Understanding the Census and Its Impact on Economic Development
Tonight, we are premiering our latest news product, a bi-weekly segment that we have dubbed “The Five Point Breakdown”. It is a comprehensive analysis of complex social, political, and economic issues that are presented in an easy to understand format. Tonight’s explainer journalism feature looks at the population census and its impact on economic development. The Statistical Institute of Belize is in the process of finalizing the data gathered from an exercise that was conducted in 2022. While those figures will be published later this year, News Five’s Isani Cayetano delves into the topic and brings to you our inaugural episode of The Five Point Breakdown.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a delay of the population census, an official counting exercise that takes place every ten years. Since then, we have been guesstimating that Belize has a population a little north of four hundred thousand. But what is a national survey and why is it important beyond clearly determining the number of persons living in a country? To understand the significance of the census and the impact of its findings on economic development, we turned to the Statistical Institute of Belize and asked five basic questions. Diana Castillo-Trejo is the Director General at S.I.B.
What is a census?
Diana Castillo-Trejo
Diana Castillo-Trejo, Director General, S.I.B.
“The census is every country’s largest and most complex data collection activity. Most countries do their census every ten years, so this is our opportunity once in a decade to collect detailed information on our population, on their living conditions, on their socio-demographic characteristics, on their economic activity, on their health status. So we cover a wide range of information.”
So, how is that data useful? For that answer, we visited the Ministry of Economic Development and sat down with the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Osmond Martinez. He possesses a wealth of knowledge on how this information helps to guide the government in making policy decisions that benefit the people of Belize.
How does a population census impact economic development?
Osmond Martinez
Dr. Osmond Martinez, C.E.O., Ministry of Economic Development
“The population census is very important. I mean, if it was left up to me, I would find funds to do it every five years. And it is very, very important to be able to have data, such data as the housing census.”
Economic development is the process in which people in a country become wealthier, healthier, better educated, and have greater access to good quality housing. A housing census is the official tallying of all living quarters, occupied or vacant, in a country at a specified time. Here’s an example of how that information is beneficial.
Dr. Osmond Martinez
“Now we can understand exactly how many persons have issues with disability. We will be able to understand what is the growth of the population, because once you understand what is the growth, your country’s annual growth then you can tie that into Belize’s fiscal budget.”
For the financial year 2023, the government expects to collect one point four billion dollars in revenue and estimates five hundred million dollars in expenses. Of the monies collected, a percentage will be set aside for the Disability Desk, an office in the Ministry of Human Development. These funds should be used to address the needs of persons living with diverse abilities.
Kenrick Theus
Kenrick Theus, President, BAPDA
“If we use the United Nations’ figures, it says fifteen percent of our population are disabled in some form. So that puts it at about sixty thousand people, based on our four hundred thousand count. So basically, we as an organization, we get a thousand, two hundred dollars from the Government of Belize. We get two hundred dollars, I believe, from the Heritage Bank, [and] I think two or three hundred dollars from the [Belize] City Council. That is the extent of our funding.”
Fifty-three-year-old Kenrick Theus is the president of the Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities. A few years ago, he lost both legs to a rare bone disease and is now confined to a wheelchair. Since assuming the presidency of BAPDA in June 2022, Theus has been fighting for proper representation of persons with disabilities. Their needs have been identified; but, according to Theus, the assistance being offered is pitiful.
Kenrick Theus
“It is woefully small, it’s inadequate, it’s an insult, okay. I would want to say that we need ten, fifteen, twenty times that [amount]. We realize that we’re in dire straits as a country, economically, but certain things we have to make provisions for. In the last census, they started to, and maybe before that, I’m not sure, they were counting [the] disabled. So why do you take a count? You need to know how many are there, so what do you do with that information?”
That’s an example of how data collected from a census can be used to attend to the needs of a particular group of people. Going back to our questions about the national study, I also asked the Director General of the Statistical Institute of Belize about the census information and how it helps the government in making policies and planning for public services.
How does a population census help in making government policies and planning for public services?
Diana Castillo-Trejo
“As our government seeks to develop plans and policies for the good of the population, they need to know who they are planning for. They need to know who they are, how they live, what their needs are. They need to know how different subgroups of the population might have different needs, how they live differently and interventions might vary from one group to another.”
This data is important for determining the number of resources required to provide essential services. Understanding that information also means being able to implement practical solutions that can help in reducing poverty.
Why is economic development important for a country?
Dr. Osmond Martinez
“A nation [that] focuses on economic development would have social programs, would understand the importance of having a good health system, a good education system, a very good citizen security program and even a sports program because it does impact poverty reduction.”
Beyond the set of measures, both economic and humanitarian, that are intended to permanently lift people out of poverty, the census also aids in effective urban planning.
What are the various uses of population data gathered during a census?
Diana Castillo-Trejo
“In terms of planning for development, you know, the best plans are made on good information and the census is the richest source of this information. So everything, from planning for how many hospitals need to be built in a certain district, how many classrooms the Ministry of Education has to plan ahead for, what part of the country. You have newly populated parts of the country and there are needs for roads and infrastructure. All of these things are informed by the census.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
