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POVERTY ON THE ROCK
"Poverty in Gibraltar? Nobody’s poor here!" you’ll hear most locals say. Well, depends where you draw the so-called ‘poverty line’. So, are there some that fall below it? Action on Poverty says there are, and individuals’ circumstances can vary from household to household...
BY RICHARD CARTWRIGHT “I spent some time in the Philippines in 1997,” Action on Poverty spokesman Felix Alvarez tells me, “where a family was selling cups, saucers and any household items they got lay their hands on, right there on the pavement to raise 30 dollars a month to provide dialysis treatment for a family member. 30 dollars is just about what they earned a month from their employment! Back in Gib we managed to raise £5,000 for them to continue with the treatment and of course we don’t have that sort of situation in Gibraltar. But poverty is relative as with many other things and it’s not surprising to hear of families and individuals with nothing in the fridge.”
other hand, much better-off families are living in government housing where all works are done for them so already there, there is a discrepancy. So clearly I think we need a system of means testing to sort out who can afford to pay for their works whilst government could assist in some way, to help out those in real need who may be living in private accommodation.”
Over many years, Felix has been meeting individuals who are seeking help and experiencing problems having a hard time battling against bureaucracy and out-of-date systems which bring to light many injustices. “The thing is there are different colours of poverty - it doesn’t just jump off the page initially. You have old ladies living in private properties who need works done to their homes which cost a lot. On the
We’ve recently heard of changes to the Community Care payments coming on stream, where it’s felt a number of individuals are receiving payments who on retirement are already entitled to ‘fat’ pensions where there isn’t a real need for the extra supplementary payment from Community Care. Some of those resources therefore, can be directed towards those in real need.
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Some of those resources can be directed towards those in real need.
A CIA World Fact Book claims hunger in 21st century Gibraltar is no longer a problem. Over the past 30 years we’ve become self-sufficient with a strong vibrant economy benefitting from an extensive shipping trade and bunkering, offshore banking, gaming and tourism. There’s been plentiful foreign investment, and income from military presence has dwindled to six or seven percent from 60 percent in the mid 80s, so you could say we’re well off. Furthermore it’s claimed we are the 4th or is it 5th richest nation in the world! Although the report GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAY 2020
