The Government of Saint Lucia has launched a bold five-year National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS), a comprehensive plan designed to revolutionize how the country collects, manages, and uses data to guide national development, improve public policy, and tackle pressing challenges such as crime.
At the heart of the initiative is the National Statistical System (NSS), led by the Central Statistical Office. Officials say the NSDS will consolidate poverty, economic, education, health, demographic, and other datasets, enabling a more coordinated and evidence-based approach to decision-making.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Director of Statistics Richard Harris pointed to the role of better statistics in addressing the social issues that fuel violence and insecurity.
“What are we doing to our bouncing little baby boys that, within 12 to 15 years of life, we literally live in fear of them?” he asked.
Harris stressed that “a consolidation of our existing poverty, economic, education, health, demographic, and other data sets through the NSDS and the overall strengthening of our national statistical system can help us answer this question of crime and other pertinent questions.”
Director of Statistics Sean Mathurin underscored the urgency of building a modern data ecosystem to guide national planning.
“In an era where data drives decision, the ability to collect, analyze and interpret accurate statistics is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity,” Mathurin said.
“Timely, relevant and reliable data underpins every effective policy decision, economic strategy and sustainable development initiative. At the heart of this approach is our national statistical system, the NSDS led by the Central Statistical Office.”
The NSDS is expected to strengthen Saint Lucia’s capacity to provide high-quality, timely statistics, ensuring that government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders have access to reliable information to support planning, investment, and long-term sustainable growth.
