2022 Population and Housing Census: 54 undergo training to take up posts as area coordinators

The Bureau of Statistics on Monday commenced a two-week training for 54 persons drawn from the 10 administrative regions who will function as area coordinators during the upcoming 2022 Population and Housing Census.
Following their training, these temporary staff, under the supervision of Bureau personnel, will return to their respective regions to train the supervisors for the national exercise. A training of trainers’ approach will be utilised, with the supervisors then being integrally involved in the training of enumerators.
Even as the training of area coordinators is underway at the Bureau’s Head office in Georgetown, the screening of applicants from across all regions for the supervisor and enumerator positions is ongoing.

Chief Statistician, Errol La Cruez in his address to the trainees, stressed the important role that they will play in ensuring the success of this vast exercise, which is being planned for commencement in mid-September.
He explained that the census, Guyana’s largest data collection exercise, provides not only an accurate count of the population but also other critical information on its demographics, including gender, age structure, educational attainment, and fertility.

This information is in high demand by a range of persons, including policymakers, the private sector, and students.
The census is conducted every 10 years, with Guyana’s last census being conducted in 2012. Therefore, he emphasised the need for accurate, unbiased, reliable, timely, and quality information that will guide decision-making for the development of the country over the next 10 years.
Positing that data is as valuable if not more valuable than gold, the chief statistician pointed out that the census, an incredible undertaking, will see every occupied community in Guyana being visited.
Guyana’s population count in 2012 stood at 746,955, a decline from the previous census in 2002 which saw a count of 751,223.
According to the chief statistician, having an accurate count is essential, since this baseline data will be utilised over the next 10 years. He added that in a world that is becoming more data-conscious, the importance of this data is increasing and its use will expand in the months and years to come.
He encouraged the trainees to ensure that the census personnel under their supervision understand the importance of the census and the value of the data which it will produce.