By: Dr Armstrong Alexis
November 8, 2024
Distinguished delegates, it is my honour to give remarks on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat at this important gathering of Statistics professionals. I take note of your theme ‘Strengthening Statistics through the Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics for a Resilient Caribbean Community (CARICOM)’ and congratulate you on yet another year of dedicated service to the Community.
The year, 2024, is very symbolic for Statistics in CARICOM. Mainly because it is the year that the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) proudly celebrates its Golden Jubilee. Your 50th anniversary comes only one year after the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas which gave birth to CARICOM. It means that immediately upon the establishment of the Community, our founding fathers laid down the gauntlet and signaled the importance of statistics to regional integration.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) from its inception in 1973 recognised the importance of adequate statistical services in achieving its goals and aspirations. The SCCS was established in 1974 within the framework of the Treaty of Chaguaramas and in accordance with Resolution No. 54/74/4 of the Fourth Meeting of the Common Market Council of Ministers. The Inaugural Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government endorsed the establishment of the SCCS in accordance with the Resolution of the Common Market Council of Ministers. This endorsement exhibited the immense foresight of our founding fathers in their recognition of the need to make available, harmonised statistics and of the importance of statistics for decision-making across the Community.
The objectives of the SCCS as given by Council in 1974 were to inter alia, “foster increased recognition of the importance of adequate statistical services to the countries of the region; widen the scope and coverage of statistical data collection; and improve the quality, comparability and timeliness of statistics produced.”
The many achievements of the SCCS are solid evidence of the realisation of these objectives. Two of the most notable achievements, which also form the basis of this week’s conversation, occurred within the last decade. These are the endorsement of the CARICOM Action Plan for Statistics which took place at the Thirty-Seventh Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in July 2016 and the endorsement of the CARICOM Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics (RSDS) endorsed by the Thirty-Ninth Meeting of Heads in July 2018.
The CARICOM RSDS originated from the Action Plan for Statistics, in which the Heads agreed that governments should support a regional approach to statistical development to optimise scarce resources and to strengthen National Statistical Systems (NSS) in Member States and Associate Members. Therefore, the CARICOM RSDS, which incorporates elements of the Action Plan for Statistics, represents the culmination of years of efforts by current and former heads of statistical offices and of the Regional Statistics Programme at the CARICOM Secretariat, to enhance and expand the availability of statistics for evidence-based decision-making. It serves as the Regional Master Plan for Statistical Development in CARICOM. The last five years of the SCCS’s 50-year history saw the development of the accompanying frameworks of the RSDS such as the Communication and Advocacy Strategy, the Resource Mobilisation Strategy, and the commencement of implementation of the RSDS. I must pause to commend the Regional Statistics Programme at the CARICOM Secretariat without whom, the ongoing efforts and achieved milestones would not have been possible.
I am sure you will agree with me that despite the significant strides, there is still a long journey ahead. Statistics remains a highly dynamic field. With growing demand for data from both official and non-traditional sources, we simply cannot advance the Caribbean Community and secure a viable, sustainable, and prosperous Community for all its citizens if our Member States are not capable of producing up-to-date, accurate, relevant and comprehensive data.
For the SCCS to remain viable over the next 50 years, it must cultivate greater innovation and creativity in responding to the growing demands and expand its reach to build greater appreciation for statistics as a critical input to sustainable development.
During this week’s engagements, we will place in sharp focus, the mandate of the High-Level Advocacy Forum on Statistics, which is to lift the profile of statistics and to garner political and other support for its development in CARICOM. Our conversations this week, will mark yet another milestone along the journey which started at the second High-Level Advocacy Forum in 2014 when the Action Plan for Statistics was drafted, and which has since led to the CARICOM RSDS. The Third High-Level Advocacy Forum held in 2019, the year after the CARICOM Heads endorsed the Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics, set the stage for the implementation of the RSDS and advanced areas such as leadership and management in the context of the RSDS, Standards and Harmonisation through the RSDS, promoting the use of statistics and statistical literacy through the RSDS, enabling effective governance arrangements for the NSS and the designing of initiatives such as the central repository for statistics (a recommendation out of the first HLF) and the development of an online training facility, knowledge base and statistical research centre – the e- CARICOM Institute for Statistical Training and Research (e-CISTAR).
Whilst this Fourth High-Level Advocacy Forum promises to be very engaging, I note the need to go beyond rhetoric and to ensure that as statisticians, you secure meaningful opportunities to:
(1) Promote the implementation of the strategic framework of the CARICOM RSDS relative to the five strategic priorities (Standards and Harmonisation, Governance, Integrated Statistical System, Innovation and Communication and Advocacy and four strategic drivers (IT Infrastructure, The 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development, Sustainable Capacity Building and Gender Mainstreaming); and
(2) Prioritise investment in Statistics.
