Human development is about much more than the rise or fall of national incomes. It is about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interest....Development is thus about expanding the choices people have to lead lives they value. And it is thus about much more than economic growth, which is only a means - if a very important one - of enlarging people choices.
The Changing International Environment
Any attempts to achieve sustainable development must necessarily come to grips with the changing international environment. Most recently for example, precipitated by the widespread implementation of the WTO agreement, falling prices have led to systematic reduction in agricultural exports and hence in the rate of GDP growth.
At the same time, much of international leanings and political discussions that have been taking place has been in the context of a minority of countries and in the atmosphere n which little attention is given to the attempts of small vulnerable states attempting to diversify their economies. However, the benefits gained by the developing countries such as St. Lucia have not been of the magnitude desired or expected. There are several reasons for this .Some of the most important are:
- St. Lucia and other Caribbean countries have frequently been unable to exploit the opportunities offered under the trade regime because their production structures have not been competitive enough to make significant inroads into these markets;
- While there have been incremental changes in the operations of the international institutions, the major changes have been slow in coming;
- Development assistance never reached the levels originally envisaged and
- With regard to the hoped-for technology transfer, this has been constrained by the requirements of the agreement on Trade Related Property Rights (TRIP) (under the WTO), and even firmer control by multinational firms and subsidiary operations. Recent changes in the international economic relations have now meant that many of the trade and trade -related issues have been incorporated in the rules and disciplines of the WTO, in a way that was never envisaged two decades ago.
Hazardous Natural Environments
St. Lucia lies in the Atlantic's hurricane belt, and a single powerful hurricane can eradicate large amounts of the physical infrastructure, take a high toll in lives, immobilize the country making recovery extremely difficult.
In addition, this island lies in the ring susceptible to earthquakes and volcanoes: in the decade of the 1990s, volcanic activity has destroyed large sections of Montserrat. There has also been negative environmental impact from the ash in Montserrat. There also has been psychological fear and uncertainty in other countries.
