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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Bahamas Information Services Updates
Nassau, The Bahamas -- Minister of Financial Services the Hon. Ryan Pinder said in order to create a quality infrastructure for goods and services within the region, the need for collaboration and cooperation among nations in CARICOM cannot be overstated. Minister Pinder was speaking at the opening of the National Consultation on draft Regional Quality Infrastructure Policy hosted by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) at the British Colonial Hilton, Friday, August 22, 2014. He said all of the countries within the region have their own unique characteristics including how they measure the quality of goods and services, which provides good reason for the existence of organisations like CROSQ in the region, and the great importance of meetings. “The consultation is necessary to allow the countries to synergise their efforts and positions in relation to standardisation, conformity assessments, accreditation and metrology (accuracy in measurement of goods traded).” Minister Pinder added that the need for standards is also important at a national level as The Bahamas looks to develop its economy and grow new arms of the economy, especially in relation to trade. “We need to be able to ensure that we have a level playing field and standards do that,” he said. In 2008, the CARIFORUM countries signed the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union that offers new market opportunities for the Caribbean and fosters regional trade. However, the Caribbean has not been able to take advantage of these opportunities due the region’s inability to meet the technical standards of the European market. In addition, many exporters in the Caribbean have limited access to internationally- recognised, accredited testing and certification services in the region and often source these services from outside the region at high costs. To overcome these Technical Barriers to Trade, Quality Infrastructure that meets international requirements at the regional and national levels is necessary to support the private sector. Quality Infrastructure refers to all aspects of metrology, use of recognised standards, verification of quality of goods and services, certification and accreditation to international benchmarks.
These are all essential for removing technical barriers to trade and therefore hold the key to greater integration of countries into the international trade system. The national consultation meeting is part of a programme to support the Caribbean region in implementing its commitments undertaken under the EPA. Minister Pinder said for the Caribbean region to continue to grow as an emerging market for foreign investment and be able to increase export of goods and services to the rest of the world, the region must implement and create a quality infrastructure that will improve and support health and safety, support the environment, competitiveness, trade, research and development and innovation. “This quality infrastructure must be aligned with the best practices in the international community.” The Minister told the participants that at the conclusion of the national consultation meeting, he expects a working document that The Bahamas Bureau of Standards can use as a guideline to produce the country’s own National Quality Policy, and that stakeholders in the country would have a greater understanding for the need to develop a quality infrastructure for goods and services and actively engage in the process. Minister Pinder said the meeting should also produce more ways to generate public campaigns that promote a culture of quality in The Bahamas and in its citizens, as well as create additional ways to form stronger ties with regional partners.
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