Census Taking Starts Tomorrow: What To Expect
Interviewers will begin visiting homes tomorrow [May 21], and will continue knocking on doors until August 31, and if needed until September 30th at the latest. The information that households will be asked refers to the actual Census Day of today [May 20]
If the interviewer visits at an inconvenient time, a more suitable time can be arranged for their return. Some households also will be visited by a Census supervisor who will perform spot checks on the work of the interviewers, as they say that accuracy is of utmost importance.
If the interviewer visits when you are not home, they will leave a call-back card so you can contact the interviewer and arrange the best time to visit.
Each interviewer and supervisor will have a picture identification card that household members should ask to see as verification that the person who knocks at the door is a census interviewer.
The census worker will be wearing a neon green sash, carrying a black stamped Department of Statistics canvass bag, possess a photo ID Card signed by the Director of Statistics and with a holographic sticker on the back; and the census worker will have a letter of authenticity stating they are working for the Department of Statistics.
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Premier Dr Brown at his residence with two of Census interviewers
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The census questions cover a broad range of topics most of which have been asked on prior censuses. New topics that have been added this time around include; a question on number of laptops used in the household, a question will target other sources of electricity a household may use such as solar panels, wind turbine etc, a question will ask if households recycle, and whether they recycle tin, glass or aluminum
In the health section they have asked questions in 1991 and 2000 on health conditions that prevent persons from carrying out everyday life activities. The options have been reviewed to include Autism, Sickle-cell anemia and Lupus.
The question on type of health insurance coverage will ascertain whether a person has major medical, basic, HIP, Future care or no health insurance at all.
The Census is conducted under the authority of the Statistics Act, 2002, which requires everyone to respond – Bermudian and non-Bermudian. The Statistics Act prohibits the release of information about individual persons. All census information will be published in aggregate format to maintain anonymity. Moreover, no names will be entered into the Census computer file.
Any census worker who violates the rules of confidentiality under the Act, if proven, can be taken to court, fined and possibly imprisoned. However, interviewers have been trained in the importance of confidentiality and have taken an oath of secrecy.
