Trinidad Minister of Social Development, Anthony Roberts, believes that poverty in Trinidad and Tobago can be eliminated on this timeline, alongside a similar target set by some Latin American countries.

This, according to Roberts, is in keeping with government's vision 20/20 roll out initiative for developed nation status by year 2020.

Roberts spoke with Caribbean Net News following Monday's International Poverty Eradication Day in Port of Spain.

He said the Social Development Ministry is already on an aggressive drive to reduce levels of poverty on the island.

A report says over a billion persons globally are still living in conditions that are not fit for human existence. This is said to be reflected in Latin America and the Caribbean.

42.9 percent of the population of Latin America and the Caribbean continue to live below the poverty line, with 18.6 percent of the population of the region living in extreme poverty.

As it relates to Trinidad and Tobago, recent preliminary figures show that the national poverty line stands at 17.1 percent and that the indigence line is now at 1.22 percent.

The Government official said this too will become something of the past by 2020.