The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has published its Country Poverty Assessment Report for the Turks and Caicos Islands for the period 1999 -2012. The comprehensive study which may be accessed via the Bank's website assesses the social and economic conditions of TCI, the influential factors, and provides recommendations for future poverty reduction policies and programmes. Among the findings revealed in the two-part report is a decrease in TCI's poverty rate between 1999 and 2012 from 26 to 22 percent for population and 18 percent to 16 percent for households. However, the report also highlights that the rapid (57.5 percent) population growth between 2001 and 2012, resulted in a 74 percent increase in the number of poor people from 3,900 to 6,800. The variation between the population and household poverty rates has been attributed to the higher average sizes of poor households. To address the poverty and wellbeing issues, the CPA report proposes four broad objectives: the promotion of economic growth and job creation; the development of the skills, health care and infrastructure that will enable current and future households to achieve, and maintain, a fulfilling life; improving the conditions of those currently in poverty through direct income and other support; and the reduction of potential causes of future impoverishment. The report was officially handed over to the Government of TCI on September 12, 2014 by Ms. Deidre Clarendon, Division Chief, Social Sector Division, CDB; and was accepted on Government's behalf by Acting Governor, Her Excellency, Anya Williams; Premier, Dr. the Honourable, Rufus Ewing; and Minister of Finance, Honourable Washington Misick. In handing over the report to Government, Ms. Clarendon said CDB is pleased to have supported the conduct of the second CPA for the Turks and Caicos Islands, adding: "The report must not only be viewed as a documentation of the country's living conditions and development challenges, but the information it contains should be used in sector and national policies and strategies to address those challenges. As a long-standing development partner, CDB is committed to assisting the Government in the implementation the recommendations within the report and other related proposals." The CPA was funded as part of a grant by CDB to the TCI Government of approximately USD130,000 for the CPA and the 2012 population census. The CPA was a joint undertaking of a national assessment team which included members from government and non-government organisations, and a team of consultants appointed by CDB. Click here to access TCI CPA report CAPTION: Ms. Deidre Clarendon, Division Chief, Social Sector Division, CDB (third left); presented the report to (L-R) Acting Governor, Her Excellency, Anya Williams; Premier, Dr. the Honourable, Rufus Ewing; and Minister of Finance, Honourable Washington Misick.