Statistics vital for development

By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, October 23, 2013 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)

THAT was the message from the Department National Planning and Monitoring and the National Statistics Office at a consultation meeting with stakeholders on the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) held yesterday at the Hideaway Hotel in Port Moresby.

Various representatives from government agencies, development partners, and NGO groups were present at the meet to discuss the steps both organisations had, to address the issue the country faces in terms of proper statistics collection for the state and people of the country.

It was revealed at the meet that the country’s statistics were dis-aggregated and fragmented and poorly managed and coordinated under the current system.

Acting National Statistician Roko Koloma said that in 2004 when Papua New Guinea presented its MDG (Millennium Development Goals) report to the United Nations- the UN found that PNG’s MDG report had some irregularities due to the imprecise statistics that were contained in the report.

He said that the quality of analysis was poor in the country emphasising the lack of cooperation and isolation government agencies operated in when collecting statistic.

Acting Secretary for Planning Juliana Kubak said that the department was taking serious steps to address the statistical needs of the country.

“Because of a lack of good statistics we cannot plan properly, where we cannot measure our progress in terms of development.”

“Even our GDP was questionable by the International Monetary Fund because we have not been able to conduct Business Census since 2001.”

She emphasized the importance to ensure surveys are conducted regularly.