Social vulnerability measurement in the Caribbean: a pilot test

Godfrey St. Bernard

The paper constitutes an attempt to operationalize a model that has been articulated to derive a measure of social vulnerability among human populations in the Caribbean Sub-Region. The model hinges upon a framework that is based upon a structural functionalist paradigm. Notwithstanding severe limitations in the availability of social statistics, initiatives spearheaded by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Port of Spain Unit, have influenced the conduct of this pilot study geared towards the derivation of indices for five Caribbean countries namely, Belize, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The paper discusses the intricacies and challenges associated with the derivation of social vulnerability indices for the respective countries. It provides estimates that permit comparative assessments of vulnerability status across the countries and stimulates further discussion and insights to enhance the literature akin to development studies.