Statistical Programme for the Region

The Caribbean Community Secretariat launched an electronic forum early in May 2004 to facilitate discussions and suggestions on issues of importance in the field of statistics and also to guide the future development of statistics in the region. The development of a Draft Statistical Programme for the Region was on the agenda of the 28th Meeting of the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) held in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands during 3-5 November 2003.

It was decided at the SCCS Meeting that further discussions were required on the paper that was presented as a result of which the Secretariat commenced the Internet-based forum to refine the programme. To date the forum comprises approximately fifty three (53) members who were invited to join the discussion list. The discussions have identified six (6) themes that reflect core issues requiring statistics and indicators to guide and assist the formulation of policies and decision-making in the Region. These themes are:

Economy, Finance and Investment;
Population, Demographics and Social and Living Conditions;
Environment;
Information and Communication Technology (ICT);
Public Relations and Data Dissemination;
Statistical Coordination.

Each theme comprises programme areas such as tourism, international trade in services, investment flows, population and migration statistics.

The outcome, to date, of these discussions and subsequent refinement of the draft Programme are presented in the three Microsoft Word files listed below. The first file contains the objectives, expected outputs and actions for each of the Programme areas, while the other two files relate to a projected 3-year action plan and the agencies responsible for the respective areas.