Editorial
Consensus over the Census -It does not make much sense
Following the release last Friday of theresults of the National Census which was conducted on the 10thOctober 1999, there has been a hue and cry in every sector ofthe community in disbelief that the population count reported-- 40,000 residents -- is a credible measure.
Cayman Net News reported in a previous edition,citing a comment from the Supervisor of Elections, that when hisenumerators conducted a physical house to house survey in 1996- though an unofficial count - they reported the number of residentsat 45,000 persons.
Now, four years later, Government's StatsticalUnit has delivered a report, which would suggest a populationdrop of some 15 percent.
Could this be credible?
Not so says just about everyone who wasstunned by the report. Among those who doubt the credibility ofthe Census report are some very senior officials in Government,who have even suggested that the exercise should be re-done withoutdelay.
Also among the unbelievers and critics aresome private sector leaders and developers, who say they willeither curtail their business development plans or scale downtheir operations because of the implications of an ecomonic piewhich has shrunk instead of grown.
Additionally, there are the many businessesthat have started up in recent years, with plans to service agrowing community. The Census result indicating far less personsresident than widely perceived, may well put a damper on economicexpansion.
Futhermore, with the rapid gowth in thenumber of non-Caymanians living here - four times the rate ofgrowth of Caymanians, according to the data -- there may wellbe an argument that every effort should be made to ensure thatthose who have ties to the community, should be given securityof tenure with the grant of residency after five to seven yearson a work permit, with a programme in place to grant permanentresidence after being here for 10 or more years.
Publication of the Census data with thefigures as they are, seems to have fuelled a questioning of itsconduct, and the agenda of the Government - both past and presentadministrations. Complaints have emerged that the forms used inthe data gathering exercise were not well received by those beingpolled.
It is therefore incumbent on this Governmentto honour its commitment to transparency by taking the bold stepand putting in place the machinery to conduct a new Census, andin so doing, gathering accurate information that is necessaryfor planning the long-term vision for these islands.
The fact that the results of the Censuswere so late, and the fear and suspicion felt by those being polled,are sufficent reasons to justify this exercise.
If this is not done, then the Governmentand all the people living here will continue to plan by 'perception'rather than reality.