A-G: Big Census Planning Now On
Fijians should provide accurate information when census officials knock at their door this September.
Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said such data would help Government to make right decisions.
“So we request all citizens of Fiji that when the census people come, please give us correct information.”
It is understood that the National Census would take place on September 17, 2017.
Preparations are well underway at the Fiji Bureau of Statistics including the use of digital mapping for every household.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said a few thousand people would soon be recruited to gather information from individual houses.
“We also highlighted to the Bureau of Statistics that all recruits must be recruited based on open merit recruitment system,” he said.
“And off course a lot of young people who could be deployed for this exercise as well as young people who are currently studying in universities or completed university – they could also be hired on a short-term basis.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said that with an increased allocation in the National Budget for this year, the Bureau would be able to buy appropriate technology to make census work easier.
The census will be able to capture movement of population and age group.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum gave the example that by knowing which category or what percentage of Fijian population is in which age group, then the Government can have policies around them in terms of medical facilities.
“It also helps in terms of determining or has an impact on the number of seats in Parliament given the registration of voters.”
He said the data collected would be important information for development partners.
The last census was conducted 10 years ago in 2007.
Edited by Naisa Koroi
