C A R I B B E A N                       C O M M U N I T Y                         S E C R E T A R I A T

TWENTY-NINTH MEETING OF                                                     

THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF

CARIBBEAN STATISTICIANS                                                           SCCS/2004/29/15

Hamilton, Bermuda

22-24 November 2004                                                                        20 November 2004

PROGRESS REPORT ON STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES

(Submitted by Barbados)

Paper entitled Progress Report on Statistical Activities is attached.

*****

BARBADOS

PROGRESS REPORT ON STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES

Twenty-Ninth Meeting of the

Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians

Hamilton, Bermuda

 22-24 November, 2004

This report provides a summary of the main activities which took place since the last review period and outlines the proposed programme of work for 2005-2006.

PLANS FOR 2005-2006

The Barbados Statistical Service will:

1.      continue to implement all on-going commitments, including the  compilation of National Accounts Statistics, Labour Force Statistics, the Retail Price Index, International Trade Statistics, Industrial Statistics, Tourism Statistics and Population and Vital Statistics.

2.      continue implementation of other phases of its Information Technology Programme. This includes continuing work on the use of the Geographic Information System (GIS)

3.      continue work on the Occupational Wage Survey started during the ILO Caribbean Labour Market Information System (CLMIS) Project in order to compile a Wage Index;

4.      continue work on the collection and compilation of Social/Gender and Environment Statistics under the CARICOM Programme for Strengthening the Capacity in the Compilation of Social/Gender and Environment Statistics and Indicators in the CARICOM Region. A Social Statistics Section will be developed to coordinate the collection and compilation of these Statistics and Indicators.

5.      Prepare intercensal estimates of the population by age and sex and estimate the number of households by parish

6.      Continue work on updating the Business Register

7.      Continue work on the Implementation of the 1993 System of National Accounts (SNA 1993)

8.      Begin work on the rebasing of the GDP Constant Price Estimates and compilation of a Quarterly Series. This will involve the conduct of a Census of Economic Activities.

9.      Begin work on the preparation of Income Distribution Tables using administrative sources.

10. Continue to participate in the Regional Programme for Services Statistics

Other Activities Planned

1.      Statistics Week.

2.      Update of the Statistics Act

Information Technology

The proposed phased approach to the implementation of "E-STAT", the IT Strategy for the Department, was undertaken during the financial years 2002-2003 and 2003-2004. As a result, most of the aspects of Phase 1 have been completed. These include:

1.      The Intranet has been made available to all staff from any workstation within the department

2.      Configuration of new client machines for use on the Local Area Network (LAN)

3.      As a result of the training in Redatam software for analysis and database development provided by ECLAC, the 2000, 1990 and 1980 Population and Housing Census data has been placed on the Intranet, and are available for querying and analysis as required.

4.      LAN training for all staff

5.      Networking printing

6.      File, print and database server configuration

Areas of Phase 1 to be completed during the current financial year 2004-2005 include:

1.      Development of network infrastructure

2.      The official launch of the Website

Implementation of Phase 2 is dependent on High Speed Internet Connectivity, which although approved has been delayed due to non-disbursement of funds.

Activities for Phase 2 include:

o    Introduction of e-mail capability from desktop to include

     further development of the Website which would include on-line survey

forms/questionnaires

o    Interconnectivity with government agencies, which provide raw data, i.e. sourcing of part of input required for production of the Department's products from the Immigration and Customs Department, BIDC, Central Bank etc.

o       Introduction of e-commerce, additional e-surveys and other services.

Plans for 2005-2006

Given that the High Speed Connectivity is installed, activities for 2005-2006 will include:

1.      Introduction of e-mail capability from desktop

2.      Further development of the Website including on-line survey forms/questionnaires

3.      Begin work on establishing Interconnectivity with government agencies, which provide raw data

4.      Continue work on 2010 Housing and Population Census database development and maintenance Program (ongoing).

5.      Documentation and upgrade (as necessary) of all software programs currently used by all divisions within the Department

Geographic Information System (GIS)

During the current year, the Department will continue the implementation of the extraction of information at the community and district level (75% of the island has been completed to date). This work is detailed and will require collaboration with other government agencies. It is anticipated that this phase will be completed by mid-year 2005.

Thematic maps produced from the GIS Project, using data from the 2000 Population and Housing Census along with a multimedia presentation entitled "The Use of GIS within the Barbados Statistical Service" were made at the recent Urban and Regional Information System Association (URISA) conference at the Sherbourne Conference Centre, September 13 to 16, 2004.

