CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICEAn Overview

Presented by Sterling Chadee

5th -6th November 2013

MISSION

The mission of the Central Statistical Office of Trinidad and Tobago is to facilitate informed decision-making, through the timely provision of a quality, relevant, user-oriented and dynamic statistical service, coordinating statistical activities and promoting the adherence to statistical standards.

VISION

The Central Statistical Office is the premier information and research institution, committed to being a learning and innovative organization staffed by well motivated personnel and enhanced through continuous quality improvement, to provide timely, high quality and relevant goods and services utilizing state of the art technology for customer satisfaction

Legal FrameworkThe Statistics Act The Central Statistical Office (CSO) was

established in 1952 by the passing of the Statistics Ordinance, Chapter 42, No. 11 of the Revised Ordinances 1952.

The Ordinance was later replaced by the Statistics Act, Chapter 19:02 of the Revised Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 1982

This Act Provides the legal framework for the operations of the CSO

This Act Authorizes the CSO

(a) Take any census in Trinidad and Tobago (b) Collect, compile, analyze and publish statistical information

relating to all social and economic activities of the people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

(c) Collaborate with other Government Departments in the collection, compilation, analysis and publication of statistical records of administration;

(d) Generally organize a co-ordinated scheme of economic and social statistics relating to The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Role of CSO

Oversees the preparation of statistical information Coordination of National Statistical System. Census Taking Collecting compiling analyzing and publishing

Statistical information relating to all Social and economic activities of the people of the Republic of T&T

Provide consultancy and assistant in data collection exercises done by other government departments, international organizations, private sector and researchers.

Divisions Population, Social and Vital Statistics National Accounts Economic Statistics Agriculture Division Field & GIS Computer Division CMPD (Temp Contract Div. for the conduct of the 2011

Census) Administration & Accounts

Population, Social and Vital Statistics

Births / Fertility Data Deaths / Cause of Death (ICD 10) statistics Data for Marriages and Divorces Migration Data Mid-year Population Estimates Education Crime & Traffic Continuous Sample Survey of the Population

(CSSP

National Accounts

GDP Current prices GDP Constant prices Capital Formation Supply and use tables Business Establishment Register

Economic Statistics

Index of Retail Prices base Jan 1993=100 Index of Domestic Production and

accompanying Sub Indices Index of Producers’ Prices Index of Retail Sales Index of Retail Prices of Building Materials Trade Travel Tourism

Agriculture Division

Cocoa and Coffee Citrus Production. Copra and Coconut Production Milk Production. Agro-chemicals, production, sales and exports Feed production Hatcheries and Broiler Processors Food Crop Survey Pig production Survey Poultry Production Survey

Census and other major surveys conducted

Population and Housing Census (2011) Agricultural Census (2004) Household Budget Survey (2008/09)

National Statistical System

The National Statistical System is decentralized. However, it is heavily dependent on statistics produced by the CSO.

The CSO is the recognized source for Official Statistics (adherence to the UN Principles of Official Statistics / Statistics Act)

Other significant Producers of Statistics are:

1.The Central Bank

2.Statistics Units of Gov’t Ministries -Finance, Health, Labour, Energy, Education, Social Development

3.Statutory Bodies – Environment Management Authority; Tourism Development Companies

National Statistical System The National Statistical System is not

currently co-ordinated and there is no National Statistical Council.

Statistics Units within Government Ministries and Departments and Research Units within the Non-Gov’t Sector pursue their own work programmes, utilise their own classification systems and methodologies.

Some limited bilateral consultation takes place.

Main Data Users

CSO has a wide cross section of users. The Ministry of Finance, The Central Bank Ministry of Trade and Industry International Organizations Business Enterprises Private Sector Organizations Researchers and students. Tertiary Institutions

The National Statistical Office

Main Data Providers:

Business enterprises

Households

Government Departments

(administrative data)

Other Government Statistical Units

(satellite agencies).

Data Dissemination

Data is disseminated in the form of Published Reports, Bulletins, Press Releases, Statistical Tables and Charts, via the following means:

Web site E-mails Post Mail CDs Telephone Walk-Ins

Current Issues and Priorities Timeliness, punctuality, quality and relevance of our

statistical products are falling Very low professional to technical staff ratio – 12% Very low staff morale Develop a programme of continuous learning and

development Staffing – Vacant positions/high turnover Dated Technology – Retool Restructuring of the CSO ( Statistics Sweden

Consultancy Office)

Restructuring of the CSO A proposed road map

Build on the existing strengths of CSO, but necessary with a number of additional functions as well as changes:

New functions in CSO for Support to the top management in:

Liaison and support to other government agencies involved in the statistical system

HR management External and internal communication Planning and follow up of running operations and development work Quality assurance Statistical methodology function to support both CSO and the

statistical system

Restructuring of the CSO A proposed road map

Upgrade of technical infrastructure and skills to use it Improve the IT development capacity Strengthen the role of the web to make it the hub in

the dissemination system New organizational structure Additional permanent professional staff New statistics Act