The Statistics Division of Antigua and Barbuda will transition to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), a semi-autonomous statutory body, as announced during Tuesday’s launch of the 2025 Population and Housing Census.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne revealed the NBS will become operational by the end of April 2025, following legislation passed in Parliament last year establishing the framework for the transition.
“Rather than have it as a department of government, to give it a statutory structure and perhaps sometime in the future, we may look towards even corporatizing it, so it has more of a corporate body unit and operates with the efficiency that is associated with statutory organizations rather than a department of government,” he said.
Chief Statistician and Census Officer Statchel Edwards outlined a two-phase implementation approach for the changeover.
“The transition from the Statistics Division to the National Bureau of Statistics marks a significant step forward towards modernizing our national statistical system,” Edwards said. “This transformation is essential to ensuring a more autonomous, efficient and responsive institution that meets the growing demand for high-quality statistics.”
The first phase will focus on establishing legal and procedural frameworks before Census 2025, while the second phase will expand the national statistical system after the census is completed.
“In 2024 July, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda passed a new law called the 2024 National Bureau of Statistics Act. This act shifts the Statistics Division from being a department within a government ministry to being a semi-autonomous body,” Edwards explained.
Edwards noted that the NBS will coordinate and strengthen the entire national statistical system, which extends beyond the Statistics Office itself.
“The national statistical system comprises not only the National Statistics Office or the Statistics Division, but government ministries and departments, the business community, development partners, NGOs, academia and also the public and financial institutions,” Edwards said.
Edwards explained the NBS will integrate data science, geospatial analysis and information technology to enhance efficiency and accuracy in data collection, processing and dissemination.
The Chief Statistician noted that the National Bureau of Statistics will adhere to the United Nations fundamental principles of official statistics, reinforcing commitment to transparency, professionalism and independence.
