"Standardization, Quality Assurance and Metrology
( SQAM )
are issues of major social and economic significance
for all of us."
While we normally don't think about standards unless their
absence causes inconvenience, it would be extremely difficult
in fact to imagine daily life without standards and quality
and by virtue the SVGBS.
The importance of standards and quality related activities
to trade and the improvement of standards of living are paramount
to our national development.
SQAM are now the axis on which trade and safety revolves.
It is also the mechanism which creates a level playing field
on which all players can trade and compete fairly. A SQAM
infrastructure and facilitation is a cornerstone for economic
and social well-being and development of any nation .
The new decade brings with it a growing importance for standardization
at both the international and national levels. Within the
former, standards and conformity assessment issues are emerging
as a pillar for regional and global trade arrangements and
a facilitator for growth and technology diffusion. They are
also becoming more evident in a broadening range of health,
safety and environmental issues. Domestically, industry and
all levels of government are moving to reduce administrative
costs and regulatory burden while still protecting the public
interest and meeting market needs. Service delivery partnerships
are increasingly providing a third party option to traditional
delivery of accreditation services by government departments
and agencies. Paralleling the international scene, standards
are increasingly evident in Vincentian economic, social and
environmental activities.
In order for standardization to play a pivotal role in accelerating
our national economy and industrial process, protect the
environment and promote health and safety of people, the
entire activity of standardization should be fully supported
by government's policy. Therefore, the provision of resources
towards the creation of an efficient and effective standards
organization must be given top priority.
Additionally, throughout much of the world, an increasing
number of consumers are becoming aware of the importance
of standards especially as it pertains to food quality and
safety issues.
It is now common for consumers and related stakeholders
to demand that their governments take legislative action
to ensure that only products of acceptable standards and
quality are traded.
It is fair to say that, SVG Bureau of Standards has
helped significantly to put the issues of standards and quality
on the national agenda and is working assiduously to ensure
all goods and services produced and/or used in the country
are of consistently acceptable standards and quality.
The role of the SVG Bureau of Standards has
evolved with development of the international and regional
agreements especially, the WTO Technical Barrier to Trade
Agreement, the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and
the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Additionally,
the new paradigm as it relates to open market and free trade
have squarely placed the baton in the hands of the Bureau
of Standards . Accordingly, the Bureau of
Standards activities are becoming better known
and its influence strengthened and widened, the SVGBS is
therefore, now well positioned to respond to the many SQAM
demands, be it local or international.
Ezra D. Ledger
Director
Quality is not an event, a decision, or a program
with starting and finishing dates.it is an ongoing performance,
integrating excellence into marketing, manufacturing,
planning, research and development, in our relationship
with ours customers and ourselves"
Edgar S. Wollard, Jr.
