Last week, we told you how the Statistical Institute of Belize had gotten approval from the Government to proceed with the Census. It was an exercise they carefully planned out for execution last year, but after the COVID-19 pandemic arrived on Belizean shores, it had to be postponed for safety reasons.
So, barring any other public health complications, the SIB has rescheduled it to May of next year. And, they are hoping that all Belizeans will embrace the exercise. This morning, the Acting Director-General of the Statistical Institute release a public announcement to provide more details about how the 2022 Population and Housing Census will work.
Here's what she had to say about this exercise, which is important for the shaping of informed and relevant public policies.
Diana Castillo-Trejo - Acting Director General, SIB
"It gives me great pleasure to inform you that the SIB will be conducting a population and housing census in May 2022. As you may be aware, the Census was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Census is the largest statistical exercise undertaken by a country, and the participation of all residents is crucial to its success. It is a key data source to inform policies, measure achievements, and plan for the future. For the 2022 Census, vital information will be collected about the population regarding employment, education, health, and poverty among other things. This information will be essential, particularly in these times, as the COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasized the need for recent and reliable statistics for informed decision-making and policies. Over the next few months, the SIB will be undertaking several activities in preparation for the census. Starting today, September 1st, we will be accepting applications for employment for the Census, through our online application form."
"I would like to appeal to all residents of Belize to kindly participate in the Census when our interviewers visit your households or business establishment in May of next year. Your involvement will be critical to the success of the 2022 Population and Housing Census."
The SIB is now recruiting over 900 field workers who will be going from house to house to conduct the necessary surveys for the Census. If you would like to be a part of that team, you can apply online at their web page, www.sib.org.bz/censusrecruitment.
