Region observes Caribbean Statistics Day

Caribbean Statistics Day will be observed on Saturday, 15 October, 2016, ahead of World Statistics Day on 20 October. The theme of Caribbean Statistics Day is Improving the Lives of People – Advancing the Action Plan for Statistics in CARICOM. For the past eight years, the Region has been observing the Day that was identified to create more awareness of the production, dissemination and use of statistics in decision-making.

In a message to mark the occasion, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque pointed to the significant role that statistics played in the Community and the increasing demands of statisticians to fulfill regional and international requirements.

“This Eighth Observance of Caribbean Statistics Day has special significance given the endorsement of the Action Plan for Statistics by CARICOM Heads of Government at their Thirty-Seventh Regular Meeting.  This endorsement signifies the recognition of the vital role of statistics in enabling governments to confront the economic, social and financial challenges that they face in seeking to provide an improved quality of life for the people of the Community.

“It also recognises the support that must be provided to statistical offices and systems if they are to produce relevant, timely and high quality data to aid in decision-making,” the Secretary-General said.

The Secretary-General pointed out that this year’s observance of Caribbean Statistics Day had special significance, given the endorsement of the Action Plan for Statistics by CARICOM Heads of Government at their Thirty-Seventh Regular Meeting in July.

This endorsement signifies the recognition of the vital role of statistics in enabling governments to confront the economic, social and financial challenges that they face in seeking to provide an improved quality of life for the people of the Community.  It also recognises the support that must be provided to statistical offices and systems if they are to produce relevant, timely and high quality data to aid in decision-making,” Ambassador LaRocque said.

As part of activities to mark the day, the Regional Statistics department at the CARICOM Secretariat hosted a seminar for staff members. The seminar focused on the theme: Our Agenda for Statistics in the Era of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – The Transformative Agenda for Official Statistics in the Caribbean.

An inter-school quiz competition was also held.