Census aims for 100% cover of households
(CNS): Organisers of the country’s census have said the goal is to have every single person in the Cayman Islands not only counted for an accurate population figure but for each household to answer a questionnaire as well. The national count begins on 10/10/10 Census Day when more than three hundred census workers will hit the streets and begin counting and interviewing in every home. People will be asked 67 questions, ranging from basic details about residents to chronic illnesses suffered by any members of the family. Costing around $1.1 million, officials say this count will provide Cayman with a comprehensive set of data that will be of enormous importance to both the private and public sector.
The census has the law on its side as the enumerators have the right of entry and the Statistics Law makes it clear that “every person shall to the best of his knowledge and belief answer all questions asked by him by the statistician”, but the people are also protected as the law and the method of the survey ensure the security of the information, organisers have promised. In the most recent amendment to the law government increased the penalty to $5,000 for a breach of confidentiality by any census worker.
Maria Zingapan, Director of the Economics and Statistics Offices, said that census would be safe and secure and people could be assured the information they give would be used solely for the purpose of collating data. However, she pointed out that the survey would be far more informative and useful if people gave the information freely and do not feel coerced.
With just over two weeks to go before the launch of the island wide count, officials told the press on Thursday morning that the enumerators are all in training, the census maps are complete and the questionnaires are ready and dispatched to the field offices. The ESO will also be circulating some of the questions from the census via the media over the next two weeks so that people will know what to expect when the enumerators come to their home.
The information collected will be used to get an accurate assessment of the number of people currently residing in the Cayman Islands and the current circumstances under which they live, from the type of work they do to the number of mobile phones they own. The data will be used to inform public policy, plan development and infrastructure, assist hazard management and emergency services and even help the private sector better understand the local market.
The Department of Child and Family Services is just one of the government entities that will use the census results to help target its servicesmore accurately and understand the changing needs of the community when it comes to support. Director of the department, Deanna Lookloy, said the information wouldl be very important to the future provision of services to those in need and made a plea to everyone in Cayman to take part.
“We Caymanians are known as a friendly group of people so I am asking people to be friendly to the enumerators,” she said. Lookloy explained that there have been many changes in the community since the last census and the information collected during the 2010 will paint a far more accurate picture of the community and its needs today.
She also noted that Cayman had a paucity of statistics in a number of fields and that this census would be asking more questions about disabilities, chronic illness and access to health services.
While the statistical information that comes from the census will be an invaluable tool for local policy makers, the information will also be given to regional bodies, as Cayman is often not measured in Caribbean assessments of population data because the statistics are not available.
Officials said that a population count would be available before the end of 2010 but the actual full census is expected to be published at the end of 2011. With more than 24,000 questionnaires expected to be completed during the eight week count, it will then take the statisticians a considerable time to extract and analyse the specific data for presentation.
In order to help in the goal of achieving 100% coverage, officials are also asking householders to contact the census organisers if they will be off island during the count so enumerators can schedule visits when they are at home. Officials said they will also be giving weekly updates about areas that have been counted and people are asked to contact the office if their neighbourhood has been canvassed but they did not see an enumerator.
More information about the census is available at the website www.eso.ky or people can visit the field offices in the districts or call 949 0940 or email infostats@gov.ky
Category: Headline News
A private firm’s study pegs Cayman’s Population as of July 31st, 2010 at 48,865. This is quite a bit lower than other numbers we have seen
I hope you people have not used up all the tinfoil on the island making your hats! I need some to do some cooking tonight.
Why are we asking about religion at all? What possible difference will that making to government planning?
I took a look at some of those questions.
Are people aware that the The governors office representing the crown is not involved enough with the people of the Cayman Islands.
NO. 1 The governors Office should be in Full control of the supervision of the Cayman Islands Census. NOT THE PREMIER OR THE cabinet .It will only harm the people and give the ruling dictatorship government access to these people’s private information rendering them helpless and open to victimization.
No 2 some of those questions are really very uncomfortable and are a definite invasion of one’s privacy. Why does government need to know whether I own a Mobed, a motorcycle or a car! That’s comunism ! Is someone going to bump someone off or send their henchmentto run them off the road?
No. 3 BETTER YET: If I own a car or a home POLITICIANS ARE KNOWN TO INFLUENCE THE BANK MANAGERS TO REPOSESS THE HOMES AND CARS OF PEOPLE THAT SPEAK OUT AGAINST THEM!
