IDB: Social tensions may mount as COVID-19 regional impact persists

Social pressures and electoral processes could complicate the transition of Caribbean countries toward economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the most recent Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report on the regional impact of the pandemic has warned.

The just released report entitled “Caribbean Quarterly Bulletin: The Pandemic Saga Continues”, assesses The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and the countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), finding that there are multiple external factors that pose opportunities and risks for a recovery of Caribbean economies.

However, with five of the six countries analyzed, one of which is The Bahamas, experiencing a sharp economic contraction and sharp increases in unemployment, the report notes the transition measures will have to be gradual and there could be setbacks.

“There is a high degree of uncertainty on both the scientific and economic fronts. Social tensions may mount. Problems such as increased domestic violence and child abuse are a concern, as are already high and rising suicide rates, by international standards,” the report notes.

“Female employment conditions in service sectors, so-called ‘care’ sectors, could suffer disproportionately. Food insecurity is another threat, driven either by supply chain disruptions or a lack of foreign currency.”

Among other things, the IDB is recommending Caribbean governments strengthen their health emergency capacity, strengthen social safety nets, develop internet connectivity for all, increase digital government and reduce red tape, improve data, strengthen private sector resilience and “go regional” on food and other supply chains to aide recovery.

“The recovery will be built on the efforts of households, businesses and governments. Emerging from the transition stage, if many households and/or firms are bankrupt and if people are still getting sick, then the recovery is likely to be prolonged and slow. The risk of imported cases looms large as international travelers begin to arrive,” the report states.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/2020/07/29/idb-social-tensions-may-mount-as-covid-19-regional-impact-persists/