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Are you guilty of threatening census workers?

Director of the Central Statistics Office Raymond Phillips, has bemoaned the treatment meted out to enumerators who are collecting data for the national census.

Phillips said enumerators are facing great resistance from the community as residents continue to fear that their personal information will be revealed by those collecting the data.

“One of the main problems is that the enumerators are facing a lot of resistance. Some of them are being threatened and persons are questioning the legitimacy of the exercise even though they know it’s a government exercise. I don’t know what it is but people are angry for whatever reason,” Phillips explained on Tola Radio’s Morning Braff show.

The field work for the national census got underway in late July 2023. Phillips said they were expecting to conclude data collection by December last year but due to the resistance from the community, they have only covered 30 per cent of the territory.

He also said the data collection exercise will be extended another six months so enumerators can have enough time to collect the vital data.

“What’s happening is that many enumerators are discouraged so they are not working at the pace that I would prefer. It’s a census — not a survey, so we have to get everybody. But because people are not complying, we are forced to find a way to penalise persons. We already have a system in place where we could take persons to court but that’s not feasible. So we’re trying to put a system in place where persons are fined if they don’t participate. But I hope no one is fined,” Phillips explained.

Phillips also stressed that enumerators will not misuse personal information collected from residents, adding that such persons would face criminal charges.

He added that the data collected will help the government to make informed decisions that will benefit the entire community. In addition to the government, Phillips said businesses, researchers and students also rely on the information that will be made from census data.

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15 Comments

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  1. Wtf says:

    I personally was not resentful to the renumerator, I resented some of the questions that I thought were not relevant, and too long. Maybe the questionaire need to be revised.

    Like 24
    Dislike 1
    • MADNESS!!!!!! says:

      People DO NOT LET FINES THREATEN YOU!!!!

      “Phillips also stressed that enumerators will not misuse personal information collected from residents, adding that such persons would face criminal charges.”

      HOW DOES HE KNOW THIS????!!!???

      YOU COULD NOT TRUST A FORMER PREMIER WHO IS NOW INCARCERATED AND YOU’RE TELLING US TO TRUST YOUR CENSUS WORKERS MOST OF WHO ARE VOLUNTEERS????!!??!!

      GET FROM HERE WITH THAT FOOLISHNESS!!

      Not even an employer could force you to reveal medical information and you want to try to fine persons for maintaining their privacy??!!!?!!!??!!

      SLAVERY ABOLISHED IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW!!!!

      Mind your business and let us mine ours!

  2. Hottie says:

    I have not seen a census worker

    Like 26
  3. So says:

    While the known cold blooded execution style killers are allowed to roam the streets freely , this is what you prefer to focus on ? . health care is in a mess , pot holes is a new attraction and raw sewerage is a fragrance to add to the smoke from the incinerator , employers still not contributing their fair share of taxes etc , is ignored . But people’s personal business is what is essential for those with personal vendettas to flex off themselves on . ( have fun

    Like 12
    Dislike 5
  4. SIMPLE says:

    DEPORT THOSE FOREIGNERS WHO DONT WANT TO CO-OPERATE

    Like 5
    Dislike 7
  5. REAL says:

    There is nothing currently in place that holds you or these enumerators accountable and until there is a consequence, people’s private business will be on the street with no recourse.

    You also don’t seem to be someone that you can hold a reasonable discussion with regarding the relative issues.

    Like 12
    Dislike 2
    • @Real says:

      Do you even know him? Y’all business is on the street because of Social Media, not the information provided through answering census questions. Y’all need to start taking accountability for your own mess instead of always seeking to blame others.

  6. Amazing says:

    Ignorance is bliss! People inflict these things on themselves and then sit back blaming Government for everything. Most of the idiots blabbering have no clue about how these things work. Decisions need to be made based on data, not based on a few callers on Heritage show in the morning. Look at what we have become, a data gathering exercise has become a massive clusterf**k. Everyone has a right to voice their concerns over questions, approach etc. but there is a right way to do things.

  7. Citizen says:

    The census worker threatened to fine me if I did not answer all the questions including what days I got paid and how much.

    • @ Citizen says:

      It’s none of the Census worker’s business what someone’s salary is, what illness some people have, and other confidential questions; so don’t provide it.

  8. Solution says:

    Have a officer go with them and should they not want to co operate issue a fine (ticket)

    Like 4
    Dislike 3
    • @ Solution says:

      Citizens have a CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PRIVACY!!!!!!

      How dare they ask personal health questions and ON TOP OF IT THESE CENSUS WORKERS ARE VOLUNTEERS AND DON’T EVEN WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT MAKE IT WORSE!!!!!!!

      Even if they did work for the Department it is none of their business!

  9. HIV says:

    They asking if anyone in the house had hiv
    I find some questions very private and personal

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  10. Census says:

    Far too long and intrusive. Last one i had we were supposed to document every income and expenditure for a month with receipts! Never did it, no follow up.

  11. Riddick says:

    I have a right to be private in my papers. This is a Constitutional guarantee.

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