New analyses and further developments using the spatial data for 538 Enumeration Districts in 11 parishes are being requested by other government agencies.

Plans for 2005-2006

Data mining of 2000 Census for Poverty Mapping.

Business Surveys

The conduct of the annual Survey of Industrial Establishments and the monthly Survey of Production and Sales continues.

The Department has decided to expand the survey of Production and Sales to incorporate establishments outside of the Index of Industrial Production. The data would be used to improve statistics on production in the industrial sector. The data relates to the year 2004.

Another phase of the National Productivity Survey was implemented during the period, August to November 2004.  The survey covered the sectors incorporating Accommodation Establishments, Manufacturing Establishments, Financial Institutions and the Wholesale/Retail Trade.  This survey continues to be conducted in collaboration with the Central Bank of Barbados and the National Productivity Council.  The survey provides data for the compilation of labour productivity indicators.

National Accounts

Current Financial Year

Assessment of the availability of data for the implementation of the 1993  System of National Accounts (SNA1993) has started. Efforts are continuing to fill gaps identified through the improvement of the coverage of the Business Register and the collection of additional data from both new and existing sources.

The National Accounts Consultant, funded by the Caribbean Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC), has made a number of visits to the Department to facilitate the preparation of Supply and Use tables for the year 2000. A commodity classification has been devised to allow for the highlighting of goods and services of significant importance to Barbados. Some preliminary estimates of supply and use were compiled for some commodities, but further refinement is necessary. Additional demands on the Department have forced the reallocation of some staff away from the Supply and Use tables, slowing down the exercise.

Training for Statisticians and other members of the Section will continue to be high on the agenda of the Department.  The Department received training for one of its three National Accounts Statisticians at the Munich Centre during the period March - June 2004.

Over the coming years the Department intends to further address its data deficiencies.  These data are crucial for the proposed implementation of the 1993 System of National Accounts (SNA 1993).  A Census of Economic Activity will be conducted over a four-year period to derive new benchmarks for all of the industries.  The industries will be covered as follows:

·        2005 - Tourism; Transport, Storage & Communication; Finance Insurance & Business Services

·        2006 - General Services; Distribution; Manufacturing

·        2007 - Government; Mining & Quarrying; Construction

·        2008 - Sugar, Non-Sugar Agriculture; Utilities

The Department is continuing its efforts to update the Business Register and keep it current, collecting data from all administrative sources as well as from surveys.

PLANS FOR 2005 - 2006

·        To finalise the Supply and Use Tables for the year 2000.

·        To conduct a Census of Economic Activity covering the industries: Tourism; Transport, Storage & Communication; Finance, Insurance & Business Services

·        To compile new benchmarks for the industries: Tourism; Transport, Storage & Communication; Finance, Insurance & Business Services

·        To continue work on the update of the Business Register, collecting data from all administrative sources as well as from surveys

·        To revise existing estimates and develop an annual national accounts series at constant prices for the years 1990 - 2005

·        To revise existing estimates and develop a quarterly national accounts series at constant prices for the years 1994 - 2005

International Trade

Implementation of the 2002 Harmonised System (HS)

The new target date for the implementation of the 2002 HS is now January 1, 2005. The Customs Department will provide the completed tariff in electronic format to the Department. 

The Department continues to maintain close relations with the Customs Department, which is in the final stages of implementation of a new version of ASYCUDA. The Customs Department intends to run the new system parallel with the old one during the months of November and December 2004, with the transition from the old one to the new to be effected in January 2005.

The electronic trade system within the Department continues to be upgraded in an effort to further enhance the usefulness of this facility.  Unit volume and value consistency checks have been included to add additional processing functionality. Additional queries and reports have been introduced in anticipation of increased requests from users.

Trade data from the Customs Department continue to be received on a timely basis, allowing for timely compilation of trade statistics.  The latest monthly International Trade Statistics are for September 2004.

Work did not commence on the import and export price indices as expected as the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC) preferred to complete one consultancy before another was started.

PLANS FOR 2005-2006

·        To continue work on the enhancement of the trade system, allowing for additional functionality

·        To provide a querying facility for limited queries for merchandise trade to users via our web-site

·        To begin work on the development on import and export price indices

·        To compile trade statistics according to the 2002 version of the Harmonised System

·        The latest monthly International Trade Statistics are for September 2003.

Labour Force Statistics

During 2004-2005, the Quarterly Labour Force Survey has continued as scheduled.  The latest Statistics available are for the quarter April to June 2004. 

