Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Montgomery Daniel has disclosed that despite the massive efforts to reduce poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the challenges are numerous.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Montgomery Daniel has disclosed that despite the massive efforts to reduce poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the challenges are numerous.

The Minister made this pronouncement while speaking at the opening ceremony of a two- day Regional workshop to review the draft report of a Diagnostic study to determine poverty levels in CARICOM countries. The workshop came to its conclusion yesterday.

Daniel said this is as a result of various factors such as the global economic crisis, climate change, market access for fish and other products, which have all impacted negatively on the poor and indigent.

Daniel stated that although essential economic growth is insufficient to properly address the reduction of poverty, policies that can create linkages to increased distribution of wealth are fundamental.

He further said that growth in sectors where the poor operate will have greater impact on the reduction of poverty than growth in other sectors.