The Thirty-Fifth Meeting of the Advisory Group on Statistics and Dialogue on South-South Cooperation in Census Readiness that is underway in Barbados, is taking place at a pivotal moment in the development of statistics in CARICOM, Mr. Halim Brizan, Director, Regional Statistics Programme, said Monday.
Addressing the opening of the meeting, Mr. Brizan highlighted the Region’s preparation for the 2030 Round of Population and Housing Census, and the assessment of CARICOM’s progress in implementing its Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics (RSDS), which will offer an important opportunity to reflect on the Community’s achievements, identify remaining gaps, and agree on the actions needed to accelerate implementation.
“The overarching objective of this Thirty-Fifth Meeting of the AGS is to advance the implementation of the RSDS. During this meeting, we will also exchange experiences on the RSDS implementation framework, CARICOM’s regional mechanisms for South-South Cooperation and consider the establishment of the CARICOM Regional Population Commission among other important initiatives,” he said.
Please read his remarks below:
“It is indeed a great honour, on behalf of the CARICOM Secretariat, to welcome you to the Thirty-Fifth Meeting of the Advisory Group on Statistics (AGS) and Dialogue on South-South Cooperation in Census Readiness.
The CARICOM Secretariat is pleased to convene this meeting as part of its ongoing commitment to coordinating regional statistical development and fostering collaboration among Member States, Associate Members, and development partners.
I extend a warm welcome to the members of the Advisory Group on Statistics, comprising the nine Heads of National Statistical Offices representing CARICOM Member States and Associate Members, as well as our regional and international development partners and other distinguished guests. As the principal subsidiary body to the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS), the AGS provides strategic guidance on regional statistical priorities and supports the development and implementation of the Regional Statistical Work Programme to strengthen the production and dissemination of harmonised, high-quality statistics and support Member States in meeting their regional commitments.
I am especially pleased to acknowledge the presence of The Honourable Minister Marsha Caddle, who is no stranger to the Caribbean statistical community. Her distinguished service in regional development and international cooperation has made a significant
contribution to building statistical capacity and thus improving statistics across the Caribbean. Minister, we are honoured to have you with us today.
This meeting takes place at a pivotal moment in the development of statistics in CARICOM.
First, we are approaching the assessment of CARICOM’s progress in implementing its Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics (RSDS). Endorsed by the Conference of Heads of Government in 2018, the RSDS provides a 12-year transformative framework for modernising and strengthening the CARICOM statistical system. This assessment will offer an important opportunity to reflect on our achievements, identify remaining gaps, and agree on the actions needed to accelerate implementation.
Second, with fewer than four years remaining to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, significant and persistent data gaps continue to limit our ability to monitor progress and report effectively on the Region’s development outcomes.
Third, the CARICOM statistical community must now respond to the adoption of the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS). Implementing this framework presents both a challenge and an opportunity for us to strengthen partnerships and mobilise resources to build our capacity to deliver the data required to monitor this important agenda.
At the same time, we are now firmly within the 2030 Round of Population and Housing Censuses. While several countries in the Region have successfully completed their census operations for the 2020 round, others are still advancing through data processing, analysis, and dissemination.
We must apply the lessons learned from the 2020 Census Round, particularly those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, which underscored the importance of resilience, innovation and preparedness. As we look ahead, we must strategically position the Region to ensure that our census programmes are responsive to an increasingly dynamic environment.
Although we can point to several notable achievements in statistics, persistent challenges, particularly limited financial and human resources, constrain the pace of statistical development. It is therefore both timely and fitting that we have partnered with UNFPA and UNICEF in convening this important meeting.
I wish to acknowledge UNFPA, our principal sponsor, for its generous support through the SDG Country Fund Initiative, Enhancing Census Preparedness in the Caribbean. UNFPA has also been an invaluable partner in supporting the CARICOM Secretariat’s preparations for the 2030 Census Round, including the development of a draft CARICOM Regional Census Strategy, which will be discussed during this week’s proceedings.
I also wish to express our sincere appreciation to UNICEF for its kind contribution, as well as its continued partnership and steadfast commitment to the implementation of a Regional Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), which is on the AGS agenda as a key instrument for strengthening SDG monitoring and reporting.
The overarching objective of this Thirty-Fifth Meeting of the AGS is to advance the implementation of the RSDS. During this meeting, we will also exchange experiences on the RSDS implementation framework, CARICOM’s regional mechanisms for South-South Cooperation and consider the establishment of the CARICOM Regional Population Commission among other important initiatives.
This meeting is particularly significant because it provides the AGS with an opportunity to engage directly with key regional and international partners working in the field of official statistics. These engagements strengthen collaboration, mobilise greater support for the implementation of the RSDS, and provide our partners with a deeper appreciation of the Regional Statistical Work Programme and the outcomes we seek to achieve.
I would also like to acknowledge and extend a warm Caribbean Welcome to the team of highly skilled experts from the Government of India. We look forward to learning from India’s extensive experience and exploring innovative approaches, best practices and lessons that can enrich the CARICOM Regional Census Strategy. We anticipate a productive exchange of knowledge and experiences.
The task before us is clear: strengthen systems, close gaps, and deliver data that drives decisions. The outcomes of this meeting would help shape the future of official statistics in our Region and thus enhance our ability to produce the high-quality comparable data needed for evidence-based policymaking that can result in sustainable development and regional integration.
Thank you.
About the Advisory Group on Statistics (AGS)
The AGS is the principal subsidiary body of the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS). Comprising nine Heads of National Statistical Offices from CARICOM Member States and Associate Members. It provides strategic guidance on regional statistical priorities and makes recommendations to the SCCS on the development, adoption and implementation of regional statistical programmes and best practices.
