Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS)

Since its inception, the Caribbean Community has recognised the importance of adequate statistical services in achieving its goals and aspirations. Within one year of its formation and acting within the framework of the Treaty establishing CARICOM, the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) was established in 1974.

This strategic move was later endorsed by the Inaugural Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government (HGC), demonstrating immense foresight in recognising the need to make available harmonised statistics for decision-making across the Community.

The SCCS has since played a pivotal role in strengthening regional cooperation in statistics and ensuring that data-driven insights remain central to CARICOM’s Regional Integration Agenda and the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

The main objectives of the SCCS, as stated in 1974, were:

To foster increased recognition of the importance of adequate statistical services to the countries of the region;

To widen the scope and coverage of statistical data collection; and

To improve the quality, comparability and timeliness of statistics produced.

Development and harmonisation of statistical concepts and methodology;

Coordinating and initiating programmes for statistical training;

Co-ordinating programmes for technical assistance in the field of statistics;

Initiating and executing statistical projects of a regional nature;

Advising and assisting Member States in carrying out statistical projects, the organisation or re-organisation of their statistical services and in all other areas where such assistance is requested; and

Any other function may be deemed necessary to achieve the objective of the Committee.

Membership of the SCCS consists of the Chief Statisticians of all CARICOM Member States and Associate Members, with voting rights accorded exclusively to Member States. In fulfillment of its mandate, the SCCS is convened in-person at least once annually, to deliberate on regional and international statistical initiatives and to approve the statistical programme of work for the upcoming year. Invitations to attend as non-voting observers are extended to other Caribbean countries that are not Members or Associate Members of CARICOM, as well as representatives from CARICOM institutions, regional bodies and international organisations.

The SCCS has established subsidiary committees and groups that contribute to its mandate. These include:

The CARICOM Advisory Group on Statistics (AGS)

The Regional Census Coordinating Committee (RCCC), and

Technical Working Groups (TWG).