DevInfo DataBase for Montserrat in the Works

Participants work to develop a list of indicators which will be available in the new devinfo.org database for Montserrat. (Statistics Dept Photo)
Participants work to develop a list of indicators which will be available in the new devinfo.org database for Montserrat. (Statistics Dept Photo)
Participants work to develop a list of indicators which will be available in the new devinfo.org database for Montserrat. (Statistics Dept Photo)
Participants work to develop a list of indicators which will be available in the new devinfo.org database for Montserrat. (Statistics Dept Photo)
Participants in a workshop to build a devinfo.org database for Montserrat. (Statistics Dept Photo)
Participants in a workshop to build a devinfo.org database for Montserrat. (Statistics Dept Photo)

ST. JOHN’S – Staff at the Statistics Department have begun working on a national socio-economic database for Montserrat.
In September, stakeholders from across various ministries were given the opportunity to define the key areas for which data should be collected to be made available on a new web-based platform.
DevInfo is a global database which provides country specific data across a range of sectors. Some of the sectors to be included are education, health, and tourism.
According to Programme Advisor Gary Goldman, the project is being funded by the Caribbean Development Bank and managed with the support of CARICOM and UNICEF.
Goldman told the press Thursday that following the workshop with local stakeholders a 30-page project implementation plan was developed.
This week, Goldman is on island to oversee the design of the template which the data will be put in and then it is to be submitted to the Ministry of Finance for review.
The consultant explained that Montserrat previously had one person trained in database design and management but after they left the Statistics Department was without someone to continue. This time, the entire staff is involved in the training and database design so there is much redundancy.
Goldman noted that as Montserrat is a very small island, the data made available is for broader indicators, rather than more detailed information which could reveal the identity of individuals.
January 2016 is the target for completion. The data will then be searchable on devinfo.org.

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