Caribbean Statistics Day Highlights Progress
Caricom marks Caribbean Statistics Day 2025 alongside the close of the 2024–2025 Year of Statistics, celebrating progress in standardising and modernising regional statistical systems. Secretary-General Carla Barnett highlighted pilot instruments now being institutionalised and called for continued investment in national offices and digital transformation to close data gaps.
Caribbean countries observed Caribbean Statistics Day 2025 as the region marked the conclusion of the 2024–2025 Year of Statistics in CARICOM, a year which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians. In a message noting the milestone, CARICOM Secretary‑General Carla Barnett said the day is being observed under the theme "Improving Lives through Statistics: Strengthening and Innovating Together." Barnett said the year placed renewed emphasis on standards, harmonisation and the integration of statistical systems across the region.
Barnett pointed to several regional tools that have moved from pilot stage to institutionalisation, including the CARICOM Quality Assurance Framework, the CARICOM Code of Good Statistical Practices, and the Generic Statistical Business Process Model designed to guide the end‑to‑end lifecycle of statistical activities.
These instruments aim to improve comparability and trust in data produced across member states, reinforcing a shared approach to quality and methodology. She also noted CARICOM is at the midpoint of implementing the 12‑year Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics, which provides a roadmap to strengthen national and regional systems.
CARICOM governments are reviewing legal and institutional frameworks and are being urged to commit the financial, technical and human resources needed to support National Statistical Offices (NSOs), with particular attention to digital transformation and modernised statistical operations.
For residents of the British Virgin Islands, improved regional statistical capacity has practical implications. Better, harmonised data supports public policy and planning in areas that matter locally: hurricane preparedness and recovery, public health and pandemic response, tourism performance monitoring, fiscal planning and social services targeting.
Stronger NSOs and clearer standards can shorten the time between when data are collected and when they are available to policy makers and the public, helping officials make timelier decisions. Barnett acknowledged that "the journey ahead is as critical as the progress behind us," and she urged continuing cooperation across CARICOM to fill data gaps and raise standards.
On Caribbean Statistics Day she called for a renewed commitment to ensuring timely, accurate statistics for decision‑making. For the BVI, aligning with these regional frameworks and investing in digital and human resources will be central to reaping the full benefits of more reliable statistics.
Primary source: VINO