• Category

  • Content Type

Advertisement

STATIN Urges Persons to Support Surveys

By: , June 24, 2016

The Key Point:

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is urging persons to support its surveys, as information obtained is strictly confidential.
STATIN Urges Persons to Support Surveys
Photo: Michael Sloley
Director of Field Services at the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), Damion Tyrell, addresses JIS ‘Think Tank’.

The Facts

  • “All of our interviewers and all our employees signed an oath of confidentiality and we take that oath seriously, so we want to reassure Jamaicans that the information that they provide is confidential under the Statistics Act and we cannot provide this to any other party,” Director of Field Services, Damion Tyrell, told JIS News.
  • Mr. Tyrell appealed to individuals and establishments to reschedule visits and interview times with STATIN if they are not available when the interviewers come to their dwellings.

The Full Story

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is urging persons to support its surveys, as information obtained is strictly confidential.

“All of our interviewers and all our employees signed an oath of confidentiality and we take that oath seriously, so we want to reassure Jamaicans that the information that they provide is confidential under the Statistics Act and we cannot provide this to any other party,” Director of Field Services, Damion Tyrell, told JIS News.

The Field Services Division has responsibility for the collection of data for the surveys carried out by the Institute. Sections 17 & 18 of the Act prohibit the publication or communication of information in any manner that may identify an individual or business.

Mr. Tyrell noted that the information provided from the surveys assist in producing publications highlighting living conditions; national income and product; the labour force; quarterly gross domestic product; demographic statistics and employment and earnings.

“Currently we have the household expenditure survey in the field… we are on the heels of our quarterly labour force and we conduct the consumer price index (CPI) survey the first week of each month. In our 70 years of existence, we have never had a breach and we intend to keep it that way,” Mr. Tyrell reassured.

He encouraged persons to cooperate with the interviewers who may visit their homes, and urged them to make contact if there are doubts or concerns.

“If you are concerned about the persons asking questions, feel free to call the offices for clarification on the surveys being administered,” the Director said, adding that each STATIN representative has the necessary identification as proof.

“We have nine offices located islandwide, 20 supervisors and 43 interviewers, and they are very professional, competent and qualified staff members,” he noted.

Mr. Tyrell appealed to individuals and establishments to reschedule visits and interview times with STATIN if they are not available when the interviewers come to their dwellings.

“Our establishments are a part of our survey process, so we are pleading with these entities to complete the forms in a timely manner, and if you are not available at the time that an interviewer might visit or drop off a form, please call and give us a date and time for us to return,” he said.

“We want to thank all the respondents who have assisted us with the data required in previous surveys and we encourage them to encourage others who might be a part of our samples going forward,” the Director told JIS News.

Last Updated: June 24, 2016

Skip to content