Retail Price Index

The latest available Index of Retail Prices is for July 2004.  The Index for August is currently being compiled.  The Department is looking at ways of improving the timeliness of the Index, as the larger number of items now included in the Revised Index has slowed down the process of compilation.

Social /Gender and Environment Statistics

The Department will continue its work in the area of Social Statistics.  Although data are not available for all of the indicators in the core list, the Department plans to produce a publication by the end of the year.  Discussions are taking place with the relevant agencies so that systems may be put in place for the collection of data, which are currently not available.

The Department plans to establish a Social Statistics Section.  By so doing the Department will be better able to

·        Coordinate the Social Statistics data collection process

·        Standardise and harmonise concepts and definitions across ministries and other public sector agencies

·        Identify further indicators relevant to local conditions

·        Train staff in other ministries, departments and other government agencies to ensure consistency and comparability of data

During the current year, work began on data requirements for Environment Statistics. This work will continue during the coming year.

Income Distribution Tables

During 2005-2006, work will begin on the preparation of Income Distribution Tables using administrative records.  The sources that will be used are the Inland Revenue Department and the National Insurance Department.

Tourism Statistics

Compilation of Tourism Statistics continued during the current year.  The latest monthly report of tourism arrival statistics is for the month of September 2004. The data for October 2004 is currently being processed and will be available shortly.

Vital Statistics

Compilation of Vital Statistics continued during the current year. Data on the Estimated Population, Births, Deaths, Infant Deaths and Marriages are available to July 2004.  Since 2002, the Department has been preparing quarterly reports on vital events.  The last quarterly report prepared covered the period January to March 2004.  Efforts are being made to bring the reports up to date now that arrangements have been made to fill an existing vacant position in the Division.

Currently, population estimates are compiled by sex at the national level only. Over the next three years, the Department intends to disaggregate these estimates by age and sex and at the parish level.

Statistics Week

The Department will continue its outreach programme and also recognize the contribution of staff by holding a Statistics Week annually.  At this time, the Department will continue to involve its staff in Human Resource development programmes. 

The Department has again held a very successful Week of Activities during the period, October 22- October 30, 2004.

Revision of the Statistics Act, Cap 192

Work on the revision of the Act has not been completed but is required as a means of dealing with non-response to establishment surveys.  Penalties need to be revised and brought more in line with those incorporated in recent legislation.

Environment Statistics

A recent assessment of the status and availability of statistics on the environment has shown that while a large quantity of data on environment indicators are collected by various agencies of the government, much of it is not published in any form.

There are a large number of agencies with different mandates related to the environment.  Most of these are within the public sector, but a few are also in the private sector.  These agencies also vary with respect to their frequencies of data collection and publication.

Much of the data collected was in response to international requests and questionnaires.  Ad hoc studies were carried out on the environment, yielding benchmark data for specified years.  The data collected were published in one-off reports.  Among these are the Selection of Indicators for Sustainable Development in Barbados and the State of the Environment Report.  The latter is expected to be published every five years, with the next one due in 2005.

Data are collected on an on-going basis for some of the indicators covering land use and degradation, coastal areas, marine life, bio-diversity, air and water quality, sewage and garbage disposal, human health, chemicals, energy and environmental accounting.  Some of the data are available in a geographic information system, managed by the Lands and Surveys Department. Data for this GIS database was initially collected through the Environmental Management and Land Use Planning for Sustainable Development Project in 1998, and are being updated on an annual basis. However, much work is needed in the area of publication, since most environment statistics are compiled on request.

Private Sector Agencies with Activities Related to the Environment

Report on International Trade in Services Statistics

As part of the work being done on the development of Supply and Use Tables, Barbados intends to create the framework for the compilation of statistics on international trade in services.  A number of services have been identified for inclusion in the Supply and Use Tables, and efforts are underway to estimate the value of their supply and the allocation to use.

Much work is needed to allocate the trade in services into their modes of supply. Work continues in earnest on the update of the Business Register to collect such items as ownership.  This will allow for the determination of trade through commercial presence, and will enable us to estimate foreign affiliate trade statistics (FATS).

Barbados intends to conduct a Census of Economic Activity over a four-year period, 2005-2008.  This will enable us to compile benchmark estimates of income, expenditure, value added, sales, etc.  In addition, Barbados intends to adopt the Central Product Classification (CPC) and compile its estimates in as much detail as is possible in accordance with the CPC.