XXXXXX
Dictatorship control of the people. When you upset them; Dictators and their henchmen make a threatening phone call threatening your mortgage. To SHUT YOU UP! People have reported that is what they Have experienced!!!!
One of the three amigos called a Bank manager and told him to fire his employee because the employee ad spoken about the three amigos at a political meeting. These are scum bags that care about nothing but themselves and we keep electing them into office!
I dare say that some of the questions are important but some of them are DEFINITELY POLITICALLY MANIPULATED in attempt for this present government to access your personal and private information to CONTROL YOU! OR VICTIMIZE YOU!
This question about people being off island for l0 years is none of their business. That’s BIG MAC’S QUESTION, He realizes the Caymanians that are out of the country are being educated and a threat to opening the eyes of the locals about what he and his government are doing to the people! The fingerprinting of Caymanian upon their return to the island is also Big Mac again, it is an attempt to victimize, frame and humiliate Caymanians while Tourists and other investment Visitors like Rich Developers can enter and NOT BE FINGERPRINTED! Have you ever heard of such a thing? I guess he feels you should be here voting for him!
commissioner Baines must CHANGE THAT LAW. We are being set up for a dectatorship government and its time to consider confronting the UK on the plight of the people of the Cayman Islands that are fast losing their civil liberties.
I would suggest the person you should be ‘confronting’ is Mac himself. The word ‘confront’ suggests conflict and our conflict lies with the Premier, not the UK.
If anything, we should consider perhaps ‘pleading’ the UK to consider and address the plight of the Cayman Islands and the apparent loss of civil liberties through the elected government abandoning basic democratic principles and leading the country in a manner more akin to a dictatorship.
I think you’ll find that the UK would be very interested to learn how things are unfolding here.
So, if the information given in the census is completely confidential, how can I be prosecuted for not cooperating without them breaking that confidence?
Quite silly to categorise Christians into Anglicans, Church of God, etc. If you use the same standard by not ask Muslims if they are Shia or Sunni or Hindus if they are of a particular practicing sect? Either you are a Christian or you are not!
And where is the box for committed satanists? Are we just lumped in with the hinduists and voodists again? I am so angry I could just sacrifice a goat. . .
There is no place for Question 2.2 on a Census.
The census questionnaire will ask your Religion.
Bloggers unite; tick "Other" and write in ‘Jedi’!
Jedi is the way to go!! In the last New Zealand census following an email campaign a record 1.5% of the wholepopulation was found to be Jedi, which proved to be the 2nd most popular religion in the country! In the UK census 390,000 obeyed the call!
Cayman Census 2010: You must vote Jedi as religion of choice! You know it makes sense! Lets try achieve 2% of population to make the Guinness Book of Records! If there’s 40,000 people left on the islands I only need to recruit 799 more disciples to the Church Of Jedi to break the international census record! No induction required, you are straight in!
For more information check ‘Jedi census phenomenum’ on Wikipedia.
Lets take on the CMA! Please can someone set up a Facebook page?
May the Force be with You, bloggers!
– Prince Jedi
You do not know the power of the Dark Side!
The Sith do not have to participate in the Census, we live by the Rule of Two.
Of what do you speak? We follow the Rule of One now!
Power is its own purpose – to share it is to dilute it.
Hey, I thought the ‘Rule of Two’ was a couple of realtors.
Dearest Prince Jedi, could you please provide contact details. The Cayman Islands Branch of the United Church of the Miller Lite wishes to join forces in your effort.
Many thanks.
On behalf of the United Church of the Miller Lite
OK, some of the questions are way too intrusive, and bound to upset/cause offence. Particularly (but not limited to) these:
(2) Deaths –
(a) number of deaths in last 12 months;
(b) sex of deceased;
(c) age of deceased at death; and
(d) place of death.
and even more so, these:
5. Women 15 to 49 years
(a) number of live births;
(b) date of birth of last child born alive;
(c) last child born still alive; and
(d) number of live births in last 12 months
Plain wrong. Why didn’t they follow the UK model? There’s a reason they don’t ask such questions.
As well as (presumably) temporarily taking 300+ currently unemployed people off the streets to do this, you are also granting them the right to enter our homes, demand to see every member of the household, revisit, if necessary and ask such intrusive questions? And you expect no repercussions? God help you. I hope you got money in the budget to pay for all the unrest and grief counselling this could lead to, not to mention the huge potential risk of information leakage to the community in general
These people should be dropping leaflets with sealable envelopes. They should come back the following week to collect and/or provide drop-boxes throughout the districts for those without the benefit of internet access to post their replies, or simply a return PO address with postage paid. Those with internet access should be allowed to complete online.
