Census enumerators are scrambling to complete the Bermuda Census before the February 28 deadline for the count.

Just 20 percent of the 3,500 households left to be counted have been completed but Census officials are confident the deadline will be met.

Acting Chief Statistician, Valerie Robinson-James said: "We recognised that there was a holiday coming up. That was not going to affect us in any way at all.

"The remaining 80 percent we are working toward over the next two months.'' This is the third extension of the Census deadline and enumerators have been working double duty to collect outstanding information.

Noting that the second phase of counting has been underway since late November, Mrs. Robinson-James said: "All things were considered. We have roughly 70 enumerators in all and we are confident that they will complete the task.'' Pending completion of the Census, the Boundaries Commission is set to step in and evaluate the re-draughting of the constituency boundaries based on the data collected.

There was concern that the third setback of an extended deadline would affect the Boundaries Commission's progress. "There is no indication that the time frame is going to cause problems,'' she said.

Mrs. Robinson-James asked the community that when enumerators visit their homes, to cooperate by tying up dogs and helping to provide relevant information about households.