CARICOM
ASSESSMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL
CAPACITY IN THE REGION
SEMINAR ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM OF
NATIONAL ACCOUNTS (SNA) 2008
ST. JOHNS, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
14 - 16 JUNE 2010
CARICOM
BASELINE ASSESSMENT
STUDY
• CCS convened a meeting of Economic Statistics
Experts (April 2009), to assess methods in
production and compilation of key economic
statistics.
• The meeting and findings supported a baseline
assessment by the Economic Statistics Expert
Consultant.
CARICOM
BASELINE ASSESSMENT
STUDY Cont’d
• Prior to convening the meeting, a wide range
of data was requested, including:
1. Surveys conducted
2. Org Chart and Staff Strength
3. Statistics Acts
4. Work Programmes
5. Long Term Plans
6. Publications
7. Technical Assistance required and received
CARICOM
BASELINE ASSESSMENT
STUDY Cont’d
Metadata on:
• National Accounts Estimation
• Supply and Use Tables (SUT) Methodology
• Mechandise Trade
• Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA) Methodology
• Prices
• Production Indices
CARICOM
ASSESSMENT SUMMARY
• High submission rate:
– ‘List of Surveys’: 12/15 Member States
– ‘Organisational Chart and Staff Strength’: 11/15 Member States.
• Approximate 50% submission rate:
– Metadata on National Accounts methodology: 8/15 Member
States
– Statistics Acts: 8/15 Member States
ASSESSMENT SUMMARY
CARICOM
Cont’d
• Poor submission rate:
– Metadata on:
• GDP/Value Added by Industry (Current and Constant Prices) - only
1/15 Member States
• Expenditure on GDP (Constant Prices) - 0/15 Member States
– TSA Methodology - only 1/15 Member States
– Production Indices - 0/15 Member States
ASSESSMENT:
CARICOM
COUNTRY FINDINGS
• Best Cases: Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Bahamas
– Jamaica: 23 staff members in NA (14 statisticians) , good interinstitutional relationships,
– Trinidad and Tobago: 20 persons in the NA, (10 professionals),
approx 40 staff members in Economic Statistics
– The Bahamas: good system in place (7 members of staff in NA,
15 statisticians in Economic Statistics), a good planning and
resource allocation system in place.
ASSESSMENT:
CARICOM
COUNTRY FINDINGS
Cont’d
• Improving cases: Barbados, Suriname, Belize
– Barbados: long-term TA delivered to transfer to SNA 93, and
an improved inter-institutional environment,
– Suriname: commenced a major data development programme,
including extensive TA, and expression of a longer term
statistical development programme
– Belize: TA provided to improve production of National Accounts
estimates, questions still surrounds the sustainability of
resources introduced and ability to introduce new improvements
ASSESSMENT:
CARICOM
COUNTRY FINDINGS Cont’d
• Special cases: OECS, Haiti, Guyana
– OECS: concepts, methodology and analysis carried out by ECCB,
countries focus on collection of data and tabulating procedures
following a standardized format.
• Notably, St Lucia uses own adaptations of the standardized
questionnaires, and compiles, analyzes and disseminates its own
data.
– Haiti: the 1993 SNA was introduced with TA, developmental work
stalled because of the instability of the situation in the country.
ASSESSMENT:
CARICOM
COUNTRY FINDINGS Cont’d
• Special cases: OECS, Haiti, Guyana
– Guyana: no sustained economic surveys in place with uncertain
plans for development, major obstacles to improvement : lack of
continuity of work and sustainability of resource inputs.
CARICOM
Thank you for your attention!