The BIG debate in Namibia continues as the Permanent Secretary of Environment and Tourism, Kalumbi Shangula, criticized the BIG coalition’s recent arguments for BIG. Shangla, surprisingly argued that the size of the BIG coalition’s proposed Basic Income Grant of 100 Namibian dollars is too small. He said that a grant of that size could only “alleviate” rather than “reduce” poverty. He also questioned some of the BIG coalition’s findings from their reject pilot project in Otjivero-Omitara. Members of the coalition replied with counter-arguments and editorials. Henry Platt, executive director of the Church Alliance for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, argued that BIG could make an important difference to the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Namibia.
Stories about the debate are online at the following links:
Irene !Hoaës, “BIG debates rages on,” New Era, August 16, 2011
https://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40150&title=BIG%20debates%20rages%20on
Claudia and Dirk Haarmann, Hilma Mote, and Herbert Jauch, “The BIG Debate in Context: Facts and Fiction about Otjivero,” New Eria July 15, 2011
https://www.bignam.org/Media%20Reports/2011_07_15%20-%20New%20Era_11_07_15%20-%20The%20BIG%20Debate%20in%20Context%20-%20Facts%20and%20Fiction%20about%20Otjivero.pdf
Johanna Absalom, “BIG can benefit orphans and vulnerable children,” July 8, 2011
https://www.economist.com.na/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23685:big-can-benefit-orphans-and-vulnerable-children&catid=587:community-and-culture
