Caribbean statisticians urged to expand the statistics ecosystem.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, CMC – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Armstrong Alexis, on Monday called for more open engagement, shared experiences, and the identification of common solutions to better integrate statistics into policy and practice in the region.

“I encourage all of us to become advocates for an expanded ecosystem for statistics in the Caribbean. Let us use this week to engage openly, share experiences, identify common solutions and agree on practical actions that can propel a shift in how statistics and statisticians are integrated into a robust and reengineered purposeful platform for policy and practice in the Caribbean Community,” Alexis said as he addressed the opening of the 51st meeting of the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) and related meetings here.

He said that ultimately, the collective efforts must ensure that the leaders of the region have access to robust, reliable and comparable statistical evidence that reflects the realities, circumstances and unique vulnerabilities of Caribbean countries.

“Such evidence is critical not only for informing sound policy and development planning, but also for strengthening our case for access to the development financing required to address these vulnerabilities, build resilience and confront the existential threats facing our Small Island Developing States.”

Alexis said the conference theme, “Harmonizing Data, Strengthening Resilience,” speaks directly to both the importance of statisticians’ work in implementing the Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics and the broader development challenges facing the Caribbean Community.

He said reliable, timely, comparable, and disaggregated statistics are essential for sound policymaking, monitoring development progress, and better understanding the vulnerabilities affecting regional countries and people.

“Through greater harmonization of our statistical systems, we can improve the comparability of data across countries and over time, strengthen the evidence base for national planning and regional decision-making, and present a clearer, more coherent picture of the Caribbean Community’s shared challenges, development needs, and collective progress.”

Alexis said the meeting will review progress and priorities across the Regional Statistical Work Program over the coming days, consider the Program of Work for 2026/2027, and explore practical opportunities for technical cooperation, knowledge exchange and South-South cooperation.

He said the Regional Census Coordinating Committee will prepare for the 2030 Census Round, including consideration of the 2030 CARICOM Regional Census Strategy. Alexis said the Regional Statistical Research Seminar will provide a valuable space to share research, methods, and innovations that can improve the production, dissemination, and use of statistics.

A special feature of the 51st SCCS will be the Capacity Building Day on leveraging statistics and the ABAS to Address Multidimensional Vulnerability and Build Resilient SIDS, highlighting the role of data and partnerships in strengthening regional resilience.

” Achieving these goals and ambitions depend first and foremost on the commitment and expertise of our Heads of National Statistical Offices and their staff. We recognize the demanding work you continue to undertake, often amid declining resources and increasing demands and expectations.

“Your dedication to producing trusted official statistics, maintaining essential statistical programs and responding to new data needs is critical to the development of our countries and the Region as a whole.”

Alexis said the CARICOM Secretariat remains committed to supporting member states and Associate Members through regional harmonization, capacity development, statistical modernization, and the effective implementation of the Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics.

“However, sustained progress requires strong national ownership, effective partnerships and sustained investment in statistical systems,” Alexis said, adding that he has often argued that whilst our national statistical agencies are undertaking significant, relevant and important work, the spread and reach of statistics has remained too restricted.

“You speak amongst yourselves and share both your successes and your frustrations amongst yourselves. I hope for the day when the audience for discussions about the importance of statistics will go beyond the constricted space of statisticians and penetrate spaces, both in the public and private sectors, drawing attention to industry leaders, policy makers, researchers, investors, bankers and architects of our social agendas be that in education, health, labor or crime and law enforcement.”

Alexis said he was inviting delegates to expand their reach by attracting and embracing leaders from these sectors as active participants in co-designing a broad ecosystem for statistics-led development across all sectors of our fast-evolving Caribbean society.

“You are custodians of data, but it is the sectors and their leaders to which the data apply that will make the difference and deliver what the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas demands, which is the improvement of the lives of the people of the Community.”

The CARICOM Deputy Secretary General said that governments and development partners will remain central to the call for adequate resources to sustain statistical production, address existing and emerging data gaps, and strengthen the foundation for sustainable development action. Still, even when this is done, applying statistics is only possible if those with the capacity to do so are committed to evidence-driven decision-making.