The Caribbean island of Anguilla, an Associate Member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), is preparing to make history later this October as it welcomes hundreds of regional data experts and development stakeholders for the first CARICOM statistical gathering ever hosted on its territory. Scheduled to run from October 26 to 30, 2026, the five-day series of meetings carries the central theme “Harmonising Data, Strengthening Resilience”, centered on aligning regional statistical practices to underpin more effective development planning and climate and economic resilience across Caribbean small island states.
The event will kick off with the 51st session of the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS), which will occupy the first three days of the program from October 26 to 28. During this opening gathering, participating statisticians and policy advisors will conduct a comprehensive review of progress on the CARICOM Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics. Attendees will also assess ongoing initiatives to upgrade the quality of data across key sectors, including economic performance, demographic trends, social welfare, environmental monitoring, and cross-sector integrated statistics. Additional discussion topics will cover the status of ongoing population and housing census projects across CARICOM member states, pathways to boost regional resilience through more accessible and reliable statistical information, and alignment with the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (ABAS). Participants will also hold consultations on collaborative work currently underway with global and regional development partners.
Following the conclusion of the SCCS meeting, the schedule will shift to two additional key gatherings on October 29 and 30: the 38th session of the Regional Census Coordinating Committee (RCCC) and the 16th Regional Statistical Research Seminar. The RCCC’s work will focus heavily on preparation for the 2030 Round of Population and Housing Censuses, including the development of coordinated regional strategies to standardize data collection and processing across member jurisdictions. Committee members will also wrap up outstanding assessments and work left incomplete from the 2020 census round.
The week-long event will close with the Regional Statistical Research Seminar, a collaborative forum designed to bring together researchers, practicing statisticians, and development stakeholders to share original research findings, debate innovative analytical approaches, and exchange cutting-edge ideas for refining statistical practices across the entire Caribbean region. According to official statements from the CARICOM Secretariat, all policy decisions and action items agreed upon during the meetings will be advanced through the organization’s Regional Statistics Programme (RSP), in close coordination with SCCS subsidiary bodies including the Advisory Group on Statistics, the RCCC, and cross-cutting Technical Working Groups.
Halim Brizan, Director of Regional Statistics at the CARICOM Secretariat, emphasized the long-term value of the gathering for the entire community. Brizan noted that the collaborative discussions held in Anguilla are expected to drive meaningful improvements in both the quality and practical applicability of statistical information across all CARICOM member and associate member states. “These efforts will contribute to strengthening national and regional statistical systems and advancing the production and dissemination of harmonised, high-quality statistics to support evidence-based decision-making and sustainable development across the Caribbean Community,” Brizan said.