The Eastern Caribbean Center of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) has completed the mapping of the U.S. Virgin Islands and will begin the 2024 Virgin Islands Community Survey (VICS) interviews this month. This scientific survey of a sample of households is a follow-up to the one conducted in 2018. The information collected is like that gathered in the Population and Housing Census of 2020.
ECC has begun the integration of new technology in the data collection process using Geographical Information System (GIS) devices that will provide layered data relevant to 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: water source, internet access, number of rooms, utilities, ownership, and rent.
"The VICS 2024 is essential to close critical gaps in USVI data used by local agencies whose jobs are to organize and plan for the social, educational, wellness, and economic needs for the Territory," said Dr. Marissa Johnson Rogers, assistant director of the Eastern Caribbean Center.
The University of the Virgin Islands requests the cooperation of the public when interviewers carrying UVI photo IDs and data collection devices visit households on all three islands. Unlike the Census that collects information on every household, VICS will use a scientific random sample; so not every household will be interviewed.
The public is assured of complete confidentiality of their information, as the data are published in summary form only and individuals cannot be identified.
"Please lend your voice to our efforts to tell the authentic story of the strength of the USVI community. This research and data are critical to quantify our needs to local and federal agencies as we continue recovery from the 2017 Hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Dr. Johnson Rogers.
For more information call the Eastern Caribbean Center at UVI at 693-1020. For media inquiries, contact the University of Public Relations office at pr@uvi.edu