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Liberia: Census "Enumerators" Cry Foul
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The Inquirer (Monrovia)
13 March 2008
Posted to the web 13 March 2008
D. Webster Cassell
What could be major a setback for the country's first post-war national census has sparked off at various census centers around the country as would be enumerators have begun boycotting the tabulation exercise.
The enumerators who are sitting on a four-day intensive workshop to effect the census process yesterday disrupted the normal process after receiving information that each enumerator is to receive US$5.00 per day.
Following the abrupt halt of the regular workshop session which began yesterday throughout the country, would be enumerators at the William V.S. Tubman High School in Sinkor explained that they were informed by LISGIS that the US$5.00 which is their sitting fee would not be given to them until after the 4-day workshop.
They also disclosed that they were informed that within the four days that there will be no breakfast neither or lunch that would be provided to them.
According to the would be census enumerators, the approach of the Liberia Institute for Statistics And Geo-Services (LISGIS) towards this year's census is not healthy and not in the interest of the country's plan for progress.
They claimed that LISGIS have the intention to suppress them and this is an apparent corrupt approach, which according to them has the propensity to undermine the success and truthfulness of the entire process.
The would be enumerators who immediately boycotted the process noted that the previous amount announced was US$20.00 per person.
However they noted that it was later cut down by LISGIS authority to US$5.00 which they claimed is a complete violation of their labor rights.
"They informed us that after the workshop, they will administer another test and if you fail, you will not receive the amount. This means that our effort would be left in limbo," they added.
Again, the enumerators unanimously disclosed that they are boycotting the process until there is an improved amount for their services rendered the country and noted that the current amount is too small.
The incident resulted to the booing of officials of LISGIS who later visited the scene to bring the situation under control.
The would be enumerators at the same time referred to them as corrupt officials who want to suffer the common people and called for the intervention of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and labor minister Samuel Kofi Woods.
Within split seconds the same situation erupted at the G.W. Gibson High School on the Capitol By-pass and in Bomi County where the would be enumerators expressed dissatisfaction over the amount given them.
From all indications, the workshop may likely not continue today following the expressions made by the would be enumerators that they would stay away from the process until their situation is brought into proper perspective.
The expression of dissatisfaction was seen on the faces of all the enumerators at every center and not even a person was in support of what is being offered them.
Beginning March 21- 27, 2008, the national housing and population census is slated to begin within the country.
However, addressing a news conference yesterday, LISGIS Director, Dr. T. Edward Liberty said the would be enumerator were promised US$5.00 per day and not US$20.00
He stressed that the census is very important to all Liberians in a bid to foster their developmental goals and those who are not ready to help should sit down and give way to those who are willing to help.
He accused those who failed the census test at Tubman high of trying to create confusion; saying " this is in all of us interest and violence is not the way out of it.
Dr. Liberty said there are a lot of successful candidates who are willing to work with the census process but accused a few group of people who are trying to cause trouble.
"Those who are willing to serve, let them serve and if you are not qualified or ready please give way to the process. The census is about we Liberians and nobody should disturb the process. We have not had this for two decades" he said.
He said to have a smooth process, LISGIS had asked for Police protection to help ensure that the process is on course.
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Unfortunately for the would be enumerators, the LISGIS director general did not address himself to the improvement of the refused amount neither did he assure the enumerators that LISGIS will look into their plight.
The ongoing saga directly has an impact on the successfulness of the national census and if not attended to quickly may lead to a major setback in the exercise effective implementation.
The exercise will be the first ever in the country since it was last conducted over two decades ago under the late Samuel K. Doe regime.
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