A national approach to the census

Tue, Jun 26. 2012

“It is not a party issue, it affects everybody” (Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace on the National census exercise).

Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace has placed the national interest above any narrow partisan ones, in coming out fully in support of the national census which is currently taking place.{{more}}

In what has been perhaps his most public pronouncement of bipartisanship since first supporting the move towards constitutional reform in 2003, Mr Eustace has called on all Vincentians to cooperate with the enumerators.

Simple as it might seem, the Opposition’s Leader’s stance is a significant one. This census has had to be redone because fire at the Financial Complex last year destroyed much of the information so meticulously gathered. That first census exercise was dogged by political misunderstanding in the polarized climate of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Even though we are well into the 21st century, much ignorance about the purpose of a census still abounds. In the previous exercise, there were some among us who exploited this lack of understanding for selfish political motives.

The situation was not made any easier by the fire at the Complex. Not only did the Government have to source funding to redo the census, but it now also has to overcome underlying suspicions about the source of the fire. In this context, the statement by Mr Eustace is most commendable, encouraging his own supporters to cooperate with the field officers. The census staff would certainly appreciate any such support, for there is still ingrained distrust among some sectors of the population whenever they are required, by officials, to provide answers to questions which appear to intrude into their privacy.

Yet, as indicated by the Opposition Leader, a census is an important tool for helping to formulate national strategies for development. Matters like the provision of basic social services require information about the resource base of the population – how big is it? Is it growing and at what pace? Where are the growth areas? How many elderly people do we have and what are their needs?

Answers to questions like these can only come from a rigorous census exercise and provide the basis for planning and developing strategies appropriate to our development thrust. It is therefore of utmost importance that we not only cooperate with the enumerators, but we try to answer as accurately and truthfully as possible. Some people, for instance, are reluctant to divulge information about their economic situation and are prone to give misleading answers, but it is vital that the census be able to reveal what is the true financial and economic status of the population as a whole.

For these reasons, it would be useful if all Parliamentarians take a cue from the Opposition Leader and urge their constituents to cooperate. The responsibility is not just for politicians, however. Leaders at every level in our society, in the church, the business community, professional organizations, the civil society movement, youth and women, should loudly come out in support. The census will be our guide in charting our future. Let us all ensure that it accurately reflects our reality.