The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FIFTEEN people in Grand Bahama were sworn in yesterday as listing officers for the 2021 Population and Housing Census.

Administrator for the City of Freeport Kathy V Smith conducted the swearing-in ceremony at the Administrator’s Office in the National Insurance Board complex.

This is the first time the Department of Statistics will create a Census building/dwelling register for the country. It is also the first time that an online National Census of Population and Housing will be conducted.

In compliance with the Statistics Act of 1973, all listing officers must be sworn in before going into the field.

During the event, each lister took an oath and signed the legally binding oath of secrecy.

Ms Smith said that listing officers will begin going out to gather information on Friday.

“The Census really begins in September, but they will be getting persons’ email and telephone contact because this year it will be online,” she said.

Ms Smith said that listing officers will email people the Census questionnaire online by Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI).

More people will be hired as listing officers in June, she said.

The administrator said that the officers are to wear non-political colours.

“They were reminded of that today, and to wear dark colours, like black. They will have an ID badge and we are asking the public to please cooperate with the officers. The process is very short because they will just be collecting persons’ email and telephone contact,” she said.