But still those questions I have outlined above should not be asked. And everybody should have the right to complete and submit their Census responses in privacy.
I am no conspiracy theorist, but I will also admit to being a little spooked by this intrusion. I am being asked to give a complete stranger access to my home and my personal information including earnings and employment information. This person will now know what is in my home, who lives there, what they do each day, and when and where they do it.
No need to case the joint, then.
1. They ask these questions at the hospital as well about pregnancies. I would worry more about them having this information.
2. The reason those questions are being asked probably has something to do with the population dropping. Matter of fact, most of those questions seem to be after the information about how rollover or if rollover is the cause for the alleged decline in population.
3. Addressing the religion question: that question is asked on most questionares including government applications. If you check Fact Checks on most countries, they will have the religion make ups of the countries. Or maybe XXXXX wants to see if we are being overcome by non-Christians. lol! Don’t have to print that part CNS if you don’t want to.
4. The health part I’m certain is not going to be available to insurance companies. Remember, Mark Scotland is making changes to the Health Laws so the simple answer is to help them make the correct laws and see where and what is needed to be done.
5. Dropping them off would be nice but how many people do you think will actually fill them out?
I’ll provide the information since you say I have to, it will be completely false however.
Worth noting, my dog generally decides who comes in to my home and who doesn’t.
Can we please stop the paranoia and enjoy sanity (the latter feels much better)?
It is just information and not a plan against you.
Why should I co-operate with any census taker. Government is discriminatory between different Caymanian citizens. Can you imagine working for Government for nearly 30 years then booted out without a pension or medical and no redress?. Everyone i call don’t answer the phone.
They can get along without my information. They better not send anyone to my little "cubicle" "ca ah goni insult them yu know"
Posters you be the judges. Would you co-operate with any census in such circumstances?
For evil to prevail, good men just have to do nothing. It is our democratic right to question the validiity of things like this. We have the right to complain and be concerned when this VERY intrusive line of question has the law on its side. Communism, autocrats, despots all thrive and grow on stuff like this.
I dont what to be like the mayor of Hiroshima in 1945 waking up and saying ‘What the %$#* was that bang’
So why don’t you stand up to Bush instead of a stupid census? Wait I forgot that piece of paper has a camera hidden in it.
I took part in the census 10 years ago and guess what? We had a lot of forms to fill out so do you think people is actually going to remember the answers to all of those questions? Heck, I can’t even remember the questions on the forms much less the answers.
The idea of a census is not to remember, but you enter your details on a database. Who has access to it will never be known to us. And how do you know that I dont ‘stand up to Bush’?
But this isnt about ‘bush’ this is about my right to personal information being kept personal and I will stand up for that!
1. The enumerator and the person entering information into the data base is two different people.
2. Your personal information is all over the place. You have a bank account, gone to the hospital, bank loan, electric bill, phone bill, water bill, use the computer, etc
3.You totally missed my point about not remembering but never mind.
Regulations: (the instructions to enumerators)
http://www.gazettes.gov.ky/gazette-supplements/2010/30/08/census-cayman-islands-regulations-2010-g18-s6
Order: (the questions they’re going to ask)
http://www.gazettes.gov.ky/gazette-supplements/2010/30/08/census-cayman-islands-order-2010-g18-s7
PEOPLE: Please read BOTH before commenting!
Personally I don’t got a problem with the Census, its the right to entry and fine for refusal to give information ($1,000). If you weren’t so damn intrusive we might be a lot more forthcoming with the information.
Let us complete online, or if we’re not in or don’t/won’t answer/co-operate, just leave the leaflet under/in the door and go. Give us 28 days to complete and then pop back to remind us in a friendly way. Don’t bully us into submission!
And who do you think you’re sending to my home? From experience folk here too damn nosey and not so discrete, plus Chinese Whispers is a terrible diseasehere – nah not me sir!
A friend of mine employed a tactic on the last census, by letting the enumerator in, but giving false answers to almost every question because she felt she need to protect her privacy. I wonder how many other people do this and really, how accurate is the census?
If the government were smart they would make this optional, because when you force this on people the natural reaction is to rebel.
In Australia it is the law to vote. People are force to vote. What do you think all those that don’t want to vote do? They spoil their vote.
