Government reviews GSPS for 2012-2014

By Mara Etienne-Manley

In an effort to develop a medium-term strategy for economic growth and poverty reduction in Dominica, the Government will soon launch a Growth and Social Protection Strategy (GSPS) for the period 2012-2014. The Growth and Social Protection Strategy (GSPS) seeks to improve prospects for economic growth and development through: Fiscal Policy and Administrative reform; enhancing the investment climate for Private Enterprise Development; Sectoral Strategies for Growth and Strategies for Poverty Reduction and Social Protection.

On Friday, key development partners from the Public and Private sector met at the Fort Young Hotel to review the draft policy document of the GSPS. The event, hosted by the Government of Dominica, aimed to focus on several objectives including:  

-Presentation and discussion on the GSPS draft to regional and international institutions with a view to highlight the country’s broad strategic framework for growth and social protection (i.e. what the country seeks to achieve, its growth targets, challenges, constraints, policies and expectations).

-To elicit from the development partners their support for the broad strategic framework

-To elicit support and pledges for specific initiatives and programmes.

Present at Friday’s Development Partners Conference were representatives of the various regional and international bilateral partners and delegates from OECS member states.

Government’s Financial Secretary Mrs Rosamund Edwards says the review session is important as partners will have an opportunity to contribute to the draft report on the GSPS document currently being developed.

Mrs Rosamund Edwards- Financial Secretary

“When the government of Dominica committed to review on an ongoing basis this Growth and Social Protection Strategy, it was envisaged that the review process would not be simply a desk exercise, but a process where major stakeholders would be consulted. The current review began with discussions within the public service, continued with discussions with statutory agencies and persons in the private sector. [This consultation] is meant to provide our partners with an opportunity to participate in the process and to identify areas for engagement with the government and people of Dominica.”

Key topics of discussion included ICT development, sustainable economic growth, infrastructural development, Dominica’s vulnerability to natural disasters, the challenges of climate change, and food security.

Following Friday’s consultation, the Growth and Social Protection Strategy draft document will be further refined before it’s presented to the Government for approval.