1. 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
JUNE 2010

2. 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.

3. 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 Org Chart and Staff Strength
3. Statistics Acts Work Programmes
5. Long Term Plans Publications
7. Technical Assistance required and received

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Thank you for your attention!
CARICOM
Thank you for your attention!