This government has no sense either
CNS: Here’s also the link to the example questionnaire:
http://www.eso.ky/file.php?path=docum383.pdf
CNS: You should provide the list of questions to be asked or at least provide a link in this article to the questions to be asked. They can be found here:
http://www.gazettes.gov.ky/gazette-supplements/2010/30/08/census-cayman-islands-order-2010-g18-s7
Dem mussie a joke!…. April fool a come early?….Eeee?
A me nah trus dem ya peeple wid ma cunfidential detail dem!…Dis ya gubment people a need fe check demsef….seeeen!
Me a nah wah dem ina me yahd
Government tried this overly invasive census 10 years ago and it was a failure. When will they learn?
Flo Good Article. Always looking out for us. I live in the Us and the Census workers can enter only if you invite them in. Also it is a one page or just about a half a page, with only 3 of maximum of 7 questions they count the household and are on their way. I know the government needs to detemine funding for the various districts but in consideration of the type of autocratic dictatorial government we have now, trust me. I would be very careful what I say to them about your business.
I understand they want to even know how many cell phones you have? WHAT FOR? No one needs to listen to my conversations neither yours. And you can only have my number if you are my friend. Not the Government.
My phone is personal. No body’s business.
My Email Address is also mine and its personal.
If they stray into this grey area, then you know what to say
I am really curious to see just how personal private and confidential the nature of some of these questions to be asked are really.
The Census is necessary, I remember you telling them last year that they need it but you never stop thinking and we thank you for putting us on guard so that we are not led away like sheep to the slaughter.
Thank you Flo
If the 24,000 questionaires were printed on island for, lets say, $2 each thats $48,000. How much are the 300 census workers being paid. I would imagine in the grandiose fashion of government expenditures they are being paid a great deal for one days work. I have to imagine that with only 300 census takers and 67 questions it would take longer than one day to do a proper count. Does anyone know where the other $1,050,000 is going? I should also think that gov. computer services would be equipped to process the questionaires in less than a year. Things that make you go hmmm!
My friend, you’re mistaken – everyone is to complete the Census, not just Caymanians, so double your printing costs then add some more for those that get lost, misplaced, etc.
I feel this is 54 questions too many!
The census has the law on its side as the enumerators have the right of entry and the Statistics Law makes it clear that “every person shall to the best of his knowledge and belief answer all questions asked by him by the statistician”
As much as I support the Census are you telling me these people have the right to entry into my home? I think not – I’ll gladly talk to them out in the yard, or even on the porch if its raining, but unless I feel I want to invite them to do so, they’re not coming into my home. This part of the Census is ill-conceived. I’ve lived in a country and been subjected to census all my life but nobody has knocked on my door or demanded a right of entry to facilitate this.
Can’t wait for the population grant, and hope this splits into nationalities too – I think we’re going to find a lot more than 10,000 expats have left.
I dont care what the law says they ain’t getting in my house. You can knock all you want and come as many times as you want, but I ain’t answering
Good luck with that. It’s a great idea. But those that don’t want to be counted will not be found and will not be counted. So I highly doubt getting a true estimate of the amount of people on this island is really attainable.
Not sure if it’s just me……. but when I spot an article that is more than a few paragraphs long, I tend to read the introduction only before I skim quickly to the bottom and look for a summary. More often than not, if I lose interest in the details, I wait for the comments to sum it up for me. (That’s a dangerous habit indeed!!!)
If it’s a really important topic with a large amount of details required (like this one seems to be) maybe a shorter version could be written with the most important highlights. That could follow with a longer version for those who want to delve into the less interesting (whoops! errrrrrr I mean) the other important details. With good "teasers", the reader could possibly be lured into reading the rest………
By the way, this is truly meant as constructive criticism. CNS for the most part is an extremely informative, interesting and timely publication.
Cayman Census is underway. Its about time. Smart thinking in passing the Insurance bill protecting patients from the insurance Companies. I mean, if families are to be questioned about their illnesses, the Insurance companies should not be privy to that information not now, not ever despite passing the law. such information should be well guarded. No one needs to hear their business on the street so have those census workers be swworn in to secrecy! that’s funny.
I am very concerned that families will be asked 67 questions. normally the census consists of a maximum of 7 questions. I hope my concerns are thought provoking enough for the brainiacs to put on their thinking caps!
This is a bit suspicious and it is only fair to the community for those questions to be published and properly vetted.
THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO SEE THOSE QUESTIONS BEFORE THEY ARE ASKED!
