Bridgetown.
A country can have economic development without growth, this is the view of Prime Minister Freundel Stuart .
Speaking at the launch of the 2013 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report, the Prime Minister stated that even though there might not be significant growth on the island here were benefits enjoyed by the population as a result of social policies and proactive system of government.
With Barbados ranking 38th out of 187 nations and in the very high human development index, stretching back in time to look at the history of development in the region,
The Prime Minister stated noted that there were periods before when there was decline in growth but it did not mean that people were worse off, because changes were taking place to benefit a large number of people and make the economy serve a larger number of individuals.
“It is possible to have development when no growth is taking place because structural changes are taking place that have the effect of making life better for a larger number of people; capacities are being created and flexibilities are being put in place to respond to the diverse beliefs and aspirations of as large a number of people as possible", Stuart said.
“We had economic growth where there was no human development; we had a phase of human development where there was little or no growth and that brings us to the third category, development minus the word economic, but including both economic and non-economic factors. That is where we are today. That is why Barbados is at number 38 of 187 countries in this Human Development Report of 2013, because this report starts from the premise that life expectancy is important. That is an issue to which no attention was paid between 1640s and 1838. It didn’t matter. This report takes account of the fact that education is important, that’s a factor that was irrelevant to the Barbados society of 1640 to 1838,” he added.
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