Census “slightly behind” schedule

Oct 17, 2012 News

– Chief Statistician

In this the fifth week of the national census, the Bureau of Statistics is “slightly behind”. It should complete the exercise in six weeks duration. This was disclosed by Chief Statistician, Lennox Benjamin, on Monday in the Boardroom of the Bureau of Statistics Annex, High Street.
This is as a result of approximately 200 persons dropping out of the enumeration process, for various reasons, according to Benjamin.
Enumeration activities began on September 15. Other than dealing with a headcount, the census checks and evaluates the changing size and composition of the population, taking into consideration the foreign-born population, access to basic social services, quality of life, economic activities, maternal health, fertility rates, housing stock, qualification and education levels.
Benjamin said that field officers have taken up the slack of those persons who dropped out as enumerators.
He explained that a geographical area was assigned to each enumerator, who would complete the district which would mostly comprise 100 households or 500 persons.
“If some enumerators have found the job tough and dropped out, we have had and will be assigning other enumerators who have been trained in the field,” Benjamin said. “So far the interior regions are far ahead of schedule and are nearing completion”
Adding that another issue was residents not being home at various times of the day, Benjamin said that such situations have led to a backlog of households that would be tackled on weekends when persons are more likely to be at home during the day.
Deputy Census Officer, Vanessa Profitt, noted that takers have to deal with citizens who have jobs and other commitments, and as such, they cannot be asked to change their lifestyles to suit the enumerators carrying out the census.
However, she disclosed that the process involved in arriving at the results of this national exercise is tedious, and from all indications, the exercise will conclude some time in 2013.
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, in observance of Caribbean Statistics Day said, “I do believe that much thought was given to the selection of this year’s theme for the observance of Caribbean Statistics Day “’Working together to improve Statistics in the 21st Century and Beyond.”
He said the intent of this year’s theme could not be clearer. Regional cooperation, sharing and support among the national statistical offices to further develop the quality and scope of the regional statistical output are the intention.
“I continue to commend the work of the Bureau of Statistics which, though a small office, continues to meet all challenges, produce despite restraints and contribute both nationally and regionally to the provision of statistical data of all dimensions that is always continuously in demand.
“I note the Bureau’s full participation in such regional and wider geographical groupings such as the Statistical Conference of the Americas, the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians, and as a Member of the Interim Working Group for the Conference of Commonwealth Statisticians and the Statistical Conference of the Organisation of Islamic Countries,” the Minister stated.
The national census and surveys produce data that tell about changing population and demographic trends, key indicators in society such as housing, and access to water, health and education.
Guyana is among four countries conducting census enumeration in 2012 in the region. The other countries are the Turks and Caicos, Suriname and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The last population census in Guyana was done in 2002. The exercise excludes accredited diplomatic personnel and Guyanese nationals accredited to foreign embassies and their family members who reside with them overseas, and Guyanese migrant workers and students in foreign countries, who will not be in the country at the time of the census.

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