A traditional dialogue to build trust and blend a mutual understanding between the Census Office and the Makira-Ulawa platform community was held at Hoto Village, Makira on Friday the 6th of September.
Census District Superintendent (CDS) Francis Badenogo said the traditional dialogue was the first of its kind and a step forward for the Census office.
He said having a mutual understanding and connection with communities and people around is important to ensure a smooth Census operation comes 4th November.
The dialogue was to raise awareness about the coming Census and its importance to the people there and why their participation in the Census is important and at the same time amalgamated common understanding between both parties.
“It’s impressive to see the community received us with great respect – a moving treat indeed.”
Highlights of the day include a warrior welcome, exchange of gifts – custom baskets, shell money, traditional necklace, cooked and uncooked food and a traditional farewell.
Grand chief Johnson Sunaone Taisae said they are willing and stand ready to assist the Census Office through its office in Makira province with necessary information.
Chief Taisae said providing accurate and essential data or information is crucial to guarantee government make informed decisions.
He then vowed his community full support and participation in the coming Census.
Welcoming the assurance, Census Commissioner and Government Statistician Douglas Kimi said the Census Office aim is to count every person in the country to ensure government make impartial distribution of funds and services to everyone/community.
He said the Census Office is exploring all necessary possibilities to reach all villages and communities across the country and count every single person. This is to avoid ‘undercount’ as reflected in previous Censuses.
Mr Kimi thanked all the Provincial Census Office staff including Honiara for their untiring effort in rising awareness through the communities and inform people about the importance of Census and why their participation is important.
Final list of successful candidates for the supervisor and enumerator positions are expected to ready and published by end of this month (September).
Census enumeration (counting) will be from the 4th of November to 8th of December under the slogan, ‘Kaont blo mi, fiusa blo mi’ or in English translation ‘My count, my future’.
Solomon Islands have its first census count in 1970, the second was in 1976, and again in 1986, 1999 and the latest and the fifth one in the series was in 2009.
This is the sixth census survey the country to have since the first one was conducted in 1970 under the then British authority.
Solomon Islands conducted census after every 10 years. The latest census was held in 2009.
