Minister of Energy and Business, Kerrie Symmonds. (FP)

Government remains resolute in its efforts to grow the economy and protect the environment towards building a sustainable future.

And, Minister of Energy and Business, Kerrie Symmonds, says it is clear that accreditation plays a central role in this effort.  He expressed this view in a message to observe World Accreditation Day on Thursday, June 9, under the theme: Sustainability in Economic Growth and the Environment.

In the statement, Mr. Symmonds said: “The arrival of what is promised to be an active hurricane season this year is on our doorstep, where climate change has visibly increased the harmful effects on our country and our region over recent times.

“As citizens of this beautiful country, which we all want to protect, we must join our Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, in a united effort to campaign against pollution and harmful effects of climate change. Through sustained advocacy, Barbados has positioned itself as a frontrunner in the global environmental movement.”

The Minister said the Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI) functions as the national accreditation focal point for the country, where the services of the Institution stand to increase the confidence levels of Barbadian enterprises, through the utilisation of internationally recognised accreditation systems.

“In any economy, confidence levels influence and provide information on social and financial developments in the future, where high levels of confidence inevitably translate into economic growth,” he proffered.

He said the efforts of the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology & Hydrology (CIMH) were instrumental in providing the awareness of the benefits of Meteorology and Hydrology for the economic well-being of Barbados.

“The BNSI has supported the Institute in terms of the training of staff in the implementation of international standards, which enable the CIMH to demonstrate that they operate competently and generate valid results, thereby promoting confidence in their work both nationally and internationally,” Mr. Symmonds stated.

Accreditation has been defined as the process by which an authoritative body gives formal recognition that a body or person is competent to carry out specific tasks.

sharon.austingill-moore@barbados.gov.bb

Pin It on Pinterest