A Census is not all about getting one’s personal information it is about counting heads!
Before these Census workers hit the streets it is only fair to publicise those questions for public vetting to ensure citizens and residents right to privacy and that the questions do not at all invade their privacy.
More explanation needs to be given in regards to the Medical Health Questions regarding chronic disease or illness that ails a family member. This can serve significantly provided the questions asked can determine government budget and funding for Health Services or CLINICO projected insurance coverage across the board. The Health Minister needs to come forward and explain to the people why is here a need for this.
As for the 67 Questions don’t take this lightly. I am shocked. Is this some kind of Political Survey that could victimize families involuntarily?
A 67 point Questionaire on a Census Form is not only troubling but Suspicious!
By the way. Asking families about their Political Affiliations or Party membership is an invasion of their privacy they have a right to support whomever they will. If it is included please remove it. It can only breed victimization.
I don’t want to seem facetious but a Census with 67 Questions is unheard of.! The Maximum is usually 3 to 7 Questions! And Counting Heads!
We need an Attorney that can be trusted with no party affiliations to look into this or better yet the HRC and please present the questions to the public by publicizing every one of them. All 67. I really am curious to know what it is that the Cayman Islands Government could be asking the citizens and residents just to complete a census that normally is 3 to 7 questions anywhere else in the world. Communist Countries and Socialist countries I would imagine would ask anywhere from 67 to 100 questions. What is this for?
Please look into this CNS, HRC, and publicise the questions for proper vetting.
We do not want any back lash. This is a great opportunity for a dictatorship government to finish us off.
Questions like how many computers are in the home should not be on the list either! IP numbers and personal owners is nobody’s business!
A Census with a 67 question survey is very suspicious. It is unheard of and something is bound to go wrong I am SHOCKED!
Its better to play it safe now than regret it later.
Just concerned.
The questions are set out in the following order and the rules for the enumerators are set out in the following regulation that were both recently published in the Gazette:
Supplement No. 7 published with Gazette No. 18, dated 30 August, 2010.
THE CENSUS (CAYMAN ISLANDS) ORDER, 2010
Supplement No. 6 published with Gazette No. 18,dated 30 August , 2010.
THE CENSUS (CAYMAN ISLANDS) REGULATIONS, 2010
The link for the list that they can be found in is:
http://www.gazettes.gov.ky/archives/gazette-supplements/2010
I agree with many of your concerns, particularly the availability of this information to the already scandalous insurance providers in Cayman.
I also agree that 67 questions is a bit much – they only have 43 for the UK 2011 census: http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census/2011-census-questionnaire-content/2011-census-questionnaire-for-england.pdf
And why is Cayman so far behind the times when it comes to implementing these things? I mean personal door to door visits and the "right to entry". This is not only a waste of resources and government funding but also for us the people, a gross invasion of privacy. I furthermore suspect this will all be done in working hours Mon-Fri when the majority of us will be out at work! Why can’t a more cost-effective and less intrusive way be implemented? For instance, visit theUK Office for National Statistics and see how it is implemented there: http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census/index.html
No door-to-door visits – all questionnaires to be completed online or by post – a darned sight cheaper and less intrusive than Cayman’s method.
Maybe it has something to do with that budget of $1 million to be shared amongst the census workers? I am not being ‘cynical’ here but it is something to consider in these days of tough times when people entrusted with money of the public use it in the best interest of their friends, family and fellow countrymen.
Any native Caymanians or in that batch? Are common groups represented by also having enumerators, such as Filipinos, Canadians and Europeans and Latinos? Not that they would want/need to be enumerators.
I signed up but no reply and trust me during the first sign-up session, the looks on the faces of people were not friendly. How dare a Caymanian become involved? And I didn’t sign up for the extra money.
Anyway, if they can ask questions, I will also submit questions to FOI starting with how much money was necessary for the ‘training’. Were full time Economics and Statistics employees paid more to train people? Or shouldn’t that be part of the professional expectation of these ‘managers’?
Did they simply copy a manual used in another Caribbean country without making it relevant to Cayman or understanding Human Rights issues?
Just wondering…
Thanks – I will make sure I am out of my house! Until they tell us exactly what they use this for, my personal information will remain just that – personal!
This government does not use the census figures for what they are supposed to be used for, city planners, infrastructure development etc If they did we would not have half the everyday problems we have. The government is riddle with incompetence and I have no faith whatsoever in using this information and it being kept confidential!