OECS Economic Affairs Secretariat - Framework For an OECS Social Development Strategy January, 1996

An increasing global recognition of the importance of social development and undeniable linkage between social and economic development has fuelled the debate in the OECS Sub-region on the need for a new focus on social development issues. Social ills of society can directly impede the pace of economic development. Notwithstanding the lack of reliable statistical data, it is recognised that social problems are increasing in the OECS. Concomitantly, this debate has also coincided with a number of developments which have begun to negatively impact on the sub-regions' economic development potential and which are considered to require new and innovative policies to cushion their effects.

An increasing global recognition of the importance of social development and undeniable linkage between social and economic development has fuelled the debate in the OECS Sub-region on the need for a new focus on social development issues. Social ills of society can directly impede the pace of economic development. Notwithstanding the lack of reliable statistical data, it is recognised that social problems are increasing in the OECS. Concomitantly, this debate has also coincided with a number of developments which have begun to negatively impact on the sub-regions' economic development potential and which are considered to require new and innovative policies to cushion their effects.