A draft policy to address Barbados’ declining population rate would see authorities providing child subsidies for low-income single parents along with affordable fertility assessments and treatments, and facilitating foreigners taking up residence here.The just-released draft Barbados Population Policy warns that failure to take steps to counteract what is one of the lowest population growth rates in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) would have detrimental economic and social consequences.Noting the steady decline in birth and death rates since independence, an executive summary of the policy stated: “An ageing population, without any intervention, will result in consequential decreases in the workforce, increases in the care responsibility of a minority for the majority of the population; declines in government revenues as the tax-base contracts and a likely decline in economic, social and cultural dynamism.”Against that backdrop, the document outlines three policy goals: to promote the maintenance of a population size that is sufficient to sustain adequate levels of social care, productivity and labour force participation; to provide Barbadians and non-nationals with opportunities for personal development; and to promote integrated settlement development and safeguard the ecological balance.To achieve that first goal, the Government intends to develop and implement a pro-growth migration policy that outlines the categories of people entitled to citizenship, permanent residence and work permits and reduce the bureaucratic processes.