Celebrating Caribbean Statistics Day: Harmonising Data and Strengthening Resilience
As we observe Caribbean Statistics Day, this year’s theme, ‘Harmonising Data and Strengthening Resilience,’ could not be more relevant for Grenada. For CARICOM, this is about far more than numbers. It is about equipping our countries with the information needed to make sound decisions, understanding our vulnerabilities, and building resilience in an increasingly uncertain world. For Small Island Developing States (SIDS), resilience is not measured solely by how we recover from crises, but by how well we prepare, how effectively we respond and how successfully we use lessons learned to strengthen our systems for the future.
Our vulnerabilities are well known. Climate change, natural disasters, economic shocks, and other external pressures can quickly undermine livelihoods and years of hard-won development gains. Grenada’s experience during Hurricane Beryl starkly demonstrated this reality, particularly for the people of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, highlighting the critical importance of timely, reliable data in guiding response, recovery and long-term planning.
In circumstances such as these, data becomes more than numbers. Reliable and timely information helps governments assess damage, identify affected communities, direct resources where they are most needed, and guide recovery. Long before disaster strikes, quality data can help us identify areas of vulnerabilities, strengthen preparedness, and make better investments in climate resilient infrastructure and services.
This is why strengthening resilience must also mean strengthening our statistical systems.
