Census takers hit the ground running in the west
Published:Wednesday | September 14, 2022 | 12:11 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Damion Tyrell, director of field operations and data collection at the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), is urging Jamaicans to participate in the 2022 Population and Housing Census, which is now on in earnest.
The data being sought are critical to the formation of government policy on housing, welfare, and other issues.
According to Tyrell, some 6,611 census takers will be on the ground over the next three months.
The Government is spending approximately $2.4 billion for the exercise, which is the country’s 15th population census.
In keeping with the technological advancements of recent years, the census takers, who are equipped with tablets, will upload data provided by respondents in the field.
The ongoing census is taking place one year later than it was originally scheduled in 2021 because the standard 10-year cycle of census taking was interrupted by coronavirus restrictions.
“We will be collecting information on the demographics of the people in the enumeration district (ED), their education level, to include where people work, what their services are like in the area, such as Internet service, telephone, supermarkets, and other utility services,” said Tyrell.
The survey will also help assess housing stock, including their condition and the construction material used.
However, if the attitude of construction worker Wayne Smith is anything to go by, the enumerators are likely to encounter some persons who want nothing to do with the census.
“Why the Government want to know my business? They are not doing anything for me or for my community,” said Smith, who dubbed the exercise a waste of money. “This is like the J$12-million Negril sign – a grand waste of our tax dollars.
“The Government not watching the polls? The population nuh rate them nor the Opposition.”
However, Tyrell is urging the people to welcome the enumerators with open arms and cooperate with them in the exercise.
“They will come at various times of the day. If you can’t accommodate them at that point in time, you can always ask us to come back, we will facilitate coming back,” explained Tyrell.
In Roehampton, St James, on Tuesday, census takers received a last-minute briefing on the boundaries of the EDs and the importance of observing them while collecting the data.
Data collection started on September 13 and will run until December 31.
The exercise is being rolled out in phases, starting with northern Trelawny, and moving clockwise across the island.
Data collectors are also currently focusing on St James, Hanover, Westmoreland, and St Elizabeth. The campaign will incorporate other parishes next week before going nationwide several weeks later.
Tyrell said that the report will not be ready for about a year after data collection ends in order for STATIN to complete its analysis.