Statistics Office
Government of Anguilla

The Editor
The Anguillian

May 21, 2003

Dear Editor

I would like, by way of your newspaper, to thank all those business people who have cooperated with the Statistics Office by completing and returning their annual business survey forms. People who complete and return their forms are truly good corporate citizens. They contribute to the publication of accurate economic information for all and lower the cost of the statistics programme by reducing the time taken in following up with those who do not complete their forms as promptly. This year has proved to be the most successful to date since the survey started back in the 1980s.

I would also like to take advantage of your newspaper to correct some of the misinformation that is being circulated by a few mischievous people. As with the census collection and the survey of living conditions used to assess poverty in Anguilla, there are once again some people saying that the business survey is some scheme by the British or the Anguillian government to collect information to impose a new tax. This survey is not a means to collect information for tax purposes, nor were any others nor will future surveys be used for this purpose. The information collected by the business survey is defined internationally by the United Nations Statistics Division to produced standard measures of economic performance. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank initially conducted the survey and more recently it has been conducted by the Statistics Office.

This is the first year that the survey has been approved by Executive Council to be a compulsory survey to be conducted under the Statistics Act. This decision was taken to ensure that the information collected was used only for statistical purposes, to guarantee businesses that their information would be kept confidential and to ensure that all businesses provided the information to be collected. If statistical estimates are to be produced there is no point producing inaccurate measures, it is a waste of money and is misleading. This is why the statistics office is doing everything it can to assist all businesses to put together the best information they can about their businesses, so that the most accurate economic statistics are published.

Many businesses in Anguilla do not put together annual financial accounts. This is unfortunate, not because they would find it easier to complete the annual business survey, but because it would allow business owners to get a better picture of their performance from one year to the next and also to see where their costs are beneficial. I have had a number of business owners, who after we have assisted them in putting together the information they need to fill out the survey forms, say that they found the exercise very useful for their own business decision making.

I also have people say to me that I cannot keep information confidential. There has never been a leak from the Statistics Office and the Statistics Act and Oath of Office is the strongest confidentiality legislation in Anguilla. In the past couple of years we have taken further steps to maintain the confidentiality of people’s information. The offices have been relocated out of the Ministry of Finance to a self-contained building, which includes an area where the public cannot enter. Staff have been retrained in the importance of confidentiality and have taken the oath of the statistics Office.

The computer systems have been configured to prevent any outsider from entering any of our databases. The Statistics Act has been recognized by the United Nations as an example of good practices. On two occasions I have been asked for information collected by the statistics office and I have refused. On one occasion they took their request to the Attorney General’s Office who supported me in my refusal to hand over the information.

The Statistics Office is playing an important role in providing facts to potential investors, policy makers and social and economic programme providers. Our web site, of all our statistics, can be viewed at home and overseas. The Office is recognized as one of the most progressive in the Caribbean. We will only be able to continue this good work with the co-operation of all our respondents, I hope they will continue to work with us and not against us.

Once more thanks to all those businesses who have co-operated with our survey this year and should you have any questions please feel free to call me or anyone else working in the Statistics Office on 497-3901.

Your Sincerely

Penny Hope-Ross
Chief Statistician

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