperative relationship in addressing the all-encompassing problem of poverty, which is multidimensional.
“The manifesto against poverty should stand as a lasting beacon of this organisation’s unwavering resolve to confront and overcome the critical challenges facing our people now and for all time,” Davis-Lake said.
