The Tribune

The Bahamas' standards regulator has signed an agreement with a US-based testing company to help improve product quality certification.

The the Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global safety certification company based in Illinois, during a commemorative virtual signing ceremony on February 5.

Those in attendance were Aaron Rice, chairman of the Standards Council; representatives of Underwriters Laboratories, Phil Piqueira, its vice-president of global standards; Maria Iafano, international standards manager; and Diana Rico, international standards specialist.

Dr Renae Ferguson Bufford, BBSQ's director, said of the signing: “We believe it to be a relationship that will contribute much to the quality development of the bureau and the work we do for the advancement and safety of our people and country.”

She added that the agreement represents a "good" day for The Bahamas after months of intensive dialogue and exchanges with Underwriters Laboratories, which conducts safety and quality tests on a broad range of products.

“It is focused on strengthening the country’s acceptance, standing and respect in the multilateral trading system, which demands the use of international standards, securing the Underwriters Laboratories' confidence and, thereby, their partnership. We anticipate our collaboration will assist the BBSQ to build capacity and advance our national quality infrastructure," Dr Ferguson Bufford said.

Mr Piqueira said: “First and foremost, I appreciate the opportunity to be in this forum and to be able to sign this agreement with BBSQ. As you are well aware, Underwriters Laboratories is an old company - been around well over 127 years. Our mission is to make the world a safer place, so we are really hopeful that this agreement will allow us to have a much closer collaborative relationship with BBSQ.

“This MoU, in our estimation, and in my view, will support the regional collaboration with CROSQ (CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality) and we are very pleased to enter MoUs with each of the member countries to help facilitate the region’s strategic aspirations for what I would call a more regional approach to standards. We’re hopeful, and we believe, that this agreement will also establish the particular needs that you have in the BBSQ.”

The BBSQ was established as a corporate body within the Ministry of Labour. Its mandate is to maintain standards for all goods, services, practices and processes to protect the health and safety of all Bahamians, as well as the environment, plus safeguard and enhance the economy. The BBSQ works closely with the Government, industries and businesses to enhance the quality of products and services available to the Bahamian people.

CROSQ is a regional inter-governmental organisation established in February 2002 to facilitate the development of regional standards, promote the harmonisation of metrology systems and support the sustainable production and trade of goods and services in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).