PREPARATIONS are underway for the execution of a population census to begin within the first quarter of this year. Census is carried out in accordance with the Statistics Act Chapter 19:02.

Chief Statistician of the National Bureau of Statistics, Lennox Benjamin, told the Chronicle that the last census was carried out in 1991. Censuses are normally carried out every ten years, but due to the holding of national elections last year, it was not feasible to carry out one.

Benjamin explained that the information gathered from a census is very useful to the business community, investors and those agencies that are involved in state planning.

He pointed out that while a country may have the resources and potential for investment, if the relevant information is not available, then investors may look elsewhere. Businesses need information pertaining to the density of population and the type of activities that are prevalent in a particular community whenever they are considering set up their operations in a particular location.

“A census can provide a gold mine of information,” Benjamin offered, and added that according to the United Nations, a census is a necessary investment and it is more costly to a country not to have one.

He said that the Statistical Bureau is working towards the establishment of its website later in the year so as to make its information more readily available.

Benjamin explained that the upcoming census would be implemented in three phases - planning and preparation, execution and editing, and processing of the collected data. Sensitising the public through publicity campaigns will be accelerated, because the success of the census is dependent upon the cooperation of the public.

The Chief Statistician said the collection of data will be done through house to house enumeration.

“Every household and every community will be visited,” he emphasised.

He said because of geography and logistics, the exercise is expected to begin in Region Nine during the first quarter of this year.

About 3,000 enumerators and other personnel are expected to be recruited and undergo training for this national exercise.

According to Benjamin there was a continuous growth in Guyana’s population which peaked at 759,600 in 1980, but from then to the last census in 1991 the population declined to 723,800. The population density in Region Four was 342 per square mile while it was under one person per square mile for Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine. The working age population (15-64 years) was 345,000 or 49.3 per cent in 1970 and grew to 439,000 or 61 per cent in 1991. The population under 15 years declined from 47 per cent in 1970 to 34.8 per cent in 1991.

The female population consistently stood higher between 1960-1991. In 1960, the country’s female population accounted for 50.2 per cent; in 1980, it was 50.5 per cent and 1991, 50.9 per cent.

Benjamin pointed out that Guyana is part of a regional census system which is coordinated by CARICOM. Suriname and Guyana are now the only two member States that have not completed their censuses. He said no one country within the region has all the skills that are required to effectively carry out a census, so there is close collaboration to complement each other. The territories also use the experience gained in other sister countries. One way by which this is done is by having personnel from other member States participate in the censuses of others.

In the past, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) funded field activities. However, this is no longer available and the Government will have to bear most of the costs, Benjamin said. He estimates the cost of the exercise would be in the vicinity of $150M.

The Statistical Bureau was established in 1957. Prior to that, compilation of statistics was the responsibility of government departments. Between 1960s and 1991, it was the responsibility of various Ministries. However, in 1991, it became a semi-autonomous agency managed by a Board of which the Minister of Finance is the Chairman.

Mr. Benjamin has been with the agency for the past 20 years and told the Chronicle that his job provided him with several opportunities for professional development. He also said he enjoys his work.