UNSD Document

3. Functions -

For the purposes of this Act, the duties of the Chief Statistician shall Functions. Include a duty-

(a) to take any census or survey in Belize;

(b) to collect, compile, analyse, abstract and publish statistical information relating to the social, agricultural, mining, commercial, industrial and general activities and conditions of the inhabitants of this country;

(c) to collaborate with departments of Government and with local authorities in the collection, compilation, analysis and publication of statistical records of administrations and departments; and

(d) generally to organise a coordinated scheme of social and economic statistics relating to Belize.

4.

(1)Appointment of Chief Statistician -

For the purposes of this Act, there shall be a Chief Statistician who shall be a public officer appointed by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, as provided in section 107 of the Constitution.

(2) Delegation of Functions -

The Chief Statistician may delegate in writing his powers and functions under this Act.

5. Power to direct that a population census be taken -

The Minister may by Order published in the Gazette, direct that a census or survey shall be taken for Belize or any part thereof, or any class inhabitants thereof and any such Order may prescribe -

(a) the date or dates on or between which such census or survey is to be taken;

(b) the information to be obtained in such census or survey.

6. Collection and compilation of statistics -

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Chief Statistician may, and on the direction of the Minister the Chief Statistician shall, collect, whether in conjunction with any census or survey or not, statistics relating to all or any of the matters set out in the First Schedule to this Act either in Belize generally or in any part thereof.

(2) The Chief Statistician shall cause the statistics collected under this Act to be compiled, tabulated and analysed and, subject to the provisions of this Act, may cause such statistics or abstracts thereof to be published, with or without comments thereon, in such a manner as he may determine.

7. Power to obtain information -

(1) It shall be lawful for the Chief Statistician or any person acting on his behalf to require any person-

(a) (First Schedule) to furnish, in such form and manner and within such time as may be specified by any notice in writing, such periodical or other information, estimates or returns, concerning such of the matters set out in the First Schedule of this Act as may be so specified; and

(b) to supply him with particulars either by interviewing such person personally or by leaving at the last known address or by posting under registered cover to the last known address of such person a form having thereon a notice requiring such a form to be completed and returned in the manner and within the time specified in the notice.

Any such notice under this subsection shall state that it is served in exercise of tile powers conferred by this subsection.

(2) Any person, having the custody or charge of any public records or documents, or of the records or documents of any local authority, corporation, person, partnership, firm, company, society or association from which, in the opinion of the Chief Statistician, information in respect of the matter in relation to which the collection of statistics is required can be obtained or which would aid in the completion or correction of such statistics, shall, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law enjoining secrecy, grant to the Chief Statistician or any officer acting on his behalf access to such records or documents for the purpose of obtaining therefrom such information.

(3) The Chief Statistician may, by advertisement in the Gazette and in such newspaper as may appear to him to be sufficient for notifying the persons concerned, publish a list of any classes or descriptions of businesses or callings in relation to which particulars or information will be required for the purpose of any statistical enquiry under this Act and upon such publication it shall be the duty of every person carrying on a business or calling of any such class or description as aforesaid, who has not received a notice under subsection (1) of this section, to inform the Chief Statistician or any person specified in the advertisement within such period, being not less than twenty-eight days after the date of publication of the advertisement, as may be specified therein, that he is carrying on such a business or calling as specified and to give the Chief Statistician such particulars or information of the business or calling as may be so specified.

8. Power of Entry -

The Chief Statistician or any person acting on his behalf may, after giving such notice as may be prescribed, upon production of his authorisation, for any purpose -

(a) connected with the taking of a census or survey;

(b) connected with the collection of other statistics;

enter, at such times as may be prescribed, any dwelling-house or any premises where persons are employed or any premises where it appears to him likely that persons are employed; and in either such case may make such enquiries as may be necessary for the performance of his duties.