2011 Population and Housing Census Underway

23rd March, 2011:  “The 2011 Population and Housing Census is on-going”, asserted Minister of Planning and the Economy, Senator the Honourable Mary King in clarifying the status of the Census; this, in response to a report that the field census had come to a halt.  The report was carried by CNMG in their 7.00 p.m. newscast on Tuesday.  Minister King explained that the field census has not stopped, but has merely challenged by criminal activity in certain areas and human resource issues.  She went on to state that in spite of these challenges, Census Enumerators have been working in neighbourhoods gathering information from since the census began in January to date.  She said “we have been able to sustain field activity because a re-training programme aimed at alleviating the human resource challenge is in place, along with on-going collaboration with the Police Service, to provide the support needed in certain areas for Census Enumerators to execute their jobs.  I am pleased to report therefore that notwithstanding the challenges encountered, the Central Statistical Office (CSO) has its required complement of 2,900 Census Enumerators who have been in the field daily with support from the Police Service where necessary”.  The Census is expected to conclude by the end of March; however Cabinet has given a completion deadline of 30^th April, 2011.  The CSO reported that while the level of cooperation by households has been high, some areas have yet to be surveyed.  These will be surveyed by 30^th April.   Household heads from those areas may contact the Census Planning and at 624-7001/623-9992/624-3580/623-4315 to arrange for completion of their census questionnaires before the completion deadline.