Have you been counted? Welcome the census taker

Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

On Monday, April 4, the much-talked-about population and housing census began.

Flair spoke with director general of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), Sonia Jackson, to find out how the census has been progressing.

"They (the workers) have been having some difficulties, especially in the urban areas. People are less responsive, and it's not just in Kingston and St Andrew," she pointed out. She said persons in rural communities have been more receptive to the census takers, giving their information.

When asked if the advertising campaign to assist the smooth flow of the census didn't 'get the word out', she disagreed.

"People are aware of it (the census). Whether they're responding or not is another issue," she said. Jackson could not say what percentage of the population had been done. When asked whether women were generally more responsive than men, Jackson noted that could not be determined right now.

"We are hoping that by mid-July all data will have been collected," she revealed. The information collected provides data on population size, age and sex composition, geographic distribution, housing characteristics and facilities that have crucial bearing on the social aspects of all households. This information is critical to both the public and private sectors, providing the plan and platform for all areas of development. Jackson made another appeal to residents who had not yet participated in the census.

"We still need their support and their contribution. We need their responses," she stressed. She also implored those individuals who had not yet been visited, to contact STATIN and leave their contact information so that they can be found and included in the survey.

Interested persons can call STATIN at 926-5311 or email the entity at comcen:@statinja.gov.jm.

daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com