Last week, the incumbent Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, pronounced that The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has fallen from its scientific research mission. At the time, he was celebrating The University of The West Indies’ 75th and 70th anniversary of its Seismic Research Centre (SRC) (Express, June …
Read More »Noble: The confidence-trick and the Central Statistical Office; T&T urgently needs data handling upgrade
One of the most dangerous things in life is to have someone ‘sweet talk’ you while being inauthentic. They say all the right words you want to hear, but the words do not mean a thing! The Joint Select Committee on the Central Statistical Office (CSO) had words but nothing …
Read More »Noble: Not so fast; facts are stubborn—why TTPS poll is unfortunate attempt at misdirection
The Mark Twain quote ‘facts are stubborn, statistics are flexible’ seemed appropriate last week, as the news about New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s misclassification of 9,000 Covid-19 deaths broke, shattering the carefully groomed image of his pandemic achievements as a national leader. Cuomo, ably assisted by his aides, sought to …
Read More »Noble: A week of misinformation; how Chamber, UK MP and anonymous tweets added to ‘noise’
There appears to be broad agreement that the economic challenges, in the wake of Covid-19, are enormous. Facing a precipitous export earnings decline of 41% (roughly $10B in the last year), we should all be thinking about how to navigate the future: how to make the most of what we …
Read More »Noble: What map data says about Covid-19 risk to Sangre Grande, Maraval and MoH warnings
Have you ever wondered how your favourite food store decides where to locate your neighbourhood store? They use information—like what the health ministry uses—about the country: where our people live, their habits and the roadways they are likely to use. Maps in such systems contain useful information but, more importantly, …
Read More »Noble: For Better or Worse? Why proposed NSI Bill won’t provide statistics we need
Official statistics seeks to inform the public about social and economic matters and helps develop and evaluate public policy. It is the foundation for a properly run society. In 2014, the IMF bemoaned: “Growing statistical shortcomings have rendered the conduct of surveillance ever harder and must be addressed.” In other …
Read More »Rambachan’s appalling miscalculation of T&T wage statistics is playing with lives
Official statistics is not a negotiation game, it affects the reality of people’s everyday lives. The cavalier televised response of MP Suruj Rambachan—“If you say 41%, I say 75%, you could say 60%”—in attempting to justify his claim that 75% of Trinidadians work for less than TT$6,000 per month is …
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