We have received confirmation from the Statistics Authority (Monstat) that the census does not contain a serial number, said Darvin Murić, editor-in-chief of the Raskrinkavanje.me portal.
As stated in the press release, the census process in Montenegro brought a lot of dilemmas, potential problems and insufficiently explained statements and attitudes in the public.
"Thus, in the past months, different statistical/census terms were often used, which, although there is not always a hidden or bad intention, if they are used in an imprecise way in the public, they can cause negative implications for the census process, as well as different political interpretations that are negatively reflect the trust of citizens," said Murić.
One of these questions is the "census number" or "serial number" which, as Murić said, was often cited as one of the ways to query the database, which is intended to control the entry of questions about religion, nation and language.
"Due to the possibility of confusion and misleading the public, the editorial staff of Raskrinkanja dealt with this phenomenon in more detail," said Murić.
According to him, in one of his statements, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, explaining how the census process can be made better, stated: "There is a lack of software that would allow everyone, with a census number, identity card number and ID number, to to verify the data entered. So that enumerators would not be able to abuse their function. The development of that software will begin very soon."
"Furthermore, in his comment, personal data protection expert Radenko Lacmanović told RTCG: "And this means that people who want to check the credibility of their data will have to type in their identity number, ID card number and service number on the census slip. "No one but me will know the service number of the census slip," said Murić.
As it is further stated, Murić wrote that journalist Dražen Živković also referred to this problem in a TV Adria show: "There is software, with the social security number and census number you can see what data has been entered. It is an additional guarantee, and we also have a copy of the census, so I don't see who would engage in abuse".
"And the IT expert Branimir Bukilić, in the contribution prepared by TV Vijesti related to this topic, asserted that "the serial number of the census slip is known by the enumerator and the one who is enumerated", said Murić.
Predrag Boljević was also engaged in numbering in public, as stated, who said that "none of the slips were numbered" and that he printed one copy which, as he claims, does not differ in any way from the official one.
"Although there were plenty of examples of the use of different terms and understanding for one and the same thing on the public scene of Montenegro, for the purposes of this text we took five statements from five different areas of public activity," announced Murić.
The terms "list number", "service number of the list", "serial number of the list" and "numbering of the list" led us, he said, to find out Monstat's position on this topic.
"According to your request, we inform you that the census slips are not numbered, that is, as you say, they do not have serial numbers. We remind you that this is not the practice of the organization of censuses carried out so far in Montenegro, and it is also not a recommendation of UNECE for the organization of censuses", said Murić in the answer submitted to Raskinkavanje.
We were convinced of this by looking at, as he said, a copy of the census which is available on the Monstat website.
"In order to resolve all the dilemmas, we also sent additional questions to Monstat whether the codes (numbers) listed in the header of the census sheet relating to the Municipality/Census District/Apartment/Person can be used as a unique identifier that will be used for data entry and processing, however, we did not receive an answer to that question until the analysis was published. If we receive answers to these questions, they will be published in a separate text," the announcement states.
This short research of ours resolved, claims Murić, at least one dilemma: the census slips do not mention the serial number as much, which, he added, was also confirmed by Monstat in its reply.
"And whether the unique identifier made up of 14 digits, as stated on the Monstat website, can be reliably used as a key to connect citizens with the announced software, and how the remaining two keys - jmbg and ID card number - read in the following sections our analysis", announced Murić.
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