SOCIAL SECTOR INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
27
SUSTAINING GROWTH, SECURING PROSPERITY
CHAPTER 3: NATIONAL SOCIAL SITUATION
attained a score of 0.7116 and was ranked 43rd,
which is 23 places below the 2011 ranking of 21.
This is largely attributed to the decrease in the
healthy life expectancy ratio and the percentage
of women holding ministerial positions. The
country is also ranked 11th in the Latin America
and Caribbean region, out of 26 countries.
Trinidad and Tobago is the region’s lowest
performing country on the health and survival
criteria.
The global rankings of Trinidad and Tobago for
2012/2013 are reflected in Table 3.I below.
Table 3.I:
Development Indicators
Indicator
Global Ranking
2012/2013
Human Development Index 67th of 186
Gender Inequality Index 50th of 148
Global Gender Gap
43rd
Source:
Human Development Report 2013, Global Gender Gap
Report 2012
In 2011, the GORTT articulated a new policy
thrust, which embraced the theme “Innovation
for Lasting Prosperity” and had as its major
imperatives
productivity,
competitiveness,
diversification and innovation to facilitate social
and economic transformation. This agenda
was articulated in the Medium-Term Policy
Framework 2011- 2014, which identified five
Medium-Term Priority Areas for sustainable
development and national prosperity. The
Priority Areas comprise the following:
i. Crime and Law and Order;
ii. Agriculture & Food Security;
iii. Health Care Services and Hospitals;
iv. Economic Growth, Job Creation,
Competitiveness & Innovation; and
v. Poverty Reduction and Human Capital
Development.
The review of the achievements for the social
sector for fiscal 2013 is therefore guided by
these five priorities.
3.2 CRIME AND LAWAND
ORDER
The prevalence of crime continues to pose a
development challenge to Trinidad and Tobago.
For the period January 2013 to July 2013, the
greatest number of offences (just over 200 per
month) occurred in the categories of robberies,
burglaries and break-ins and general larceny
25
.
According to the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2013,
Trinidad and Tobago received a score of 2.074
and is ranked 90th out of 162 countries. In 2012,
the ranking stood at 94th out of 158 countries.
The GPI quantifies countries on their level of
peacefulness, using a variety of internal and
external indicators
26
.
Recognising the formidable nature of crime,
the GoRTT continues to use a multi-pronged
approach to crime containment and reduction
withanemphasisonoperationalandpreventative
interventions. This approach employs methods
of more effective law enforcement and policing,
the creation of a legislative framework and
relevant social interventions.
The MTPF has also outlined a number of
targets by which the GoRTT is to measure its
performance. These include:
• 25% reduction in serious crimes annually;
• 10% reduction in recidivism annually;
• Increase the crime solvency rate;
• Increase the homicide detection rate;
• Increase confidence in the justice system;
• Improve coordination among the various
social sector agencies and create stronger
partnerships with communities.
25
26 The GPI was first launched in 2007 by the Institute for
Economics and Peace (IEP) in consultation with a panel of
117 peace experts. It is recognised by the United Nations,
World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD). Data was not available in the 2013
Report on the breakdown of the Peace Indicators for Trinidad
and Tobago.
