Citing an absence of resources among other reasons, the Development Planning Unit in its Annual report of 2012 has disclosed that detailed census information will not be available until the third quarter of this year [September, 2013]. Photo: VINO

Development Planning Unit Director, Mr Raymond Phillips, stated that the availability of trained staff continues to be a major challenge for the department as the necessary academic qualifications are not very popular and easy to acquire. Photo: VINO/File

Unfortunately, the report stated, the coding, editing, correcting and scanning of the 2010 population and Housing Census questionnaires are still continuing and as a result preliminary figures for the Territory are still not available.

The report, which was laid in the House of Assembly on July 25, 2013, complained that the unit continued to suffer from human resource constraints in addition to a lack of automation of data “as many of the data sources continue to pose a serious challenge in keeping the output timely”.

The report further cited the need for a ‘working departmental website’ which it stated is expected to improve the dissemination of information to all clientele locally, regionally and internationally.

According to the report, responses from departments and ministries have not improved regarding the National Integrated Development Strategy (NIDS) and the status of its implementation.

Further, as a result of a Cabinet decision issued in November, 2012 all development planning and related functions for the VI Government were expected to be officially transferred to the Ministry of Finance.

The report added that the current structure currently known as the DPU is to be converted into a Central Statistics Office. It was also anticipated that additional challenges would arise with respect to ensuring that the appropriate level of human resources would be in place so that the office can function at an optimal level.

The Development Planning Unit is headed by Director of Planning and Statistics, Mr Raymond Phillips.

Phillips stated that the availability of trained staff continues to be a major challenge for the department as the necessary academic qualifications are not very popular and easy to acquire. He added that this often forced the department to import the expertise more often than it would prefer.