Tag Archives: statistics

“[…] As we navigate 2026, we find ourselves facing a rather curious paradox: the very mechanism designed to illuminate public spending is operating with the lights dimmed. “[…] Monitoring without regular reporting is like installing a state-of-the-art security camera but refusing to plug in the monitor. The conspicuous infrequency of …

In light of current general statements about economic diversification, it will not surprise my readers that I will proceed on my break, commencing today, only after some further comments concerning pan and culture. In fact, one of my intended video documentaries will be about my exposure to pan, which started …

“[…] What is perhaps most instructive from the data on Trinidad and Tobago’s national culture is our incredibly low score on long-term orientation (17 out of 100 vs 77 out of 100 in China and 50 out of 100 in the US). “It demonstrates a low propensity to sufficiently consider …

“[…] Trinidad and Tobago has very low levels of reported trust given its GDP per capita… Most people do not trust the police. Most people do not believe justice is meted out fairly… There is even mistrust in the Road March competition with year-on-year allegations of the ‘Soca Mafia’. “[…] …

Soca star Patrice Roberts linked the negative effect of current financial challenges on the ability to experience the joy, love and togetherness of Carnival. As a consequence, she cancelled her scheduled ticketed concert on 22 January and will perform free instead. Her motivation, as reported in the Trinidad Express newspaper …

“[…] Almost daily, the discourse has been filled with opinions on Cepep and Cepep workers: UNC/PNM supporters, radio commentators and newspaper columnists present opinions and arguments on one side or the other. “These are all useful for taking the public temperature. But, after nearly 20 years of Cepep, absent from …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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 …