Raising Public Awareness on the Impact of Statistics on Society:

Cayman Islands

Maria Zingapan I Economics and Statistics Office I Cayman Islands38th Meeting, CARICOM Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians

28-30 October 2013 I St. Kitts and Nevis

Raising Public Awareness

• Background• Goals• Strategies• Impact• Challenges on Way Forward

Background• Absence of macroeconomic statistics program prior to 2006• Public Management and Financial Law required

macroeconomic statistics starting FY 2003/04• Absence of administrative data (income returns) and lack

of “a survey” culture among businesses • 3-pronged strategy: > Organizational: set up SNA, BOP, Social Stats Units in

2007 > PA campaigns > Amendment of the Statistics Law (2010)

1) Highlight the fundamental importance of official statistics for the national and global development agenda;

2) Educate the public on the critical role of high-quality official statistical information in analysis and informed policy decision-making

3) Generate trust of the public in the integrity of official statistical systems and confidence in statistics;

4) Stimulate support and respect from all stakeholders for all statistical activities and resources particularly the fundamental values and principles that govern statistical work through legal and institutional frameworks.__________* Adapted from the UN Fundamental Principles of Statistics (Revised Preamble, 2013)

High-Level Goals*

Market Key Message

General Public Information on hand

Students - Uses and methods of specific statistics- What we do

Business sector - Confidentiality of surveys- Uses of statistics for business planning and marketing

Public authorities as data producers

- Benefits of coordination- Development of official statistical

system.

Public Awareness Strategies

Market Platform

General Public Website; mass media; brochures

Students - Annual outreach- Summer internships- Special presentations, field trips- “kYStats for Everyday Life” Statistics Fair

Business sector Partnership with Chamber of Commerce > Statistics for Business > Future of Cayman Annual PR campaign

Public authorities as data producers

- One-to-one meetings - National Statistics Coordination Committee

Public Awareness Strategies

Public Awareness Strategies – General Publicwww.eso.ky

Public Awareness Strategies – General PublicRecent changes

Public Awareness Strategies – General PublicMass media support

Public Awareness Strategies – Students1. Annual Statistics Week

outreach (mock surveys, etc.)

2. Special requests for stats presentations

3. Field visits4. Summer internships5. Youth Flex radio program6. Technical assistance to

schools7. “kYStats for 4 Everyday

Life” campaign

Public Awareness Strategies – Business SectorPartnerships with Chamber of Commerce

Public Awareness Strategies – Business SectorPartnerships with Chamber of Commerce

Industry and Government Leaders as “Stats Champions” :•Hon. Marco Archer, Minister for Finance and Economic Development •Mr. Tim Ridley, former Chairman of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority•Mr. Kenneth Jefferson, Financial Secretary•Mr. Wil Pineau, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director•Incumbent Chamber of Commerce President•Dr. Dax Basdeo, Chief Officer, Ministry of Financial Services•National Statistics Coordination Committee members

Public Awareness Strategies – Business Sector

Public Awareness Strategies – Public Authorities

Public Awareness Strategies – Public Authorities

Long-term goal: the development of an official statistical system comprising of all public authorities with statistical activities linked through a common legal or functional program or basis for official statistical activities.

Public Awareness Strategies – Public Authorities

Current membership: 13Departments: Children & Family Services + Education + Environment + Environmental Health + ESO + Immigration + Planning + Police + Prison + TourismStatutory Authorities:Monetary Authority + Health Services Authority + Information & Communication Technology

National Statistics Coordination Committee

1) Foster closer relations and linkages among data producers through agreements regarding sharing of data and statistical resources within the bounds of the agencies’ operational laws and policies.

2) Promote international statistical standards, classification systems, procedures and methods. This can include projects that can assist in the adoption of such standards, etc.

National Statistics Coordination Committee: Functions

3) Facilitate capacity building, statistical planning and prioritization. > NSCC shall provide recommendations to prioritization of statistical programs to be pursued by ESO, to ensure that these will be driven by local data needs.

4) Conduct joint statistical dissemination and outreach. Annual National Statistics Week The International Year of Statistics 2013.

National Statistics Coordination Committee: IYS

International Year of Statistics 2013 kyStats Fair • Comprehensive set of statistics from 11 public authorities presented

in attractive forms of visual aids and covering all aspects of our everyday life: food, housing, education, disease risks, health care, natural resources, environmental health, livelihood, foreign trade, immigration, property development, economic development, peace and order,

• Inter-interactive exercises: these include quick surveys that

introduces students to practical principles of statistics and the science of probability.

• Special prizes and offerings include sports statistics demonstrations, random prizes, and television interviews!

International Year of Statistics 2013 kyStats Fair

International Year of Statistics 2013 kyStats Fair

International Year of Statistics 2013 kyStats Fair

International Year of Statistics 2013 kyStats Fair

International Year of Statistics 2013 kyStats Fair

Market ImpactGeneral Public - Anecdotal evidence: generally

positive-Request for data and technical assistance from private sector

Students - High participation rate in Stats Fair-Appreciation for survey methods - Job applications from summer interns

Public Awareness Strategies – Impact

Market ImpactBusiness sector - Higher response rates to business

surveys in 2013 - Greater use of official statistics

including for development planning (Future of Cayman)

- Offer of support to IYS- Free PR work for SNA, BOP surveys

Public authorities as data producers

- Greater involvement of staff members across departments in PAs and other NSCC activities

Public Awareness Strategies – Impact

Market Challenges

General Public Greater use of data

Students - Closer linkage of NSCC with schools - Students taking a career in statistics

Business sector - Sustained cooperation- Higher response rates, particularly for

BOP questionnairesPublic authorities as data producers

- Long-term development of the official statistical system

Public Awareness Strategies - Challenges

Market Plans

General Public - Census database in REDATAM on website- Metadata

Students - Internship of Statistics students at ESO , and proposal for the same with NSCC members

Business sector - Proposal for inclusion of membership at NSCC

Public authorities as data producers

- Quarterly meetings- Compilation of metadata and Directory of

Statistical Units- Training program & technical assistance- MAs on data sharing - Statistical system strategic plan

Public Awareness Strategies – Way Forward