BELIZE TO HOST 2024 CARICOM STATISTICS MEETINGS IN PLACENCIA – October 31 – November 8, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BELIZE TO HOST 2024 CARICOM STATISTICS MEETINGS IN PLACENCIA – October 31 – November 8, 2024

BELMOPAN CITY, BELIZE, November 1, 2024 – The Government of Belize, in partnership with the Statistical Institute of Belize, the CARICOM Secretariat, the United Nations Population Fund, the European Union, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, will host the 2024 CARICOM Statistics Meetings in Placencia from October 31 to November 8, 2024. This series of meetings, held annually in one of the CARICOM member states or associate member states, will bring together Chief Statisticians and Directors of national statistical offices and key stakeholders from across the region, highlighting the commitment of CARICOM countries to the advancement of statistical practices within the region and enhancing collaboration for development. The 2024 meetings are being held under the theme “Improving Lives through Statistics, Strengthening and Innovating Together” and will include:

• The Thirty-second Meeting of the Advisory Group on Statistics (October 31 – November 2)
  The 32nd meeting of the Advisory Group on Statistics will open the series, focusing on strengthening the framework for statistical cooperation across CARICOM. This meeting will see heads of statistical offices collaborating to refine the Regional Statistical Work Program and align national statistical agendas with regional priorities, underscoring the importance of robust statistical data in addressing national and regional development goals. On November 1, this event will include a special focus on youth, co-hosted by representatives from the Commonwealth Secretariat, CARICOM Secretariat, the Department of Youth Services in Belize, and other regional partners. This youth-focused session aims to foster youth engagement in statistical development, discussing strategies for building capacity, increasing statistical literacy, and promoting careers in statistics among young people in CARICOM.

• The Fourth High-Level Advocacy Forum on Statistics (November 4)
  The Fourth High-Level Advocacy Forum will convene under the theme “Strengthening Statistics through the Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics for a Resilient Caribbean Community.” This forum aims to bring together high-level government officials with national statistical offices and other stakeholders to mobilize support resources for the enhancement of the regional statistical infrastructure and reinforce the importance of statistics as a vital tool for informed policymaking across economic, social, and environmental spheres. The opening ceremony for the Forum will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. It will include remarks from senior government and non-government officials from the region, including Prime Minister Honourable John Briceño speaking on behalf of Belize.

• The CARICOM Population and Housing Census Symposium (November 5)
  This symposium will reflect on experiences from the 2020 round of CARICOM Population and Housing Censuses and strategies for the upcoming 2030 round. The event will allow CARICOM member states to share insights, best practices, and lessons learned, focusing on refining methodologies, enhancing census operations, and improving data quality to support accurate demographic insights for the region’s socioeconomic planning.

• The Forty-ninth Meeting of the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (November 6 – 7)
  The Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians, comprised of heads of statistical offices across the region, will hold its annual meeting, during which discussions will focus on advancing the Regional Statistical Work Program and promoting the use of standardized statistical practices across CARICOM countries. The conference will address essential areas for harmonizing statistical methodologies, improving data collection, and ensuring the timely release of accurate statistics that meet regional and global standards.

• Fourteenth CARICOM Regional Research Seminar (November 8)
  The week will conclude with the Fourteenth CARICOM Regional Research Seminar, which will provide a platform for researchers and data scientists from the region to share innovations in statistics. This year’s seminar will highlight advancements in data processing and dissemination through technology, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics. These tools are crucial in enhancing data quality and accessibility, empowering the region’s statistical offices to respond to the evolving data demands of a rapidly changing world.

These meetings reinforce CARICOM’s commitment to fostering resilience, transparency, and inclusiveness through data-driven insights and collaboration.

For more information, please contact:

Javier Romero
Communications and Marketing Officer
Statistical Institute of Belize
jromero@mail.sib.org.bz
+501 822 2207 ext. 209

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