Celebrating Families

Leela Ramdeen

Sunday, 15 May, is International Day of Families. The UN states: "Urbanisation is one of the most important megatrends shaping our world and the life and wellbeing of families worldwide. This year's theme, 'Families and Urbanisation', aims to raise awareness on the importance of sustainable, family-friendly urban policies....This day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families."

The UN has been focusing on selected megatrends, including "technological change, migration, urbanisation, demographic and climate change... to facilitate the analysis of their impacts on family life and to recommend responsive family-oriented policies in order to harness the positive aspects of those trends and counteract their negative facets." Inevitably, it is acknowledged that the Covid-19 pandemic has adversely impacted the lives of families around the world.

A paper focusing on the impact of urbanisation and migration on families was launched on Friday, 13 May. The paper: "Migration, Urbanisation, and the Family Dimension" (Bahira Trask, UNDESA, 2022) focuses on "the impact of urbanisation and migration on families. The paper addresses recent urbanisation trends impacting families; gender and urbanisation; urbanisation and family life, in particular the importance of affordable safe housing, child and youth developments and intergenerational issues; urbanisation and globalisation; urbanisation and green spaces; promoting civic life and participation in urban areas, social cohesion and social stability."

In its recommendations the paper emphasises that "Individuals and families need affordable, safe housing and the many issues that come with sprawling slums and informal urban settlements need to be addressed. This can be accomplished by states partnering with private housing contractors in order to create safe, affordable housing at a rapid enough pace. This is specifically the case in developing countries that have enormous housing shortfalls." It further recommends "providing safe and easily accessible public spaces that are accessible to all residents of urban areas including vulnerable populations". Moreover, the paper states that "Urbanisation and financial partnerships need to be promoted.

"Urbanisation needs to be planned and managed with sustained financing. This requires coordination between local and state governments. A well-planned effort also requires a focus on rural areas so that they do not fall behind leading to exponential out-migration"

Are we addressing these issues in T&T in a way that will sustain families? Urban and Cities Platform of Latin America and the Caribbean refers to T&T's Vision 2030 - the National Development Strategy of T&T 2016-2030 and the National Spatial Development Strategy (NSDS) which "propose various strategies to address the topics of accessible housing, infrastructure, sustainable urban development and thriving human settlements. This paves the way for new advancements in this matter in this Caribbean state."

We need to move from Legislation e.g. Planning and Facilitation of Development (Amendment) Act, 2019, and our development plans, which set out an overall strategy, with clear objectives for proper planning and sustainable development, to action. Central Government and our Planning Authorities play key roles in national and local planning. Families will certainly benefit from more effective collaboration between the two.

On this International Day of Families, let us commit to provide infrastructure/create conditions that will allow ALL families to flourish. Let us address the lack of equity and equality that adversely impact our families, including migrant families, and work to make distributive justice a reality. As well as basic needs such as food, clothing, housing, education, access to employment and health care, inter alia, families need to be able to live in safe and secure environments; to have: effective and fair justice systems that deal with matters in a timely manner, proper transportation systems, energy and communication facilities, water supplies and waste water services, waste recovery and disposal facilities, Institutions that work effectively, proper environmental/ecological management/conservation that will enhance their daily lives.

Pope Francis rightly says that corruption steals from the poor. With the increase of poverty and social exclusion due to the pandemic and the downturn in the economy, let's try to support our families by stemming rampant corruption at all levels. Each day our media brings into our homes various corruption scandals. As Odongo Kodongo says: "Corruption compromises people's futures and their development." Will more effective law enforcement and a proper "handle" on other aspects of crime and violence in T&T help us to rid our country of this dreadful social ill? Moral and spiritual values will enhance our democracy. Ethical conduct of all citizens will help.

Let's empower families and work to create a more just society.

Ms Leela Ramdeen is Chair, Trinidad & Tobago Catholic Commission for Social Justice & Archdiocese's Ministry for Migrants and Refugees

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