CSO
prepares for a new era
By Roxanne Stapleton
Trinidad Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
12 03 06
PRIME
MINISTER, Patrick Manning last week expressed satisfaction
with the unemployment rate falling to 5.9 per cent
at the close of the third quarter 2006.
But
businessmen said they were buckling under the pressure
of an increased labour shortage, as workers migrated
to Government projects and CEPEP.
Central
Statistical Office (CSO) director, Peter Pariag
dropped the 5.9 per cent figure, while giving an
overview of the CSO at a conference on the unit's
roles and functions.
Contrary
to "prior opinion", Pariag clarified that
statistics provided by the CSO are not at all doctored,
as its statisticians adhere to strict methodologies
and data collection practices.
However,
while he stressed that there are dedicated staffers
at the CSO, he proceeded to produce a long list
of organisational weaknesses which are hampering
the unit's effectiveness.
According
to Pariag there's "an out-dated and inadequate
staff structure, poor remuneration packages resulting
in staff going to greener pastures, a lack of some
key skills and competencies, no succession planning
because of staff departures, insufficient hardware
and obsolete computer software", among several
others.
In
outlining "threats" to the CSO, Pariag
cited escalating costs of data collection and compilation,
untimely dissemination of statistics by other agencies
and reduced budgetary allocations which restrict
the implementation of work programmes.
He
added also that proliferation and duplication of
statistical processes and products by agencies which
depend on the CSO for statistical inputs, are other
threats.
"The
task of restructuring the CSO into an effective
high performing agency and developing a National
Statistical System commenced on October 1, 2006
under a consultancy spearheaded by Statistics Sweden.
"The
overall objectives of the consultancy are to identify
an appropriate model for the restructuring of the
CSO.
"And
to develop a comprehensive plan of action for the
transition from its present status to that model,"
Pariag said.
He
insisted that the organisation follows international
practices, adhering to internationally accepted
concepts, definitions, classifications and methodologies.
"There
exists in the organisation the practice of documenting
the methodologies for the major survey and data
series.
"These
methodologies are published and available to the
public. In the department there is staff, both technical
and professional that has worked on agriculture,
population and housing censuses, spanning a period
of at least 20 to 25 years."
The
conference took place at the Chamber's Westmoorings
headquarters last Friday.
Trinidad
Express
Wednesday, November 29th 2006
Copyright
©2006 Trinidad Express. All Rights Reserved.
