"It's your civic duty and you're obligated under the law."
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Ted Richardson is appealing to the nation to participate in the household listing survey, especially those whose address have not yet been counted.
The Department of Statistics (STAT) which falls under the responsibility of Ministry TEATT started the survey on February 1 and there is just two weeks left to complete the household listing fieldwork.
Minister Richardson pointed out that the information is relevant for the national socio-economic development of the country adding that the majority of countries in the world collect such data in order to plan their sustainable development.
The Department of STAT has been experiencing great difficulties to access households residing in some privately-owned and gated apartment and condo complexes.
STAT emphasizes that the legal base for the household listing survey is the national Statistics Ordinance (AB 2013, GT no.450).
Article seven of the ordinance says that if individuals do not comply by cooperating with the interviewers of STAT who are acting according to the ordinance, this would be considered a derelict of duty punishable by up to one year imprisonment or a fine of up to Naf. 5,000.
All residents of Dutch Sint Maarten are obliged to cooperate with providing the data to STAT for the Household Listing Survey, in order for population related statistics to be produced.
The survey takes less than 10-minutes. Data collected are basic demographic information from each household member.
The questionnaire consists of a short list of questions, related to the age, gender, country-of-birth and nationality of each member of the household.
STAT interviewers are approaching homes up to 8:00pm each day and on weekends.
