Census 2011 starts Saturday

Public asked to cooperate

PHILIPSBURG--Census 2011 is set to take place starting Saturday, April 9, and will last for nine days, ending April 17, with more than 400 enumerators collecting information that will be analysed into statistical data.

In order to make sure that everyone is counted during Census 2011, more than 400 enumerators have been divided into 29 groups. Each group consists of about 15 persons, who are responsible for interviewing 30 to 35 homes. Those 29 groups each represent a district of Dutch St. Maarten.

Enumerators will commence Census 2011 on Saturday and all districts will be visited at the same time. Census 2011 commences during the weekend, due to the increased likelihood of finding persons at home then. Enumerators will be completing these districts on weekdays, during the afternoon and evening hours.

All housing institutes, including those for the elderly, incarcerated, women's safety, orphanages and rehabilitation centres, will also be interviewed during this time by what is defined as the "floating team."

Enumerators are identifiable by their Census identification badges as well as their Census buttons, bags and folders. In case of any doubt, please contact the Department of Statistics at 542-2355 to verify whether the person visiting is affiliated with the Department of Statistics or not.

In order to prepare for Census 2011, the Department of Statistics has provided some essential tips to assist:

1. When an interviewer arrives at your doorstep, before answering any question or inviting the person into your home, ask the person for his/her official Census identification badge.

2. Try to be at home and answer all questions in a correct and concise manner.

3. The enumerator could ask questions you cannot answer immediately. Therefore, prepare yourself beforehand and have the necessary information ready, such as educational certification dates, marriage or divorce dates, size of your home and things of that nature.

During the Census, everyone will be interviewed based on two questionnaires, one being a living-accommodation form and the other a personal form. There are roughly 80 questions to answer. An average-size household can be interviewed for 45 minutes. Thus it is important to be prepared for the enumerator, to minimise the interviewing time. This will also allow enumerators to cover more houses in less time.

Everyone will be asked questions about their housing, transportation methods, languages spoken, neighbourhood inconveniences, demographics, family and ethnicity, health, fertility, education, labour and income.

Questions are not asked to be intrusive, but to get a better understanding of the current situation in St. Maarten and the needs of the population. The information collected during the Population Census will be used (anonymously) by a large number of government departments, other non-governmental organisations and the public. It will be used for policy-making, planning and administrative purposes, research and support.

Additionally, the Census is a valuable source of information for companies and industries. Effective planning for the labour market can only happen if reliable information regarding the size and composition of the local labour force is available.

The use of Census information by the community is completely dependent on the quality of the data.

Two basic elements determine the quality of the Census: the completeness of the population and housing count ? which is why the majority of the people must provide the interviewers with information ? and the quality of the collected information. If participants do not provide correct information during the Census, it will create an incorrect image of the living conditions of our population.

"To optimize the quality and the use of the Census data, it is imperative that each individual on St. Maarten is counted and that each provides the correct information. Census 2011 will help us all create a better future for Country St. Maarten and its population. Everyone will be counted because everyone matters. It's not about where you're from, what counts is where you're at. All of us share 16 square miles to raise our children, work and have a quality life in the place we call home. Thus, all of us must raise our voices and say "Count us in!" said Innovative Marketing Creations Marketing Coordinator, Emmalexis Velasquez.

 

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/15678-census-2011-starts-saturday.html

Niclas Alexandersson Mark Bright Robert Schumann Dorset Internet Luis Moreno-Ocampo