Grand Cayman (27 March 2008) - Members of the business community will have a say in what questions will be included in the national census to be conducted in 2010, the Financial Secretary announced yesterday

The Chamber of Commerce is being invited to nominate a representative to sit on a Census Advisory Committee.

Financial Secretary Kenneth Jefferson told a Chamber luncheon at the Wharf Restaurant that including one of its members in the advisory committee would ensure the business communitys needs were addressed in the census questionnaire in relation to data it required for future decision-making.

"We are formally inviting the Chamber to name a nominee for the Census Advisory Committee which will convene in May 2008," Jefferson said.

The last census, held in 1999, included 71 questions. While the Chamber of Commerce did not have a representative on the advisory committee for that census, the organisaiton played a part in publicising the survey.

The Cabinet approved in February this year the planning, preparation and implementation of the next population and household census to be held in October 2010.

"Early approval of the census by Cabinet is important in view of the required two to three years of preparation for the census," Jefferson said.

The Economic and Statistics Office (ESO) will carry out the census which aims to obtain a total count of residents in the Cayman Islands, along with their demographic, social and economic characteristics. The upcoming census will also involve building a registry of households.

In addition, Jefferson announced details of the latest consumer price index, which for the first time in 20 years expanded on how much people spend on communications, transport and health.

The Financial Secretary also urged the business sector to cooperate with the National Accounts Survey, due to be completed by the ESO this month, which will provide a clearer picture of Cayman's gross domestic product.