2010 Census Committee Meets

"2010 Census Advisory Committee: Left to right (back) Chief Executive Officer, Chamber of Commerce"

2010 Census Advisory Committee: Left to right (back) Chief Executive Officer, Chamber of Commerce, Wil Pineau; Department of Employment Relations Observer, Yoshneck Mutomba; Chief Statistician, Economics and Statistics Office, Ronnie Andersson; Director, Department of Employment Relations, Lonny Tibbetts; Deputy Permanent Secretry, Ministry of District Administration, Planning, Agriculture and Housing, Jennifer Ahearn; District Commissioner, Cayman Brac, Ernie Scott. Left to right (front) Director, Economics and Statistics Office, Maria Zingapan; Director, Children and Family Services, Deanna Lookloy; Health Insurance Inspector, Sonia Campbell; Director, Women’s Resource Centre, Tammy Ebanks-Bishop. Absent: Chief Education Officer, Shirley Wahler.
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Initial planning for the Cayman Islands’ next Population and Housing Census officially began yesterday (12 June) with the first meeting of the 2010 Census Advisory Committee (CAC).

Cabinet had previously (February 2008) approved the planning, preparation and implementation of the census, which will be held in October 2010, under the direction of the Economics and Statistics Office (ESO).

The ten-person committee which includes representatives from government ministries and related agencies who are important users of census data, will advise ESO on census content, publicity, promotion and dissemination of census material, and legal aspects of the census. The Committee will be chaired by ESO’s Chief Statistician, Ronnie Andersson.

Committee members comprise Director, Department of Employment Relations, Lonny Tibbetts; District Commissioner, Sister Islands, Ernie Scott, JP; Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of District Administration, Planning, Agriculture and Housing, Jennifer Ahearn; Director, Women’s Resource Centre, Tammy Ebanks-Bishop; Chief Executive Officer, Chamber of Commerce, Wil Pineau; Director, Economics and Statistics Office, Maria Zingapan; Director, Children and Family Services, Deanna Lookloy; Chief Education Officer Shirley Wahler, and Health Insurance Inspector, Sonia Campbell.

Mr Yoshneck Mutomba of the Department of Employment Relations will join the committee as an observer.

A census provides vital information on a country’s population and the United Nations recommends that all countries conduct a population and housing census every tenth year, with the 2010 round of censuses to be carried between 2005 and 2014.

Population censuses have been conducted in Cayman since 1802, the last of which took place in October 1999.

It is internationally agreed that planning a population and housing census???the largest exercise any national statistical office can undertake???takes at least two years. Extensive planning is also required to cover the post-census period, to ensure adequate compilation, analysis and dissemination of statistical data.

In particular, the census exercise must be carefully planned to ensure that statistics are relevant, timely and accurate. The ESO aims to produce high quality census data and will put extensive effort into census form design, as well as data collection and processing procedures.

The 2010 census will focus on three key messages: the census is coming ??? make sure you are counted; the census is important and provides useful, necessary, information; and the census is safe ??? your confidentiality will be ensured!

The committee and the ESO will liaise with Government Information Services, Computer Services and the Lands and Survey Department while this multi-year public information campaign is developed, approved and executed.

Information on the 2010 and past censuses, and links to information on other jurisdictions can be found on the ESO website at www.eso.ky.Campaign updates will be uploaded periodically.
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