Regional body of professional statisticians formed

The launching of the Caribbean Association of Professional Statisticians (CAPS) was held on Monday in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis during the opening ceremony of the 38th Meeting of the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) and the 23rd Meeting of the Regional Census Coordinating Committee (RCCC).

According to a press release from the Caricom Secretariat, the launch included the presentation of prizes to Roydenn Silcott of Montserrat and Jason Reynolds of Dominica, who were awarded for their creations of the CAPS’s logo and motto, respectively. According to the Statistics Department of Montserrat, Silcott was the sole submission from the country. The motto created by Reynolds, now in use by the CAPS, is “Promoting Statistics for Sustainable Development.”

The competitions were launched in April this year by the National Statistics Offices in collaboration with the Caricom Secretariat and judging was done on September 25 at the Caricom Secretariat in Turkeyen, the release said.

CAPS, a non-profit organisation, was conceptualised in 2009 as calls continued to be made for the clarification of statistics and for the heightening of the integral role of statistics in everyday life.

It is anticipated, the release said, that the establishment of the CAPS will enhance the harmonisation process within the region and that its membership directory could be a catalyst for the database of regional experts.