Census figures ‘alarming’

The Lord is high above all heathen and his glory above the heavens.

He maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children.

– (Psalm 113 vs 4 and 8).

The report of the 2021 Population and Housing Census was published in the Sunday Sun, April 21, 2024 which was conducted by the Barbados Statistical Service (BSS) and in it was reported that the population is officially in decline – that is, the number of people dying each year surpasses those being born.

The Census revealed that “the population of Barbados is an aged one, and not refreshing itself at a rate fast enough to replenish itself”.

The Census shows that the annual death and birth in Barbados were each above 2 000 in 2016. By the end of 2022, deaths were well past 3 000 while births were closer to 2 000.

In the Census Day 2021, in the BSS information, it was outlined that the population declined by 8 731 between the 2021 census and the 2010 one. Barbados’ population at the time of the 2021 Census was 269 090 (130 037 males, 139 053 females) compared with the 2010 Census of 277 821 (135 018 males, 144 803 females). With the growth rate of the females continuing to outgrow the males.

Those figures from the BSS should be of great concern to all of us. For surely we cannot do anything about the death rate, but we have to do something about the birth rate, it simply means that our females have to start having more children now with the financial help of the Government, that is giving allowances to mothers for over three or four children.

Sometime ago, someone said to me jokingly that within their district and surrounding areas there were 68 deaths but they have not seen 68 women pregnant during that time.

The director of BSS, Mr Aubrey Browne, in his report also shared his concern that the recruitment of enumerators for their pilot exercise was changed where a number of people who were unemployed from across the island’s constituencies were then given to the department. And some of them started and only collected the training fee and then dropped out of the exercise.

A census is a serious undertaking and the BSS must be allowed to select their own team to do the job. I have done three censuses for the government in the past – two on population and one on agriculture and to be honest you cannot use any and everybody to be an enumerator for it is not a 9 to 3 exercise, you have to be out there in the field on evenings, Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays when you will find the household at home.

It can be a very frustrating exercise, it is not for young people without patience and tact.

Luncheon

The St Alban’s Anglican Church will be holding their Mother’s Day luncheon on Sunday, May 12, from 12.30 p.m to 4 p.m. on the church grounds.

Tea Party

The student Body of Codrington College and Codrington Trust ‘MASQUERIDE” will hold a tea party under the patronage of Her Excellency the Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason on Saturday, May 18, at 2 p.m. on the Greater Lawn, Codrington College, College Land, St John, featuring the Barbados Defence Force Band, the Arch Hall Jazz Ensemble, Okera Hill and more.

Fish fry

The Church of Christ the King, Rock Dundo, St Michael will hold their fish fry on May 25, on the church grounds from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Death

It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Mr Norman Howard, a member of The Cathedral of St Michael and All Angels. He was also the owner of Howard Supermarket in Bush Hall, St Michael.

His funeral service took place on Thursday at the Cathedral. This column expresses it sympathy to his wife and children. May he rest in Jesus Christ and Rise in Glory.

Outside the

by Canon Errington Massiah