Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ryan Straughan appealed to Barbadians to cooperate with population and housing census staff who will be returning to field to complete enumeration from Wednesday, August 17 until September 30.
Straughan said in a news release issued through the Barbados Government Information Service that the census will resume after several social media posts caused the Barbados Statistical Service (BSS) to temporarily suspend the enumeration.
“I am, therefore, asking householders to fully cooperate with the census workers, the officers of Operation Seek and Secure, as well as officers conducting the Property Valuation Exercise from the Barbados Revenue Authority when they visit your home,” he said. “These officers will be carrying picture identification cards issued by the respective institutions.”
Straughan said householders can be assured that staff from the BSS, who approach their homes are for either the continuous labour force sample survey, or the population and housing census are legitimate and have taken the Oath of Secrecy, which means that they cannot divulge information collected on any individual or business.
“The communities to be visited by ccensus workers will be publicised via the news media,” the minister said. “These communities will also be shared with the Barbados Police Service, along with the names of the census workers.
“If householders are unsure that an individual is a member of the staff of the BSS, they can call the office at 535-2600. Officers will be collecting basic information on the household and will follow-up the interview with a telephone call to speed up data collection.”
Straughn said the Ministry of Housing Lands and Maintenance will also be conducting field work in relation to Operation Seek and Secure.
Also, the officers of the Barbados Revenue Authority are conducting their tri-annual property valuation exercise, which was delayed from 2020 because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Straughan said officers from Operation Seek and Secure, as well as the property valuation exercise, may request permission to enter homes at the occupants’ discretion to take relevant photographs of the property.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, I emphasise this is entirely at your discretion,” the minister said.
(BGIS/AR)
