National Statistical Offices Overview 28 June 2010

Summary Selected Member States: Belize, Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago (Barbados and Jamaica included for comparison) All selected Member States maintain national statistics offices. The selected Member States all have statistical laws that: Grant necessary authority to implement victimization surveys. Ensure confidentiality for respondents. Routine Household Surveys Provide a convenient vehicle to implement victimization surveys. Only Trinidad & Tobago routinely administers household surveys. Belize and Guyana have carried out such surveys in conjunction with IGOs. All Member States are carrying out censes currently or within the next 2 years. National Crime/Violence Observatories Only Guyana maintains a National Crime Observatory Sources: Inter-American Observatory on Security, UN Statistics Division, Intern-American Development Bank and Member States’ official statistics offices.

Barbados Barbados Statistical Service Legal Basis: Data are produced under the authority of the "Statistics Act, 1958, chapter 192" of the Laws of Barbados, guaranteeing the confidentiality of individual responses. Full Text Full Text Confidentiality: Data confidentiality is enshrined in the Statistics Act CAP 192 which provides for the protection of information supplied by respondents. No information provided by respondent may be published or made available to users in any form which would enable identification of particulars relating to any person, undertaking or business. Household Survey: The Census and Surveys Division. Census: Yes, National Crime/Violence Observatory: No.

Belize Statisitcal Institute of Belize Legal Basis: The Statistics Act Chapter 158 Revised Edition 2000 and the Statistical Institute of Belize Act, Full Text Statistics Act 2000 Statistical Institute Act 2006 Full Text Statistics Act 2000Statistical Institute Act 2006 Confidentiality: All information furnished by any person, undertaking or public authority under the Act, shall be used only for the purpose of statistical compilation and analysis. All information collected is held as strictly confidential. Household Survey: One carried out in conjunction with OAS/CICAD (2005) and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey/UNICEF (2006). Census: Yes, National Crime/Violence Observatory: No.

Guyana The Bureau of Statistics Legal Basis: The functions of the Bureau which has since 1965 became systemized, are set out in section 4 (1) of the Bureau of Statistics Act No 25 of 1991 and the Statistical Bureau Act Cap Under the provisions of the Statistics Act, the Chief Statistician has authority to collect information on the inhabitants of Guyana, to conduct censuses/surveys, and to access to administrative records. Full Text of Statistics Act 1998 Full Text of Statistics Act 1998 Confidentiality: Considers each request on the individual basis; the major criterion is that published data shall be anonymous. The Bureau is more receptive to researchers willing to share the results. Household Survey: Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey/UNICEF (2006). Census: Yes, National Crime/Violence Observatory: National Crime Observatory (Citizens Security Programme/Ministry of Home Affairs).

Jamaica Statistical Institute of Jamaica Legal Basis: The Statistical Institute of Jamaica was established under the Statistics (Amendment) Act 1984 on April 9, The Institute has been invested with all the powers formerly vested in the Department of Statistics and previously the Bureau of Statistics (which came into existence in 1946) along with other powers. Full Text Statistics Act 2003 Full Text Statistics Act 2003 Confidentiality: The Statistics Act, Sections 9 and 18 require that all information provided be treated as strictly confidential. All employees are required to sign STATIN's Oath of Secrecy and the Official Secrets Declaration Act. Household Survey: No. Census: Yes, National Crime/Violence Observatory: No.

Saint Kitts & Nevis Statistical Office, Ministry of Finance & Sustainable Development (No Website) Legal Basis: The Statistical Office produces and disseminates data under the Statistical Act No. 12 of 1971, which authorizes the dept. to conduct surveys on prices and production, and all other aspects of trade and commerce as deemed necessary. The Statistical Office also conducts surveys in many other areas of the economy such as population, labor force and tourism without specific legal authorization. Notably, the Statistical Office has a high degree of independence in determining what, how, and when data and methodology are released, though this is not explicitly stated in the Act. Full Text Census Act 1971 Full Text Census Act 1971 Confidentiality: The confidentiality of reporters is guaranteed under the Statistical Act, which specifies duties, regulations, offences and penalty. Additionally, each statistical officer takes an oath of secrecy in the witness of a Magistrate. Household Survey: No. Census: Yes, National Crime/Violence Observatory: No.

Trinidad & Tobago Central Statistical Office Legal Basis: The Statistics Act, Chapter 19:02 of the Revised Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (Full text not available electronically) Confidentiality: No individual data are given out or published and with respect to establishments the minimum amount published must be at least six establishments. Household Survey: Continuous Sample Survey of Population. Census: Yes, National Crime/Violence Observatory: In planning stages (IADB, 2007).

National Statistical Offices Overview 28 June 2010