By: Staff Writer
January 14, 2022
The Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ) receives grant from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to enhance its technical capacity via a metrology laboratory.
Michael Halkitis, Minister for Economic Affairs, speaking at the grant signing earlier this week, said: “This grant will be used to facilitate the following needs: The procurement of a consulting firm to conduct a comprehensive metrology needs assessment to undertake an assessment of the regulatory and institutional framework for metrology in the Bahamas and make recommendation for closing any gaps identified.
“Secondly, procurement and installation of laboratory equipment to provide basic metrology services according to industry recommendations, the aforementioned consulting firm will also develop technical specifications for the equipment and support procurement, installation and training on the operation of the equipment.
“Thirdly, completion of a communications consultancy to build awareness amongst the public of the maturity of the metrology services offered by the BBSQ. A diverse steering committee has been established to guide this project to fruition.”
Mr Halkitis also said: “This committee comprises representatives from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Bahamas Society of Engineers, the Bahamas Trade Commission, the BBSQ and its Standards Council, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation and two private sector representatives from industries that benefit from metrology services.”
The project, already started in November of last year, is expected to take 18 months to complete. So by May, 2023 the country should expect to have its first metrology laboratory fully completed.
Daniel Best, Director of Projects at the CDB, added: “This initiative is being executed by the BBSQ with financing from the EU. Appreciation is extended to our development partners at the EU, one of our major collaborators for their support and ongoing investment in pursuing initiatives to improve the lives and livelihoods of Caribbean citizens.
“The standby facility is about one initiative which has been successfully executed with their support to the government of the Bahamas and the staff of the BBSQ your responsiveness in bringing this project to fruition is testimony to the high priority placed on providing the required resources and infrastructure to enable greater business competitiveness.”
Dr Renae Ferguson Bufford, BBSQ’s director, said that this laboratory was years in the making and that at no greater time could this have been made possible through the CDB via the European Union 11th EDF.
The project will address the immediate needs of the BBSQ and aid in expanding the Bahamas’ quality infrastructure and the business environment. This has potential benefits for both exporters and local businesses ideally increasing the provision of quality, reliable, safe, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure. Successful implementation will lead to an increase in the standards of commodities and processes used in production locally. It will also entrench quality related actions throughout the economy.
The project will also support, through enhanced capacity at the BBSQ, increased competitiveness by the private sector. With support from the European Partnership Agreement (EPA) and Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) Standby Facility for Capacity Building managed at the CDB and financed by the EU it is anticipated that improvements to the current business environment and contributions to a more resilient Bahamas will be effected with the BBSQ’s ability to provide calibration and testing services meeting internationally accepted and recognized ISO 17025 requirements in mass and volume. This service will be provided guided by a strategy and implementation plan to ensure sustainability and optimal impact.
Mr Halkitis also said: “When it comes to how metrology is conducted throughout the Bahamas, I cannot sufficiently stress the importance of having reliable metrology services in our country. We must have certified metrologists, prime infrastructure to conduct testing services across the public and private sectors.
“Such services include testing the compression of building materials like concrete blocks, testing thermometer readings to ensure the safety of imported and exported food products, and testing mass equipment for logistical transportation. Following these scenarios, we began to see metrology as an essential component of building a sound National Quality Framework. Thus far the BBSQ has done an excellent job with administering metrology services. But the establishment of this new laboratory and the expansion of the metrology unit will translate into even greater proficiency and efficiency.”