Anguilla has brought together dozens of regional statisticians to explore how better data can strengthen resilience and support development across the Caribbean.
The 51st meeting of the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) is taking place at Aurora Anguilla Resort from 26 to 30 October, under the theme, ‘Harmonising data, strengthening resilience’.
The flagship CARICOM event comprises several sessions, including the 36th meeting of the Advisory Group on Statistics which will support strategic discussion and guidance on statistical development.
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The 38th meeting of the Regional Census Coordinating Committee will provide a forum for coordination and collaboration on regional census programmes.
Meanwhile, the 16th Regional Statistical Research Seminar will bring together statisticians, researchers and other stakeholders to share research, innovations, methodologies and best practices in statistics.
The decisions stemming from the meetings will be advanced by the Regional Statistics Programme of the CARICOM Secretariat in collaboration with the subsidiary bodies of the SCCS.
‘Custodians of data’
During the opening ceremony on 26 October, CARICOM deputy secretary general Dr Armstrong Alexis thanked Anguilla for hosting the events.
He said reliable, comparable statistics are essential for sound policymaking, monitoring development progress and understanding the vulnerabilities facing Caribbean countries.
Harmonising statistical systems will strengthen national planning and regional decision-making, while providing a clearer picture of the region’s shared challenges and development needs, Alexis said.
The meetings will review regional statistical priorities for 2026-2027, advance preparations for the 2030 census round, and explore opportunities for technical cooperation and knowledge sharing.
Dr Alexis urged statisticians to engage more widely with policymakers, business leaders and other sectors, warning that “the spread and reach of statistics has remained too restricted”.
“You are the custodians of data, but it is the sectors and the leaders to which the data apply that will make the difference,” he said, calling for a broader approach to statistics-led development.
Finding answers
In his keynote address, economic development minister Kyle Hodge said reliable statistics could help Anguilla identify opportunities for local production, support businesses and strengthen resilience.
Drawing on his experience founding Tropical Treats in 2010, he said information from the Statistics Department had helped him assess the ice cream market before investing in local production.
“Your work can help [people] find those answers. I know because it helped me,” he said, encouraging statisticians to make data accessible and useful to entrepreneurs.
Hodge also acknowledged the burden that lengthy surveys can place on small businesses, calling for clearer questionnaires, realistic deadlines and better use of information already held by public agencies.
He said harmonising data across government departments would reduce duplication and improve decision-making in areas including agriculture, fisheries, commerce and economic development, while helping identify gaps in how policies affect different communities.
“Behind every statistic is a person, a household, a business and a community,” he said, urging delegates to keep people’s needs at the centre of efforts to strengthen regional data systems and resilience.
A demanding task
Chief statistician Lori-Rae Alleyne-Franklin said the Anguilla Statistics Department faced a demanding workload while preparing to host the 51st regional statistics meeting with only five staff members.
Alongside organising the meetings, the team was analysing census results and the first Anguilla Labour Force Survey, producing national accounts and balance of payments data, and maintaining regular economic and tourism reports.
She said the department had managed competing demands, training needs and staff leave through teamwork, adding: “But then, as statisticians, we are resilient, right?”
Alleyne-Franklin thanked coordinator Sanford Richardson, who supported preparations from January to October, saying the meetings would not have been possible without his contribution.
She presented him with a token of appreciation on behalf of the department and the government.
Watch the opening ceremony in full below:
