Statistics Division clears the air on WhatsApp message about fake census workers, saying impersonators are making their job more difficult

A social-media message alleging that persons are impersonating
census workers from the Statistics Division – in order to gain access
to residents’ homes and rob them – is “very concerning,” says
Rohan Anthony, the senior statistician.

The WhatsApp warns residents to be cautious, as these
impersonators are carrying identification to prove they are with the
Division and are wearing logo-branded shirts.

The Statistics Division is now preparing for the Population and
Housing Census expected to take place later this year.

Accordingly, there are, in fact, census workers in the field. They are
compiling information related to buildings – houses; businesses; and
their locations – ahead of the actual enumeration exercise.

Anthony notes that, since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been
reluctant to share information about themselves; and now, these
impersonators are making it even harder for the actual workers
who are involved in the pre-mapping exercise.
 
The senior statistician says that persons should stop making it
difficult to conduct the census, which is a very important exercise
that provides vital information for development.
 
The Division has not officially brought the matter to the attention of
the Police – since, reportedly, it learned of the WhatsApp message
only on Wednesday, February 14 – Anthony is hoping the Police will
catch and deal with these individuals to the fullest extent of the law.

Rohan Anthony, senior statistician.

In the meantime, a Rural East woman tells REAL News she
discounted the WhatsApp warning immediately upon reading it,
since it clearly stated “They have documents and letterheads from the
Department of Home Affairs… .”

“Anyone with common sense knows that Antigua and Barbuda has
no such department,” she says, “but some people just like to pick up
drama and run with it, no matter how fake it is.”

Meanwhile, Deborah Barnes, the Division’s mapping supervisor and
statistical officer, says the process has not yet reached the stage

where access to households – to conduct the actual survey – is
required.
 
When that stage is reached, Barnes says that residents will be
notified; and she notes that the current pre-mapping exercise should
conclude on March 31, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

At this time, any interaction with the public would be to determine
the use of a particular building, since some are both residential and
commercial.
 
Further, Barnes says the workers’ ID cards carry the Statistics
Division’s logo and are orange in colour.

That was Deborah Barnes from the Statistics Division, speaking
on State television.
 
Barnes recommends that persons take a photo of any person
claiming to be a worker from the Statistics Division, or call the office
to find out if anyone is working in that particular area.
 
Today, Thursday, February 15, the pre-mapping exercise is being
undertaken in Sutherlands north, Cedar Valley, and Cooks Hill Road.
 
The employees usually work in teams of two; but if the other teams
complete their location early, they would join another group, Barnes
says.