CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE An Overview Presented by Sterling Chadee 5 th -6 th November 2013

MISSION  The mission of the Central Statistical Office of Trinidad and Tobago is to facilitate informed decision-making, through the timely provision of a quality, relevant, user-oriented and dynamic statistical service, coordinating statistical activities and promoting the adherence to statistical standards.

VISION  The Central Statistical Office is the premier information and research institution, committed to being a learning and innovative organization staffed by well motivated personnel and enhanced through continuous quality improvement, to provide timely, high quality and relevant goods and services utilizing state of the art technology for customer satisfaction

Legal Framework The Statistics Act  The Central Statistical Office (CSO) was established in 1952 by the passing of the Statistics Ordinance, Chapter 42, No. 11 of the Revised Ordinances  The Ordinance was later replaced by the Statistics Act, Chapter 19:02 of the Revised Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 1982  This Act Provides the legal framework for the operations of the CSO

This Act Authorizes the CSO  (a) T ake any census in Trinidad and Tobago  (b) Collect, compile, analyze and publish statistical information relating to all social and economic activities of the people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago  (c) Collaborate with other Government Departments in the collection, compilation, analysis and publication of statistical records of administration;  (d) Generally organize a co-ordinated scheme of economic and social statistics relating to The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Role of CSO  Oversees the preparation of statistical information  Coordination of National Statistical System.  Census Taking  Collecting compiling analyzing and publishing Statistical information relating to all Social and economic activities of the people of the Republic of T&T  Provide consultancy and assistant in data collection exercises done by other government departments, international organizations, private sector and researchers.

Divisions  Population, Social and Vital Statistics  National Accounts  Economic Statistics  Agriculture Division  Field & GIS  Computer Division  CMPD (Temp Contract Div. for the conduct of the 2011 Census)  Administration & Accounts

Population, Social and Vital Statistics  Births / Fertility Data  Deaths / Cause of Death (ICD 10) statistics  Data for Marriages and Divorces  Migration Data  Mid-year Population Estimates  Education  Crime & Traffic  Continuous Sample Survey of the Population (CSSP

National Accounts  GDP Current prices  GDP Constant prices  Capital Formation  Supply and use tables  Business Establishment Register

Economic Statistics  Index of Retail Prices base Jan 1993=100  Index of Domestic Production and accompanying Sub Indices  Index of Producers’ Prices  Index of Retail Sales  Index of Retail Prices of Building Materials  Trade  Travel  Tourism

Agriculture Division  Cocoa and Coffee  Citrus Production.  Copra and Coconut Production  Milk Production.  Agro-chemicals, production, sales and exports  Feed production  Hatcheries and Broiler Processors  Food Crop Survey  Pig production Survey  Poultry Production Survey

Census and other major surveys conducted  Population and Housing Census (2011)  Agricultural Census (2004)  Household Budget Survey (2008/09)

National Statistical System  The National Statistical System is decentralized. However, it is heavily dependent on statistics produced by the CSO.  The CSO is the recognized source for Official Statistics (adherence to the UN Principles of Official Statistics / Statistics Act) Other significant Producers of Statistics are: Other significant Producers of Statistics are: 1. The Central Bank 2. Statistics Units of Gov’t Ministries -Finance, Health, Labour, Energy, Education, Social Development 3. Statutory Bodies – Environment Management Authority; Tourism Development Companies

National Statistical System  The National Statistical System is not currently co-ordinated and there is no National Statistical Council.  Statistics Units within Government Ministries and Departments and Research Units within the Non-Gov’t Sector pursue their own work programmes, utilise their own classification systems and methodologies.  Some limited bilateral consultation takes place.

Main Data Users CSO has a wide cross section of users.  The Ministry of Finance,  The Central Bank  Ministry of Trade and Industry  International Organizations  Business Enterprises  Private Sector Organizations  Researchers and students.  Tertiary Institutions

The National Statistical Office Main Data Providers: Business enterprises Households Government Departments (administrative data) Other Government Statistical Units (satellite agencies).

Data Dissemination Data is disseminated in the form of Published Reports, Bulletins, Press Releases, Statistical Tables and Charts, via the following means:  Web site  s  Post Mail  CDs  Telephone  Walk-Ins

Current Issues and Priorities  Timeliness, punctuality, quality and relevance of our statistical products are falling  Very low professional to technical staff ratio – 12%  Very low staff morale  Develop a programme of continuous learning and development  Staffing – Vacant positions/high turnover  Dated Technology – Retool  Restructuring of the CSO ( Statistics Sweden Consultancy Office)

Restructuring of the CSO A proposed road map  Build on the existing strengths of CSO, but necessary with a number of additional functions as well as changes:  New functions in CSO for  Support to the top management in:  Liaison and support to other government agencies involved in the statistical system  HR management  External and internal communication  Planning and follow up of running operations and development work  Quality assurance  Statistical methodology function to support both CSO and the statistical system

Restructuring of the CSO A proposed road map  Upgrade of technical infrastructure and skills to use it  Improve the IT development capacity  Strengthen the role of the web to make it the hub in the dissemination system  New organizational structure  Additional permanent professional staff  New statistics Act