HIGH LEVEL ADVOCACY FORUM ON STATISTICS : The Urgency of Statistics and the Global Crisis Enabling Development in the Caribbean Community PORT-OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 30 JULY 2009 Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATISTICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN MEMBER COUNTRIES Dave Clement Director of Statistics Central Statistical Office Trinidad and Tobago PORT-OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 30 JULY 2009 Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

‘WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE STATISTICS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY AND BEYOND’ Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Key Mechanisms in Statistical Development; Creation of an enabling Framework for Statistics; Elements of the Framework; Concluding Remarks. Content of Presentation Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Coordination of Regional Statistics through the CARICOM Secretariat; Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) Established in 1974 by the then Common Market Council of Ministers; Almost as old as the commencement of the integration process; Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedures exist; Key Mechanisms in Statistical Development Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Main Objectives of the SCCS: Fostering increased recognition of the importance and availability of adequate statistical services to the countries of the Region; Widening the scope and coverage of statistical data collection; and Improving the quality & timeliness of the statistics produced by member countries and the harmonisation of methods and statistics for regional comparability. Key Mechanisms in Statistical Development (cont’d) Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Critical Recent Initiatives: Development of a Regional Statistical Work Programme; Resolution on the strengthening of statistical systems; Minimum Datasets, Encouraged Indicators and Priority Activities; Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy re minimum framework. Creating an Enabling Framework for Statistics Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Regional Statistical Work Programme: Critical Focus on Statistics to improve the range and coverage of statistics in countries and for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy; Create a platform for a medium to long- term production of Key Statistics and Indicators and activities; RSWP was presented to the Community Council of Ministers (Council) in 2005 and was approved. Creating an Enabling Framework for Statistics (cont’d) Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Elements of the RSWP:  Six main themes: Economy, Finance and Investment; Population, Demography, Social and Living Conditions; Environmental Statistics Information Communication Technology; Public Relations, Data Dissemination and Statistical Coordination; Each theme is sub-divided into programme areas, objectives, expected outputs, actions over a 3-year period to be updated ( ). RSWP was presented to the Community Council of Ministers in 2005 and was approved. Elements of the Enabling Framework Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Resolution on Investment: Arose out of the needs of the CSME monitoring and establishment; From the recognition that National Statistical Offices (NSOs) could barely produce the traditional range of statistics; Proposed the Resolution calling on governments of the Region to increase investment in Statistics as a priority, which was passed by Council in Elements of the Enabling Framework (cont’d) Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

The Advisory Group on Statistics was created to: Establish and develop a framework to implement the RSWP; Make operational the Resolution on strengthening of the national statistical systems. Elements of the Enabling Framework (cont’d) Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Minimum Datasets/Encouraged Indicators/Priority Activities: With reference to the RSWP: Identification of a minimum core set of statistics and indicators (20 core) given differences in the capabilities of NSOs; Indicators that should be encouraged (17) Priority Activities (20) Elements of the Enabling Framework (cont’d) Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Some elements of the Minimum Datasets: Nominal GDP, GDP at Constant Prices; CPI/RPI National, Quarterly, Monthly –Inflation rate- Headline, Core, Food and Fuel; Trade in Services Statistics (EBOPS); Poverty Statistics every five years; Health Indicators – Communicable /non- Communicable diseases. Elements of the Enabling Framework (cont’d) Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Monitoring and Evaluating Strategy: Target dates for all indicators; Short-term, medium and long term; Setting priorities; Attempt at moving forward together. Elements of the Enabling Framework (cont’d) Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Other Elements of the Framework: Strategic Planning- NSDS, July 2009; Caribbean Statistics Day- October ; Statistical Research Seminar-2008; Elements of the Enabling Framework (cont’d) Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Message 1: Statisticians of the region are aware of the critical role that we play in providing the information base necessary to take our economies on a growth path and to give our region a competitive advantage vis-à-vis the rest of the world. Concluding Remarks Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Message 2: Despite the challenges and the constraints in terms of lack of resources, statisticians recognise that with concerted collaboration and action we can make significant strides in building a sustainable foundation for the continued development of statistics and to bring along the weakest members amongst us. Concluding Remarks (cont’d) Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Message 3: To survive the global crisis which inevitably will occur from time to time, it is even more critical that NSOs be empowered to continue to produce the information base to enable an understanding of ourselves; Concluding Remarks (cont’d) Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

Message 4: Full support of Governments is required – what we have been able to achieve based on the framework presented, as a combined statistical force of statisticians across the Region, if we are given the support required we can undoubtedly promote the CSME which would redound to the benefit of the people of our countries and Region. Concluding Remarks (cont’d) Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes

THE END Better Statistics for Better Management and Better Development Outcomes