BVI can’t get aid without up-to-date census data
Health Minister Vincent Wheatley has underscored the critical importance of the national census, revealing that the British Virgin Islands (BVI) continues to miss out on international aid due to the lack of up-to-date population statistics.
Field officers tasked with collecting census data frequently encounter resistance from residents unwilling to disclose personal information required for the process. However, Wheatley warned that such reluctance has serious consequences.
“I think only two OECS countries have up-to-date census data. When I travel to international meetings, it’s one of the first things they ask for: ‘Can I see your census data?’. If you’re trying to get aid from any country, they’ll tell you that with no census data, you don’t qualify automatically,” Wheatley explained.
He continued: “I can’t overemphasize the importance of the census enough. It (the absence of up-to-date census data) is holding us back from getting a lot of international aid so please cooperate when they come to your home.”
Echoing his concerns, Junior Minister for Financial Services, Trade and Economic Development, Lorna Smith, encouraged residents to prioritize their participation in the census and emphasized that there are many ways to make the process more manageable.
Meanwhile, Director of the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Raymond Phillip, has announced a new deadline of June 2025 to complete the long-overdue national census.
Phillip noted that while a recently enacted law that imposes penalties for withholding census information has had some impact, overall progress remains slower than anticipated.
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This is confirmation that the VIP and natalio Wheatley mash up the BVI economy with his party and Vybz Kartel quarter million USD spending that we need aid.
The census questions are to intrusive. The questions being asked can also be used to identify the respondent. With the history of victimization in the BVI no wounder people are reluctant to answer. Then you hear the Census people talk s**t about issuing fines for not participating or responding. When the government clean up their act and start working for the people of this country and start addressing the issues that matter to the people then the population will be more inclined to participate with government.
Most people in the BVI are non belongers so why bother with a census. Just hand over the list of the 10k+ registered voters to any aid providing agency and leave the rest of the people here alone.
They still havent canvassed Nanny Cay, either this time or last.
We don’t know how to conduct/produce a census. Do an administrative records census. At least you’d have something to deliver.
We are outnumbered in our homeland
Ah the cencus.
The financial reports.
The Good Governance.
The COI.
How the VI wants those but our present leaders do not.
Nice car .
Nice boat.
I understand your not currently working and never have , no wonder people are nervous about questions being truthfully answered.
That’s what the banks are there for…… There are persons that may have not gone to the banks and perhaps they have saved for what they desire over a number of years.
Yes, there are those that do have the above you mentioned that are not working so it’s more than obvious what they may be into but the majority of persons are hard working abiding citizens who are working and have acquired the necessary assistance to get the nice homes etc.