Around 500 field workers, including 400 enumerators and 100 supervisors, will be recruited and trained ahead of Antigua and Barbuda’s 2025 National Census, set for 25 June.
The public is being urged to cooperate, with Deputy Census Officer Tracelyn Joseph stressing the importance of accurate data for national planning, research, and investment. She assured that field staff will be clearly identified and safety protocols will be observed.
“This isn’t an immigration exercise,” Joseph added, noting that individuals should not be concerned about their status.
The census, delayed from 2021 due to the pandemic, will be conducted by the Census Unit and the newly upgraded National Bureau of Statistics. It will be the first time a digital system is used, allowing for GPS tracking, faster interviews, and improved data accuracy.
Joseph welcomed the move away from paper forms: “In 2011, we had issues deciphering handwriting. This new system speeds up everything and enhances data quality.”
Themed _“Census 2025: Mapping the Present, Shaping the Future”_ , the census slogan was selected through a national school competition. Ten-year-old Asahi Joseph of Villa Primary won the top prize of $500, a certificate, and a Samsung tablet.
The next census is expected in 2031.