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BNSI Holds First Meeting of the National Statistical Committee

Tue, May 5th 2026, 11:47 AM
Politics

The Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI) recently convened the first formal meeting of the National Statistical Committee, bringing together senior representatives from key ministries, government departments, and public agencies at BNSI's headquarters in Nassau. The milestone meeting marks the full operationalisation of a governance body provided for under the Statistics Act, 2021 and signals a decisive step forward in the coordinated development of official statistics in The Bahamas.

The National Statistical Committee serves as the principal coordination mechanism across the National Statistical System (NSS), bringing together the institutions that produce, use, and depend upon official data to guide public policy and national development.

The inaugural meeting addressed three foundational areas: the role and governance of the Committee within the national statistical framework; key priorities for strengthening the National Statistical System; and opportunities to improve data sharing and coordination among government institutions.

The Committee will also play a central role in supporting the development of a National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS), a comprehensive policy framework that will guide statistical investment, programming, and operations across The Bahamas for years to come.

Dr. Jamiko Deleveaux, Managing Director of BNSI and Chairman of the National Statistical Committee, underscored the significance of the moment.

"The production of high-quality statistics is not the responsibility of a single institution. It requires strong cooperation among ministries, departments, and agencies across government. The National Statistical Committee provides an important forum to strengthen this collaboration and ensure that The Bahamas continues to produce reliable and timely data to support national decision-making," stated Dr. Deleveaux.

The convening of the Committee comes at a pivotal moment for the national statistical system. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which has committed support to strengthening BNSI's institutional capacity, identified the establishment of the National Statistics Committee as a priority objective, alongside the formal adoption of the NSDS and the modernisation of statistical infrastructure. The first meeting of the Committee directly addresses these priorities, placing The Bahamas in alignment with international best practice for national statistical governance.

The establishment of a functioning National Statistical Committee also positions The Bahamas within a broader regional movement. The Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS), established in 1974 under the auspices of CARICOM, has long advocated for coordinated national statistical systems across the region as a foundation for evidence-based governance and sustainable development planning. The Bahamas' National Statistical Committee strengthens the country's capacity to contribute to and benefit from regional statistical harmonisation efforts.

The National Statistical Committee will meet monthly, with subsequent sessions expected to advance the governance framework, deepen inter-agency collaboration, and support the formal development and adoption of the NSDS.

About the Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI) 

The Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI), formerly the Department of Statistics, is the official national statistics agency responsible for producing and disseminating reliable, timely, and relevant data to support evidence-based decision-making across all sectors of Bahamian society. Established under the Statistics Act 2021, BNSI operates with legal authority to independently manage national data gathering operations, including censuses, surveys, and the publication of key economic and social indicators.

Guided by a multidisciplinary Board of Directors and aligned with the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, the Institute plays a critical role in supporting policy development, private sector growth, and public understanding. BNSI is committed to statistical excellence, data privacy and transparency. The Institute actively collaborates with regional and global partners to strengthen The Bahamas’ National Statistical System. To access BNSI data and reports, visit stats.gov.bs.

A Historic First: BNSI Convenes Inaugural National Statistical Committee Meeting - 

Representatives from government ministries, departments, and agencies gather at the Bahamas National Statistical Institute headquarters in Nassau for the inaugural meeting of the National Statistical Committee, March 2026. Seated from left: Serena P. Bethel, Senior Statistician, Central Bank of The Bahamas; Clarice Turnquest, Deputy Director, BNSI; Dr. Jamiko Deleveaux, Managing Director, BNSI and Chairman of the National Statistical Committee; and Dr. Pearl McMillan, Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health and Wellness. Standing from left: Duane Miller, Director, Bahamas National Geographic Information System; Natalie Bethel, Operations Senior Associate, Inter-American Development Bank; Dr. Nicola Virgil-Rolle, Member, National Development Plan Steering Committee; Charlene Laing, Director, Department of Information and Communication Technology; Jade Grey, Member, National Development Plan Steering Committee; Sharmaine Sinclair, Deputy Director, Department of Education; Georgina Delancy, Director, Ministry of Tourism, Investment and Aviation; Ximena Clark, Consultant, Inter-American Development Bank; and Jose Luis Saboin Garcia, Country Economist, Inter-American Development Bank.

The Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI) recently convened the first formal meeting of the National Statistical Committee, bringing together senior representatives from key ministries, government departments, and public agencies at BNSI's headquarters in Nassau. The milestone meeting marks the full operationalisation of a governance body provided for under the Statistics Act, 2021 and signals a decisive step forward in the coordinated development of official statistics in The Bahamas.
The National Statistical Committee serves as the principal coordination mechanism across the National Statistical System (NSS), bringing together the institutions that produce, use, and depend upon official data to guide public policy and national development.
The inaugural meeting addressed three foundational areas: the role and governance of the Committee within the national statistical framework; key priorities for strengthening the National Statistical System; and opportunities to improve data sharing and coordination among government institutions.
The Committee will also play a central role in supporting the development of a National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS), a comprehensive policy framework that will guide statistical investment, programming, and operations across The Bahamas for years to come.
Dr. Jamiko Deleveaux, Managing Director of BNSI and Chairman of the National Statistical Committee, underscored the significance of the moment.
"The production of high-quality statistics is not the responsibility of a single institution. It requires strong cooperation among ministries, departments, and agencies across government. The National Statistical Committee provides an important forum to strengthen this collaboration and ensure that The Bahamas continues to produce reliable and timely data to support national decision-making," stated Dr. Deleveaux.
The convening of the Committee comes at a pivotal moment for the national statistical system. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which has committed support to strengthening BNSI's institutional capacity, identified the establishment of the National Statistics Committee as a priority objective, alongside the formal adoption of the NSDS and the modernisation of statistical infrastructure. The first meeting of the Committee directly addresses these priorities, placing The Bahamas in alignment with international best practice for national statistical governance.
The establishment of a functioning National Statistical Committee also positions The Bahamas within a broader regional movement. The Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS), established in 1974 under the auspices of CARICOM, has long advocated for coordinated national statistical systems across the region as a foundation for evidence-based governance and sustainable development planning. The Bahamas' National Statistical Committee strengthens the country's capacity to contribute to and benefit from regional statistical harmonisation efforts.
The National Statistical Committee will meet monthly, with subsequent sessions expected to advance the governance framework, deepen inter-agency collaboration, and support the formal development and adoption of the NSDS.
About the Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI) 
The Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI), formerly the Department of Statistics, is the official national statistics agency responsible for producing and disseminating reliable, timely, and relevant data to support evidence-based decision-making across all sectors of Bahamian society. Established under the Statistics Act 2021, BNSI operates with legal authority to independently manage national data gathering operations, including censuses, surveys, and the publication of key economic and social indicators.
Guided by a multidisciplinary Board of Directors and aligned with the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, the Institute plays a critical role in supporting policy development, private sector growth, and public understanding. BNSI is committed to statistical excellence, data privacy and transparency. The Institute actively collaborates with regional and global partners to strengthen The Bahamas’ National Statistical System. To access BNSI data and reports, visit stats.gov.bs.
A Historic First: BNSI Convenes Inaugural National Statistical Committee Meeting - 
Representatives from government ministries, departments, and agencies gather at the Bahamas National Statistical Institute headquarters in Nassau for the inaugural meeting of the National Statistical Committee, March 2026. Seated from left: Serena P. Bethel, Senior Statistician, Central Bank of The Bahamas; Clarice Turnquest, Deputy Director, BNSI; Dr. Jamiko Deleveaux, Managing Director, BNSI and Chairman of the National Statistical Committee; and Dr. Pearl McMillan, Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health and Wellness. Standing from left: Duane Miller, Director, Bahamas National Geographic Information System; Natalie Bethel, Operations Senior Associate, Inter-American Development Bank; Dr. Nicola Virgil-Rolle, Member, National Development Plan Steering Committee; Charlene Laing, Director, Department of Information and Communication Technology; Jade Grey, Member, National Development Plan Steering Committee; Sharmaine Sinclair, Deputy Director, Department of Education; Georgina Delancy, Director, Ministry of Tourism, Investment and Aviation; Ximena Clark, Consultant, Inter-American Development Bank; and Jose Luis Saboin Garcia, Country Economist, Inter-American Development Bank.
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