Support census, PSOJ urges businesses
Published:Tuesday | April 26, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer
The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) has made an appeal to the business sector to support the population census now under way.
The appeal by PSOJ President, Joseph M. Matalon, comes in the wake of revelations by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) that the business sector has been largely ignoring the census.
Director general of STATIN, Sonia Jackson, who made the claim last week, said the response rate for householders is running near to 90 per cent, but would not reveal the response rate for the business sector.
"You would be most alarmed. It's quite horrible in some instances," said Jackson.
interference
She said business leaders have raised concerns that some of the questions amount to interference in their personal business and that important information could fall into the wrong hands.
Matalon told The Gleaner that he was not aware of these concerns, but said he has been assured that the information to be gathered by STATIN is for the census only "and is not going to be shared in any other way.
"So I would be surprised if people had a concern on that count," said Matalon.
The PSOJ president reiterated that the census was a useful instrument of public policy and urged business owners to give their support.
"I can't imagine why any company would be reluctant to do so," he said.
Meanwhile, Jackson, pointing to the importance of the census to the private sector, said it could assist business leaders/owners to make important marketing decisions such as setting up shop in ideal consumer environments and determining target populations.
"This is important, because you would not want to set up a business where there are no people to support your venture," she explained.
Jackson said STATIN is planning to arrange a series of meetings with the business community to give them a first-hand look at how the information they provide is treated.
The population census started on April 4, and Jackson said the data collection is expected to be completed in four months.