Census 2021 launched in Grand Cayman

(CMR) With their animated rendition of the Census 2021 jingle, George Town Primary School students helped launch Census 2021 in Grand Cayman Wednesday, 26 May 2021, at the Marriott Resort.

The jingle’s message urging all to be counted set the tone. Speakers, led by His Excellency the Governor, Martyn Roper, as the Census Patron, called for the public’s 100 percent participation in Census 2021.

Speakers emphasized the vital link between the national count’s data gathering and government’s as well as the private sector’s provision of services.  The public was reminded that informed decisions are not possible without information and that the future of the Cayman Islands depends on the gathering of accurate data.

Persons are encouraged to participate and answer all questions when the census enumerator visits all three islands, starting 10 October 2021. The Census will not reveal personal information. 

Speakers included Financial Secretary and Chief Officer  Kenneth Jefferson, who welcomed the gathering; Premier, Hon. Wayne Panton; Deputy Premier and Finance Minister, Hon. Christopher Saunders; Miss Teen Cayman Islands Jada Bodden; reigning Young Caymanian Leadership awardee Staci Scott and Senior Assistant Financial Secretary Michael Nixon. 

The launch included a short video featuring 106-year-old Mr. Wellesley Howell to represent the population over the years. Howell noted he has participated in six local censuses.

House Speaker, Hon. McKeeva Bush; Deputy Governor, Hon. Franz Manderson; Ministers Hon. Bernie Bush, Hon. Kenneth Bryan, Hon. Juliana O’Connor Connolly and Hon. Sabrina Turner; Parliamentary Secretaries Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks (also Deputy Speaker) and  Heather Bodden attended the launch. Chief Officers, other senior civil service personnel, and members of the public also participated in the event. 

After the ceremony, the ESO began signing up potential census workers from Grand Cayman to participate in the actual count. Hiring and training for some 500 enumerators start in June. 

Following census-taking over two months starting in October 2021, a preliminary census report featuring highlights such as the total population is scheduled to be out in the first quarter of 2022. The final report is scheduled for later that year.