May 6, 2008 — The Eastern Caribbean Center of the University of the Virgin Islands will conduct the 2008 V.I. Community Survey (VICS) during May, June and July, according to a UVI news release.
This scientific survey of a sample of households is a follow up to the one conducted in 2007 that collected information similar to that gathered in the census of 2000.
VICS data for 2008 will be gathered on two topics — population and housing. Population questions cover items such as age, sex, education, ethnic origin, employment, health insurance, veteran status and disability. Housing questions cover items about the housing unit in which respondents live, such as number of rooms, utilities, ownership and rent.
"When processed, the 2008 VICS will provide data for government agencies which are tasked with organizing and planning for the social, educational, health, economic and other needs of the community," said Frank Mills, director of the Eastern Caribbean Center, according to the release. "The data is also used by private-sector individuals for decision making, and employed by others to develop important indices of the status of children in the territory."
UVI requests the cooperation of the public when interviewers carrying UVI photo IDs visit households on all three islands. Unlike the census, this is a sample survey and not every household will be interviewed.
The public is assured of the complete confidentiality of the information that is gathered, as the data is published in summary form only and individuals cannot be identified. As in the census, anonymity of respondents is a cornerstone feature of this survey.
"Each selected household can experience a sense of accomplishment by contributing to data that will greatly assist in the development of the Virgin Islands community," Mills said.
For more information, call the Eastern Caribbean Center at 693-1027.
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