Katrina Ryan at launch of logo
With statistical data analysis, production and publication support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Statistics Department on Wednesday, April 4, 2012, released the first in a series of publications based on data collected during Census 2011.
Director of Statistics Mrs. Katrina Ryan, speaking at an event to mark the release, said there has been an increased demand for current data on Montserrat. The size of the local population, now registered at 4922, 100 more persons than the defacto count released last year, contributed to the department being the first in the OECS to release data. She added that two other publications are planned for later in the year, which will look at income and the economy.
Speaking at the launch held at the Police headquarters in Brades Conferene room, Cabinet Secretary Mrs. Angela Greenaway said she was proud of the achievements, noting that they, “acted responsibly” in the handling of private data received.
She explained: “Hundreds of persons across the island, appointed as enumerators, supervisors, editors, coders, data reviewers and data entry clerks, worked feverishly on the Census project. Private sector establishments made financial and other kinds of contributions. The Primary School children collected, analysed and presented their data for the Census Project. Most importantly, household members invested the time to respond to the enumerators. 99% of persons who usually reside on Montserrat were fully enumerated during the 2011 Census.”
While hinting at some of the benefits of the census, she added, “We took advantage of the opportunity to shape our lives, as a people of Montserrat…The numbers give us the power to understand the past, so that we can make decisions in the present and with the best assumptions, forecast probable events.”
The statistical officials informed that during the past 10 months, the Statistics Department concentrated on collecting and processing the Census data, all of which were completed on island for the first time. The electronic data cleaning and production of the final Census dataset were completed by the staff in the Department, under the supervision of a consultant from the UNFPA.
The newly appointed Montserrat Cabinet Secretary resulting from the new Constitution, pointed out, “I recognise that generally, the full value of statistics is difficult to grasp,” noting that many are only, “awakened to the importance of data when there is a crisis – when a data series is not produced on time, or when the data are not available, or when there is inconsistency in the numbers that describe the same phenomenon. It is very clear that we cannot, as a nation continue to be driven by crises. It is imperative that we, whether as individuals or groups, as private sector establishments, as a nation make informed decisions. Therefore, statistics must count.”
The booklet titled, ‘Montserrat at a Glance’ highlights several interesting facts:
- 7 out of every 10 persons who usually reside on Montserrat are Montserrat citizens
- The top 3 population centres are Look Out, Brades and St Peters.
- The Montserrat population continues to demonstrate characteristics of an ageing population.
- Only in the ages between 30 and 44, do females outnumber males.
- Outright ownership of dwellings is predominant in Salem, Old Towne, Baker Hill and Geralds.
- In Montserrat too, there are more females who have reached post-secondary education levels, than males.
The booklet can be downloaded online from the main page of the Government of Montserrat’s website at www.gov.ms
