ASSESSMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY IN THE REGION CARICOM ASSESSMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY IN THE REGION SEMINAR ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM OF NATIONAL ACCOUNTS (SNA) 2008 ST. JOHNS, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA 14 - 16 JUNE 2010

BASELINE ASSESSMENT STUDY CARICOM BASELINE ASSESSMENT STUDY CCS convened a meeting of Economic Statistics Experts (April 2009), to assess methods in production and compilation of key economic statistics. The meeting and findings supported a baseline assessment by the Economic Statistics Expert Consultant.

BASELINE ASSESSMENT STUDY Cont’d CARICOM BASELINE ASSESSMENT STUDY Cont’d Prior to convening the meeting, a wide range of data was requested, including: 1. Surveys conducted 2. Org Chart and Staff Strength 3. Statistics Acts 4. Work Programmes 5. Long Term Plans 6. Publications 7. Technical Assistance required and received

BASELINE ASSESSMENT STUDY Cont’d CARICOM BASELINE ASSESSMENT STUDY Cont’d Metadata on: National Accounts Estimation Supply and Use Tables (SUT) Methodology Mechandise Trade Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA) Methodology Prices Production Indices

ASSESSMENT SUMMARY High submission rate: CARICOM ASSESSMENT SUMMARY High submission rate: ‘List of Surveys’: 12/15 Member States ‘Organisational Chart and Staff Strength’: 11/15 Member States. Approximate 50% submission rate: Metadata on National Accounts methodology: 8/15 Member States Statistics Acts: 8/15 Member States

ASSESSMENT SUMMARY Cont’d CARICOM ASSESSMENT SUMMARY Cont’d Poor submission rate: Metadata on: GDP/Value Added by Industry (Current and Constant Prices) - only 1/15 Member States Expenditure on GDP (Constant Prices) - 0/15 Member States TSA Methodology - only 1/15 Member States Production Indices - 0/15 Member States

ASSESSMENT: COUNTRY FINDINGS CARICOM ASSESSMENT: COUNTRY FINDINGS Best Cases: Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Bahamas Jamaica: 23 staff members in NA (14 statisticians) , good inter-institutional relationships, Trinidad and Tobago: 20 persons in the NA, (10 professionals), approx 40 staff members in Economic Statistics The Bahamas: good system in place (7 members of staff in NA, 15 statisticians in Economic Statistics), a good planning and resource allocation system in place.

ASSESSMENT: COUNTRY FINDINGS Cont’d CARICOM ASSESSMENT: COUNTRY FINDINGS Cont’d Improving cases: Barbados, Suriname, Belize Barbados: long-term TA delivered to transfer to SNA 93, and an improved inter-institutional environment, Suriname: commenced a major data development programme, including extensive TA, and expression of a longer term statistical development programme Belize: TA provided to improve production of National Accounts estimates, questions still surrounds the sustainability of resources introduced and ability to introduce new improvements

ASSESSMENT: COUNTRY FINDINGS Cont’d CARICOM ASSESSMENT: COUNTRY FINDINGS Cont’d Special cases: OECS, Haiti, Guyana OECS: concepts, methodology and analysis carried out by ECCB, countries focus on collection of data and tabulating procedures following a standardized format. Notably, St Lucia uses own adaptations of the standardized questionnaires, and compiles, analyzes and disseminates its own data. Haiti: the 1993 SNA was introduced with TA, developmental work stalled because of the instability of the situation in the country.

ASSESSMENT: COUNTRY FINDINGS Cont’d CARICOM ASSESSMENT: COUNTRY FINDINGS Cont’d Special cases: OECS, Haiti, Guyana Guyana: no sustained economic surveys in place with uncertain plans for development, major obstacles to improvement : lack of continuity of work and sustainability of resource inputs.

Thank you for your attention! CARICOM Thank you for your attention!