Finance and Public Service Minister, Dr Nigel Clarke, says the 15th Population and Housing Census that gets underway here on September 12, is vital for decision-making at the policy level of government as well as the business community.
“Critical decisions are informed by the data coming out of the census. The census is more than just a count of the population. It also captures information on the housing stock in the country, and key social and demographic information that informs policy.
“It helps us to determine where to put schools, clinics, and where to locate other government services. The census is important for all of us as Jamaicans,” Clarke told legislators.
He told the House of Representatives that in a few weeks, he will be signing into law the 2022 Census Regulation and Order codifying the conduct of the census by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN).
“I am also pleased to remind this House that the Census Day will be September 12, 2022, and the data-collection exercise will start thereafter and conclude on the 31st of December 2022.”
Clarke urged Jamaicans to participate in, and support the national exercise, adding that the success of the census is for the benefit of all Jamaicans.
“This national exercise must be supported by all, as each and every person living in Jamaica who is normally resident in Jamaica must be counted. The census is not a political activity. It is a national activity and is a key piece of the puzzle in reigniting our nation for greatness. The census is for Jamaica,” he said.
The Finance and Planning Minister said that for the first time, census data will be collected using tablet computers and that the 2022 Census will capitalise on new technology to improve the efficiency and safety of data collection and processing.
Clarke said that at the end of the census, the tablets will be transferred to the Tablets in Schools Programme, adding that this is “another example of Government agencies working together”.
Clarke said there are also a number of data security measures that have been put in place to protect the information being collected.
“All census takers are legally obligated to preserve the confidentiality of information collected during the census. Additionally, when the census is complete, the results will only be shared in an anonymised way. Under the Statistics Act, STATIN is prohibited from sharing confidential information with anyone,” he said.
“So far, we have had two rounds of census taker training in nine parishes. The third round of census taker training began on Monday, July 25 and will end on August 9. Census takers are being trained in-person and online and are supported by an online training platform.”
The 15th Population and Housing Census was initially scheduled for 2021 but was delayed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The last census was done in 2011.
