The Statistical Institute of Belize covers a number of categories including unemployment figures, inflation, and exports, among many others. But to the regular viewer it might all seem like just a jumble of numbers and percentages. Well, statisticians say these figures are very important. So much so that every year the Caribbean and World Statistics day is celebrated on October 15th. Today a public exhibit was held at the George Price Center in Belmopan to commemorate this day. Here's more.
Diana Castillo-Trejo, Deputy Director General, SIB
"We usually observe this day every year. October 15th is the official day so we are celebrating today. We use this day to highlight the important work that is being done with respect to statistics by SIB as well as other partner agencies that produce statistics. So today we have with us for example the police department their statistical unit, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Human development, the Ministry of agriculture, the Central Bank."
"And On statistics day we like to focus on younger people so we have invited all the schools in the Belmopan area from primary school all the way to UB to come in and to take a look at what we do, hopefully to spark a little interest in statistics and mathematics in general in them."
"Well statistics first of all, the numbers paint a picture for us of where our country is. It tells us how we are progressing in meeting the goals that we have as a country. It helps to highlight areas we need to address so we have economic statistics, socio-economic statistics, education statistics, health statistics all of these will help to highlight what are the issues we need to address as a country. They help us plan for the future and they help us to track the progress we have been making."
As you heard, the police statistics unit was among the participants. They wouldn't give us any current crime stats but discussed the system they use to get their data.
Owen Lucas, Analyst, Police Statistics Unit
"Our basic system we called the police network system, that is CIMS. And this system is located in each police station when you go to a police station the police record your report into that system and as soon as your report is levied into that data system, we do statistics on it and it also analyze the data."
"We also do statistics on a GIS platform that shows the public what happens in their community. So it's a visual analysis of what is happening."
Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"Of crime in particular communities."
Owen Lucas, Analyst, Police Statistics Unit
"Yes. In terms of crime."
"This is the Salvapan, Maya Mopan and San Martin communities in Belmopan City, in this area here. What you are looking at is how establish and key points of interest including schools and fast food areas which is really business establishment impacting crime. Crime happens most in that surrounding area. And this is crime from July 2016 to December 2016. So it's not a recent crime that is happening, because we already found what was happening."
Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"You have more police presence in those areas?"
Owen Lucas, Analyst, Police Statistics Unit
"We have more police patrol and we can do it on a timely basis when the crime occurs, because we do those type of analysis on which dates it occurs, so we can more or likely send resources into that area on that certain date and time."
The theme for this year's stats day is "Improving the lives of people, advancing the action plan for statistics in CARICOM.
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