CARICOM CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (CCDP)

National Census Report 2001, St. Vincent and the GrenadinesINTRODUCTIONThe Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, through the Regional CensusCoordinating Committee (RCCC) led the process of planning for the 2000 Round ofPopulation and Housing Census in the Region. The RCCC functions as an advisory bodyfor the effective conduct of a regionally co-ordinated Population and Housing Censusesin member countries. The RCCC normally advises on census strategies, and essentiallyencourages and guide as required the activation of the preparatory phase of the censuswhich includes the creation and strengthening of census groups or bodies at the regional,and national levels. The RCCC comprises representatives of National Statistical Offies(National Census Officers); of selected regional and international organisations such asthe Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Universities of the West Indies(UWI), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the United Nations EconomicCommission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN ECLAC) and the United NationsPopulation Fund (UNFPA).There was also another mechanism at the sub-regional level, under the Organization ofEastern Caribbean States (OECS) that assisted its member countries in various aspects ofthe conduct of the census. Both organisations had emphasized the need forstandardization, in particular a common set of questions, in addition to the countryspecific needs. Each country also had its own census coordinating committee that guidedthe process at the national level.In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Statistical Office of the Central Planning Division,Ministry of Finance, Planning and Development was responsible for conducting the 2001Census. This office worked closely with the National Census Advisory Committee andtook advantage of the assistance from the CARICOM Secretariat and from the OECS.Census Day was June 12, 2001.A preliminary report based on the enumerated population of the 2001 Population andHousing Census for St. Vincent and the Grenadines was produced shortly after the1