Tonga Statistics Day 2020 ^Featured

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga Lord Fakafanua, who was the chief guest of the event said the theme “reflects the importance of trust, authoritative data innovation in the public good in a national statistical system.”

“As we celebrate world statistics day today, we are joining the world in advocating for all decisions particularly those that will impact people to be evidence-based. Hence based on trust, trusted data means it is accurate, timely, authoritative, data that must be used not only in policy decisions but also in a work designed program for targeted people in need throughout all of Tonga.”

“It is a powerful tool to assist policymakers, decision-makers, businesses and households alike in this challenging time during this period of the novel coronavirus pandemic, we heavily rely on statistics to track the status of the pandemic and its economic and social impacts.”

He also congratulated the Department of Statistics for the launch of the Tonga Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey in which he hoped that the parliament and government will use it for policy intervention.

UNICEF Deputy Representative Programs Ms. Vathinee Jitjaturunt who read a joint statement from UNICEF and UNFPA via video conference said that Tonga has achieved a major milestone in the release of MICS Survey.

“I’m proud to say Tonga has achieved a major milestone in the release of MICS Survey, being the second country in the Pacific Region to release the final results, the updated data even more critical now amidst COVID-19 which it altering the life of children and women especially the most vulnerable.”

She also stressed the need for Tonga to use the available data to focus on the most vulnerable.

Two major reports were released at the event, The SDG Progress Report and the Tonga Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (Tonga MICS) Report.

Copies of the reports were presented to the Guest of Honour Lord Fakafanua by the Minister for Finance and National Planning Hon Tevita Lavemaau.

World Statistics Day was initiated by the United Nation on this day back in 2010 and aims to raise public awareness and build trust in official statistics and to promote the work of statisticians throughout the world.