By Robert Andre Emmanuel
The Statistics Division is being asked to enter a closer collaboration with other government agencies engaged in measuring economic data, following alleged discrepancies in the country’s economic growth figures.
During Wednesday’s post-Cabinet meeting, Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, Ambassador Lionel Hurst revealed that while several regional and local agencies, including the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), were reporting approximately 7 percent economic growth for the country, the Statistics Division had indicated a notably lower 3.6 percent.
“The Statistics Division collects raw data from several sources – Customs, Inland Revenue, Treasury and so on, showing what expenditure is like and what revenues are like,” Hurst explained during the February 13 post-Cabinet press briefing.
This disparity had emerged as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was projecting Antigua and Barbuda’s real GDP growth to slow to 3.5 percent in 2025, closer to the Statistics Division’s current measurements than other agencies’ projections as reported by the government.
While maintaining the division’s independence from political interference, the Cabinet had recommended enhanced data sharing between agencies.
“There ought not be so wide a variation in the measurement,” Hurst noted, adding that while the Statistics Division was operating independently, like the Boundaries Commission, there needed to be better alignment in methodology.
Meanwhile, the government also raised concerns about the reluctance of businesses to share data for the 2025 Census, and Hurst outlined the government’s approach to ensure compliance.
He said that while the law allowed sanctions for non-compliance, the government prefers to focus on encouraging voluntary participation through public relations initiatives.
“We want everyone to know that their data will not be shared with anyone, and that the data is intended to serve only the purpose of providing accurate [representation],” Hurst explained.
According to Hurst, while legal sanctions existed for non-compliance, the government’s primary strategy would be a public relations exercise to encourage participation rather than resorting to threats.
He emphasized that the census questionnaires would follow international standards, noting that “the same questions will be posed in Antigua, that will be posed in China and will be posed in the United States.”
The Statistics Division is currently preparing to launch the 2025 Population Census, with plans to hire 600 enumerators equipped with electronic tablets to gather data nationwide.
The approach will utilize geo-location technology to ensure accurate coverage.
“We’re attempting to ensure that the Census can be completed in a shorter time,” Hurst noted, adding that a comprehensive public awareness campaign would begin immediately across all media platforms.
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