THE CENTRAL STATISTICS OFFICE

2.1 Introduction

The Central Statistics Office (CSO), formerly known as the Central Statistical Office was created in July 1945, in consequence of a recommendation made by the "Commission of Enquiry into the disturbances which occurred in the North of Mauritius in 1943". The primary function of the Office was to collect, improve, co-ordinate and analyse statistical information regarding every branch of the economic activity of the country.

Following the introduction of the Statistics Act 2000, the Office is known as the Central Statistics Office. The scope of its activities has gradually been extended to cover a large range of statistical activities, and now includes:

• General organisation of a consolidated scheme of social/economic statistics.
• Coordinating and monitoring statistical activities in government and statutory bodies.
• Conduct of national censuses and surveys.
• Regular publication of Economic and Social Indicators, various statistical digests and ad-hoc statistical reports.
• Participation in international conferences/seminars/meetings.

2.2 Location

The CSO was first located in the upper wing of the building of the Town Hall of the Municipality of Beau-Bassin Rose-Hill.

In 1949, it moved to a rented building at 8, Reverend Lebrun Street in Rose Hill. Following a request by the Director of Statistics for the construction of suitable offices, a building to accommodate the CSO was constructed on a plot of state land situated near the Court House in Rose Hill. This building has been the CSO's headquarters until 1989.

With increasing statistical activities as well as staff, C.S.O had to rent additional office space in nearby buildings. When this also proved insufficient, six storeys were rented in the Toorawa building, situated in Jummah Mosqué Street, Port Louis, to house the office headquarters.

In 1996, CSO headquarters had to move again, this time to the L.I.C. Centre in Port Louis, where it currently occupies an office space of around 1,820 m² of office space.

2.3 The Statistics Act

The overall framework governing the collection, compilation and dissemination of statistics is embodied in the Statistics Act which was first passed on the 7 April 1951. This act was repealed on 2 April 2001 and replaced by the Statistics Act 2000, which was proclaimed on the same day. The new Act is posted on CSO's website http://statmauritius.gov.mu. Section 5 empowers the Director of Statistics to, inter alia,

Ø       Take any Census in Mauritius.

Ø       Collect, compile, analyse, abstract, publish and otherwise disseminate statistical information relating to the commercial, industrial, financial, agricultural, social, demographic, economic activities and general conditions of the people of Mauritius.

Ø       Co-ordinate and monitor statistical activities in all Ministries and Government Departments, local authorities and statutory bodies.

Ø       Collaborate with Ministries and Government Departments in the collection, compilation, analysis, publication and dissemination of statistical information including statistics derived from the activities of those Ministries and departments.

Ø       Organise a co-ordinated scheme of social and economic statistics and statistics of sustainable development relating to Mauritius.

Ø       Ensure the independence, accuracy, relevance, integrity, timeliness and professional standard of statistical information produced by the Central Statistics Office.

Ø       Ensure the security and confidentiality of information collected under this Act.

Ø       Cause the statistics collected under this Act to be compiled, tabulated and analysed and, subject to this Act, cause the statistics or abstracts of them to be published and disseminated, with or without observations thereon, in such manner and by such media as he may determine.

The Statistics Act puts an obligation on respondents to furnish information required by the CSO. In fact Section 15 of the Act stipulates, inter alia, that any person who

• Hinders or obstructs an authorised officer in the execution of any powers under the act.
• Refuses to fill up and supply the particulars required in any return, form or other document, lawfully left with or sent to him.
• Knowingly makes any statement which is untrue shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 20,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.

At the same time, the Act makes provision to ensure confidentiality of information supplied by respondents. Any officer who, without lawful authority publishes or communicates to any person otherwise than in the ordinary course of his employment any information acquired by him in the course of his employment shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 50,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.

The CSO does not publish any individual return or part of it. Besides, no report, abstract or other document, containing particulars comprised in the return or answer so arranged as to enable identification of the particulars with any person, undertaking or business, shall be published, admitted in evidence or disclosed to any Ministry or Government Department unless the previous consent in writing has been obtained from the person making the return or giving the answer.

2.4 Statistics Advisory Council

The Statistics Act 2000 provides for the establishment of a Statistics Advisory Council. The functions of the Council are to advise the Minister with regard to:

1. The improvement, extension, co-ordination and harmonisation of statistical activities in Mauritius.
2. Any gaps and deficiencies in the provision of statistical services in Mauritius.
3. The actual and perceived integrity of, and public confidence and trust in, statistics produced in Mauritius.
4. The setting up of priorities and programmes of work to be adopted by the Central Statistics Office.
5. The promotion of an environment which is supportive of the collection, production, dissemination and use of statistics.
6. The maintenance of confidentiality and security of individual information.
7. The maintenance of independence, accuracy, relevance, integrity, timeliness and professional standard of statistical information produced in Mauritius.
8. Any matter referred to it by the Minister relating to statistical activities and provision of statistical services in Mauritius.

The Council comprises members with experience in statistical matters, broadly representative of groups or interests concerned with the production and use of statistics, including Ministries and Government Departments, employers, labour unions, specialists in information technology, economic, financial and banking interests, social interests, users and producers of statistics, academia and consumer organisations.

2.5 Organisation of the CSO

(a) General

The CSO falls under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. It is responsible for all statistical activities, with a few exceptions such as

·        fisheries and health statistics which fall under the responsibility of the respective Ministry, and

·        banking and balance of payment statistics for which the Bank of Mauritius is responsible

The Office has decentralised its activities through the creation of Statistical Units in many government ministries. These Units are staffed by officers on the establishment of the CSO but directly servicing their respective ministries in all statistical matters. There are some 50 officers of the office posted in various Ministries/Departments:

(b) Staffing

(1) Directors

The following persons have been Directors of Statistics since the creation of the CSO in 1945:

(2) Technical

The CSO started operation with a technical staff of eight persons, comprising a Senior Statistician, an Assistant Statistician, a Senior Compiler and five Compilers.

Over time, the staff has gradually increased to meet the growing and diversifying demand for official statistics. Currently the technical staff has reached 213 consisting of:

1 Director

3 Deputy Directors

5 Principal Statisticians

5 Senior Statisticians

34 Statisticians

43 Senior Statistical Officers

122 Statistical Officers

(3) Non-technical

Besides staff of the Statistical Cadre, the Office has a pool of administrative staff which provides the necessary supporting services. This pool presently consists of a Personnel Officer, an Office Superintendent, an Office Supervisor, a Higher Purchasing and Supply Officer, a Finance Officer, a Higher Executive Officer, an Assistant Finance Officer, an Executive Officer, twelve Clerical Officers/Higher Clerical Officers, two Confidential Secretaries, a Senior Word Processing Operator, four Word processing Operators, a Head Office Attendants, ten Office Attendants, two Receptionists/Telephone Operators, three Drivers and two General Workers.

(c) Equipment

In order to avail itself of the facilities offered by development in modern technology, the CSO has acquired latest office equipment to enhance the quality and timeliness of its output. The Cartography Unit is equipped with digitizers, plan plotters and a plan photocopier for the production of Enumeration Area maps for field work and presentation maps for publication.

All statistical units are equipped with PCs, and are connected to a local server. Access to internet and e-mail is available to all staff. The office has also acquired a heavy duty photocopier and 2 duplicating machines for the production of economic and social indicators and other publications.

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