The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission convened the 6th Meeting of the Regional Data Governance Council (RDGC) from 21–24 April, 2026, in Grenada.
The 4-day meeting forms part of the OECS Data for Decision Making (DDM) Project and brings together Directors of Statistics, other experts in statistics, and development partners to advance data governance across the Eastern Caribbean.
The RDGC serves as a critical platform for strengthening regional data systems by promoting harmonised methodologies, improving data quality and accessibility, and supporting evidence-based policymaking across OECS Member States.
Delivering remarks at the opening ceremony, the OECS Director General Dr Didacus Jules underscored a world where data has become our most critical navigational instrument: “The next phase of our journey must move beyond data production to data utilisation. Because data that is not used is indistinguishable from data that does not exist. We must ensure that data informs budget decisions, shapes development planning, guides climate adaptation strategies, and underpins our regional and international engagements.
This requires more than systems. It requires a culture. A culture of evidence-based decision-making. A culture in which leadership demands data, trusts data, and uses data. A central pillar of this transformation is harmonisation. For too long, fragmentation has been the silent tax on our development. Different methodologies, different classifications, different standards; each of these reduces our ability to compare, to aggregate, and to act collectively. Harmonisation is therefore not a technical exercise. It is a political and economic imperative. It is the foundation upon which collective strength is built.”
Representatives from key development partners, including the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the World Bank, also delivered remarks at the opening ceremony, highlighting that this meeting is fundamental for discussions regarding the 2030 Census round and the microdata catalogue.
Dindial Ramrattan, Statistician at the CDB, stated: “The census remains the backbone of our statistical systems. The methodological decisions we validate here will have lasting implications for data comparability, policy planning, and resource allocation across the region. It is essential that these decisions reflect both global standards and regional realities. Similarly, the OECS microdata catalogue represents a transformative step toward making data more accessible and usable. But its success hinges on trust.
We must get the fundamentals right, taking full account of metadata standards, anonymisation protocols, and access policies and usage guidelines. These are not merely technical details; they are the building blocks of a system that is credible, secure, and fit for purpose.”
Anna Luisa Paffhausen, Senior Economist at the World Bank, emphasised that the OECS Data for Decision Making (DDM) Project aimed to foster greater analysis of data produced in the region that can help countries address key policy and development priorities. “This meeting carries particular significance as the OECS DDM Project enters its final year. It advances progress across three critical areas in line with the Project’s development objectives. First, on the data production side, the Council will assess lessons learned from the 2020 Population and Housing Census round to inform preparation for the 2030 round. This represents an important contribution to strengthening the capacity of Eastern Caribbean states to produce essential data for national and regional analysis, leveraging economies of scale through regionally anchored initiatives. Second, the presentations, discussions, and decisions on the operationalisation of the OECS Micro Data Catalogue will directly strengthen data dissemination across the region, again, drawing on the power of a regional approach.”
Project Manager for the Data for Decision Making Project Sherma Beroo, added that the meeting is significant to the work of the Data for Decision Making (DDM) project and the OECS Commission Statistics Unit, which plays a central role in advancing regional statistical integration and promoting the adoption of harmonised standards and methodologies. “The RDGC serves as a key mechanism through which this mandate is realised — bringing together technical expertise and leadership to strengthen collaboration, enhance data governance frameworks, and ensure that our statistical systems remain responsive to the evolving needs of policymakers and citizens alike.”
The meeting featured presentations and technical discussions involving national statistical offices from across the OECS, including Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia. The Turks and Caicos Islands were also represented. Participants reviewed progress, identified challenges, and charted a coordinated path forward for strengthening national statistical systems. The Regional Data Governance Council (RDGC) is currently chaired by the Director of Statistics for St Kitts and Nevis Patrina McArthur.
Key focus areas for the 2026 RDGC Meeting included:
- Advancing the implementation of the OECS Microdata Catalogue to improve data access and use
- Finalising methodological guidance for the 2030 Round of Population and Housing Censuses
- Strengthening the Survey of Living Conditions (SLC) and Household Budget Survey (HBS) frameworks
- Reviewing progress under major regional initiatives, including the Data for Decision Making Project and the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project
- Mobilising technical and financial support from development partners
The agenda also allowed for dedicated sessions with regional and international organisations such as the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Caribbean Community (Caricom), Food and Agriculture (FAO) Organisation, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America (UNECLAC) and the Caribbean and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), highlighting the collaborative approach to regional data development.
A major outcome of the meeting was the review and adoption of the RDGC Work Plan and Roadmap for 2026–2030, which will outline priority actions, timelines, and resource mobilisation strategies to support sustainable data systems in the region.
Additionally, technical sessions addressed the operationalisation of microdata cataloguing systems, including metadata standards, anonymisation protocols, and access frameworks, as well as guidance notes to support national implementation.
The RDGC also deliberated on commissioned research, census data availability, and procurement methods to support statistical development, ensuring that OECS Member States are equipped with reliable and timely data to inform national and regional decision-making.
By the end of the meeting, member states agreed on actionable next steps to strengthen partnerships and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a coordinated regional approach to data governance.
OECS
