- March 2013
In this issue: Kristina Hinds-Harrison, Philmore Alleyne, Diana Weekes-Marshall, Roger Arthur, Paul K. Sutton, Adrian Carter, Roland Craigwell, Winston Moore, Victor Mlambo, Godfrey St. Bernard, Tom Durbin, Jill St. George
In this issue
Social Workers’ Perspectives on an Unconditional Cash Transfer in Trinidad and Tobago: Unravelling the Challenges and Heeding Lessons from the Public Assistance Grant
Pages: 1-36Author(s): Hafeeza Hosein Shah and Godfrey St. Bernard
The Public Assistance Grant (PAG) is a 70-year-old unconditional cash transfer used for poverty alleviation in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). This paper aims to examine and understand selected efficiency domains in the administration of the PAG using in-depth interviews with one supervisor and one social welfare advisor from each of the 11 Local Boards nationwide. Content analysis was used to understand attributes of operational procedures, service delivery and legislative arrangements eliciting convergent and divergent perceptions having positive and negative implications in improving efficiency. Findings and recommendations would also be applicable to other developing countries that have cash transfer programmes.
Keywords: Social workers, Cash transfers, Trinidad and Tobago, Content analysis, Poverty, Efficiency and Effectiveness.
Intimate Partner Violence among LGBTQ+ and Heterosexuals in the Eastern Caribbean: A Pilot Study
Pages: 37-60Author(s): Diane N. Hassanieh and Lori K. Sudderth
Patriarchal and homophobic legal restrictions and societal stigma create an unsafe environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and more (LGBTQ+) survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) in the Eastern Caribbean. This pilot study investigated IPV through an online survey and found that LGBTQ+ and heterosexual participants experienced IPV at about the same rate. A higher percentage of GBQ males had experienced physical and verbal violence compared to LBQ females. This research suggests patterns that are worth investigating with a larger LGBTQ+ sample. Suggestions for future research and recommendations for screening and support services for LGBTQ+ survivors of IPV in the Eastern Caribbean are included.
Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), interpersonal violence, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT), Eastern Caribbean, domestic violence, St. Lucia.
Corner Shop – Scope of Contribution: The Case of Jamaica
Pages: 61-96Author(s): Anne Crick and Lawrence A. Nicholson
Corner shops are part of the economy of many countries, including Jamaica. The utility of Jamaican corner shops became acutely apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the contribution of corner shops and the factors impacting their operation, using a qualitative research approach. The approach consisted of interviews with owners of twenty-five (25) corner shops and discussions with patrons. Through the lenses of Cluster Theory, Oldenburg’s Third Place social interpretation of institutions and Social Capital theory, it was revealed that corner shops are cornerstones of Jamaica’s informal economy, contributing to the economic and social stability of many communities.
Keywords: Corner shops, social impact, informal economy, entrepreneurship, third place, cluster theory, social capital
When Do Survivors Reach Out for Help? Disclosing Intimate Partner Violence to Formal and Informal Sources of Support in Saint Lucia
Pages: 97-121Author(s): Lori K. Sudderth
This study explored patterns of disclosure of intimate partner violence (IPV) among a sample of 130 female survivors in Saint Lucia in 2021. The research explored the factors that influence survivors to disclose to families, friends, and more formal sources of support in the cultural and structural context in which they live. The sample came from a larger IPV prevalence study in Saint Lucia. Questions included both lifetime prevalence and experience of IPV in the past year, including moderate and severe physical violence, controlling behaviours, and one measure of emotional abuse, as well as who was told and whether or not they reported to authorities. The results suggested that younger women (under 40 years old) were more likely to report to authorities, but they also had experienced more severe violence, particularly in the last year. The severity of the violence and informal disclosure were significant predictors of reaching out for formal assistance. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Keywords: Intimate partner violence (IPV), Disclosure, Genderbased violence, Survivors
More Journals
- March 2011
In this issue: Philmore Alleyne, Tracey Broome, Kari Grenade, Denny Lewis-Bynoe, Lomarsh Roopnarine & Marion Williams
- August 2015
In this issue: Lawrence A. Nicholson, Antonio Cardentey Levin, Dave Valliere and Michael Steele, Nlandu Mamingi, Patrice Borda, Stacey Estwick, Kelza Scantlebury and Philmore Alleyne
- December 2020
In this issue: Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Ronnie R.F. Yearwood, Duane Edwards, Lloyd Waller, Gavin Daley, Damion Gordon, Shinique Walters, Stephen Johnson, Nicola Satchell, Donavon Johnson, Francisco Guerrero, Melene Glynn, Hamid Ghany and Duane Edwards