WITH the new globally adopted standard of conducting Population Censuses every ten years, the Bureau of Statistics yesterday released the Preliminary Census Results of the 2012 Guyana Population and Housing Census, as a complete and comprehensive profile of the demographics of Guyana. 

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh in his remarks yesterday morning at the Guyana Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, acknowledged the importance of the census to national policy. He said that, “because of the very important nexus between the picture that emerges and the policy-making function, we believe in evidence-based policy.”

“Understanding the dynamics of the population is critical to formulation of social policy”- Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh

He noted that the Government of Guyana remains steadfast that “understanding the dynamics of the population is critical to [the] formulation of social policy.” Singh observed that once numbers indicate that there are trends of “ageing” or “steady growth” in the population then those figures would have “implications for the provision of social services.”
Commenting on the continuing development of housing settlements, Dr. Singh underscored that “In regards to new and emerging housing schemes, there were some areas which ten to 15 years ago were cane fields that have now developed into communities.” He noted too that the developments allow a clear depiction of the need for schools, hospitals, roads and other social services in those areas, as well as the rate of infrastructural growth of the country.
Youth composition, geographical dispersion of population, rapid growth and decline of urban centres, rate of educational attainment, employment and employment are among the many variables that are accounted for in the population census.
Dr. Singh, in his capacity as Finance Minister, had signed an order into law which designated September 15, 2012 as National Census Day. Guyana has since reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring global compliance with the international standard of conducting censuses every 10 years.

(By Derwayne Wills)