I am hopeful that through your efforts, our Region’s decision-makers will embrace statistics and give practical support by allocating the needed financial, human and material support to the sector. It is no secret that our National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and the wider National Statistical Systems (NSS) are in need of attention to modernise and transform their operations if they are to produce timely, relevant and in general high-quality statistics. I look forward to Statistics being placed as a priority area for attracting increased investment from international development partners/agencies and from the private sector and through your unwavering commitment, I am hopeful that there will emerge, an increased understanding of the importance of statistics to national development. A modern Caribbean Society has to be built upon a data-driven future and I look forward to the day when the absence of data will cease to be one of this region’s greatest lamentations. In order for this day to come, you who form the fulcrum of the statistics architecture of the Caribbean must continue to be the driving force steeped in the unshakable commitment to stay the course and anchored on the imperative to dismantle the long held, yet misguided practice of data secrecy.
The future that we face is one that embraces statistics as a universal public good and the cornerstone of greater accountability, better decision making and improved standards of living of the peoples of our Community. Our incremental steps forward must be quickened and our commitment to address data scarcity in the Caribbean must bear fruit, not tomorrow but today and this week affords us the perfect platform to launch into a more certain future.
This year holds particular significance for the international statistical community, as it commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, first adopted by the United Nations Statistical Commission, and the 10th anniversary of their endorsement by the UN General Assembly. These principles serve as the essential guidelines that all UN Member States should follow for their statistics to be internationally recognised and accepted as official. It is serendipitous that these anniversaries coincide thus presenting a golden opportunity for the region to reaffirm its commitment to these principles and international statistical standards while adapting to new challenges and leveraging innovative tools for more accurate and timely data. It is my understanding that the High-Level Forum will expose you the delegates to the intricacies of these principles.
As we build on the successes of the past, we recognise that the demands of the Regional Statistics Programme have not remained static and must continue to evolve. In this regard, I am pleased to inform you this morning, that we are in the process of undertaking an assessment of the optimal future State for the Regional Statistical Programme with funding from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The project aims to strengthen the RSP as a focal point for regional statistics and enhance regional coordination and the development, harmonisation, and quality of statistics produced by NSOs. It is envisioned that a stronger regional authority will improve the overall coordination of the CARICOM Statistical System, strengthening the capacity of NSOs, assist in mobilising financing for statistics development and improving the statistical infrastructure.
Before I conclude I would like to express profound gratitude to our International Development Partners whose invaluable support was instrumental in us achieving this Milestone at 50. We look forward to your support as we continue to build our statistical infrastructure, enhancing our data production, and improving our capacity to deliver accurate and timely information.
I want to specifically thank our major sponsor for this event the European Union who continue to support the implementation of activities under the CARICOM RSDS through funding under the 11th EDF. I also must recognise and thank the UNFPA and the Commonwealth Secretariat for their support with funding the attendance of some of the participants to this week’s meetings. UNFPA has always been a longstanding partner and have been instrumental in supporting the 2020 census round and previous rounds. We are happy to be strengthening our relationship with the Commonwealth Secretariat in the area of youth development. I take this opportunity to congratulate the Commonwealth Secretariat on the commemoration of their just concluded Commonwealth Year for Youth.
I turn now to our hosts, the government and people of Belize. I am sure you will all agree that the Director General of the Statistical Institute of Belize and her Team have done a fantastic job in ensuring our comfort. Thank you, Madam Director, for the warm hospitality that we have all felt, from our arrival at the Philip Goldson International Airport to our checking in at the Umaya Hotel. You have acceded to all our requests and you willingness to combine the hosting of the High-Level Advocacy Forum on Statistics with the Census Symposium, the SCCS and Related meetings is so kindly appreciated. Please extend to your Prime Minister and the rest of the government of Belize, our profound thanks.
I also thank the Director, Regional Statistics and his team including the Advisory Group on Statistics and other CCS programme areas, including the Directors from the NSOs who contributed to this event. This annual gathering of leaders of Statistics in the Caribbean cannot be a successful undertaking without your unwavering support.
As I conclude I want to emphasise that our journey is far from over. The burden to successfully implement the CARICOM Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics rests with you and others in the field of statistics in the region. I therefore urge you to use this Fourth High-Level Advocacy Forum as a catalyst for improvement, and an opportunity to further strengthen our National Statistical Systems through enhancing collaboration, and securing the resources necessary for their enhancement. Let us continue working together to ensure that statistics is timely, relevant and reliable. It is our responsibility to ensure that Statistics remains a vital tool in building resilient economies and improving the lives of our people. I look forward to a very engaging forum today and fruitful discussions in the subsequent meetings for the rest of the week.
I thank you.
(Dr Armstrong Alexis is the deputy secretary general of CARICOM)
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