Poverty continues to be one of the major social ills plaguing T&T. This, according to the findings of a recent nationwide survey on current issues conducted by the ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre, University of the West Indies, St Augustine. Supervised by senior lecturer Dr Derek Chadee, the poll was conducted during the period April 13 to 16, 2011.
A random sample of 512 respondents comprising people 18 years and over-39 per cent Afro-Trinidadians, 42 per cent Indo-Trinidadians, 17 per cent Mixed and two per cent Other groups. The sample consisted of 52 per cent males. Respondents were selected using the Random Digit Dialing Method.
Questioned on whether poverty is a major problem in T&T, precisely 78 per cent said "yes," 18 per cent "no" and four per cent "don't know." Marginal differences were observed among ethnic groups indicating that poverty is a major problem in this country. Specifically, 79 per cent Afro-Trinidadians, 78 per cent Indo-Trinidadians and 76 per cent Mixed persons said "yes." Persons stating "no" were 19 per cent Mixed, 18 per cent Indo-Trinidadians and 17 per cent Afro-Trinidadians. Four to five per cent of respondents stated "don't know."
With regards to sex, similar results were observed for males and females. Specifically, 79 per cent females and 77 per cent males said "yes," while 19 per cent males and 17 per cent females said "no." Four per cent of males and females stated "don't know." Respondents by age showed a 10 per cent difference between the 51-plus age group and the 31-40 age group for the response "yes."
Specifically, 80 per cent of the 18-30, 75 per cent 31-40, 79 per cent 41-50 and 85 per cent 51-plus indicated that poverty is a major problem in this country. Those stating "no" were 15 per cent of the 18-30, 16 per cent 31-40, 20 per cent 41-50, and 14 per cent 51-plus age group. "Don't know" was stated by five per cent of the 18-30, nine per cent 31-40, one per cent 41-50 and one per cent 51-plus age group.
Analysing responses by education showed that secondary- (83 per cent), and technical/vocational- (80 per cent) educated persons were more likely than primary- (75 per cent) and tertiary- (74 per cent) educated persons to indicate poverty is a major problem. Secondary-educated persons were the least likely to state "no." Precisely, 23 per cent primary-, 22 per cent tertiary-, 20 per cent technical/vocational- and 11 per cent secondary-educated persons said "no."
Ratings
Do you think that poverty is a major problem in this country?
Yes 78%
No 18%
Don't Know 4%
Ratings
Do you think that poverty is a major problem in this country? (by ethnicity)
Afro Indo Mixed
Yes 79 78 76
No 17 18 19%
Don't Know 4-5%
