An investment in Quality is always a positive step for any country. In addition to saving money in the long run, it is also a step towards sustainability for that country, and in the context of the Caribbean this can extend to the Region as a whole. It is for this reason that the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards & Quality (CROSQ) is celebrating this World Quality Month withthe National Certification Body of Jamaica, and the rest of the Region, under the theme Save Money, Invest In Quality.
CROSQ believes that a focus on quality by any country supports sustainable development through nurturing and promoting higher levels of productivity and innovation, with a greater commitment to export trade competitiveness as well as consumer health and safety and environmental protection. Thus naturally, the development of an internationally-recognised and demand-oriented quality infrastructure in trade,encourages adrive towards a culture of quality consciousness within a country and its people.
Development of Quality Infrastructure, that is the implementation of standards, improvements in systems of measurement, and the utilization of accredited testing, certification and inspection systems and services, can have a progressive effect on any society. It provides the boost to the economy by aiding state services in becoming more nationally and regionally accessible, affordable and internationally recognised, thereby enabling the economic, social, environment and technological resilience of countries and the Region overall.
A focus on quality improvements can also help to strengthen the movement towards regional integration with a continuous effort to embed the principles and practices Quality thatare so important to sustainable development. It can help in areas such as research, security, natural resource extraction and energy efficiency and renewal energy other than those aforementioned, leading to the honouring oftrade agreements such as the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, the European Union-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement, the World Trade Organisation Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement and the like.
But this focus on Quality must involve not just quality institutions such as National Bureaux of Standards, but all of the public sector, the private sector, as well as civil society, particularly academia and health. If each of these groups commit to full cooperation and ownership of the principles of Quality, then the Region can feel safe in knowing that an Investment in Quality will bring rewards that surpass mere financial dividends.
Omar, Deryck, Mr. “World Quality Month 2016 – Save Money, Invest in Quality.” Editorial. Jamaica Observer 23 Nov. 2016: 42. Print.
