Tablets Being Procured For 2022 Population/Housing Census

A total of 7,525 tablets are being procured for use in conducting the 2022 Population and Housing Census. This is the first time the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) will be using tablets to carry out this exercise. Making the announcement during a virtual post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday (January 5), Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval Williams, informed that Cabinet approved the award of a US$2.31 million contract by E-Learning Jamaica Company Limited, on behalf of STATIN, to Smart Mobile Solutions Ja Limited to provide the tablets.

The Population and Housing Census is conducted every 10 years since 1844 and is an important source of statistics for the Government. During a national census, data is collected from citizens across all parishes, divided into 5,776 enumeration districts. The data collected through door-to-door interviews include age, sex, marital status, household composition, family characteristics, and household size. This data is treated confidentially and analysed by STATIN which then publishes a report.

Information in the report is used by policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, civil society groups, faith-based organisations, the private sector, and the public sector to make informed decisions. The exercise was initially scheduled to take place in April 2021; however, due to the uncertainties surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and a reduction in the budget, the census was postponed until this year.

In the meantime, Minister Williams informed that Cabinet approved the award of a US$2.24 million contract for the provision of 11,500 tablets by E-Learning Jamaica Company Limited to Productive Business Solutions Limited.

In addition, Cabinet also approved the award of a contract for the provision of marketing and advertising services in the global tourist market space, for a period of three years from 1 December 2021 to 30 November 2024, in the amount of US$41.8 million to Accenture Interactive (Accenture Marketing Services LLC).