The development of standards and quality assurance practices is essential to building a more resilient and sustainable future for economies and societies.
Acting Director of the Barbados National Standards Institution, Hadyn Rhynd, stressed this point as he gave remarks at the official opening of the Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT) Annual General Assembly, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, on Monday.
Mr. Rhynd reminded the in-person and online audience of the critical role standards and quality assurance play in promoting economic growth, social development and the sustainability of the environment.
“The BNSI is proud to be a leading institution in the development and the promotion of standards and quality assurance in Barbados, and we are committed to ensuring that our national standards meet the highest international best practices,” he said.
Over the past 50 years, he stated, the BNSI had played a crucial role in the development of standards in this country. He surmised that the staff of the institution had worked tirelessly to ensure that standards met international best practices.
“We developed national standards in a wide range of areas, including construction, building materials, energy efficiency, food safety, and environmental management,” the acting Director pointed out.
He emphasised the importance of the four-day meeting, saying the COPANT General Assembly provides a unique opportunity for standards bodies across the region to share experiences and best practices, as well as identify areas where they could work together to promote the development of standards. He suggested that with this collaboration, they would meet the needs and bring solutions to their various economies.
Mr. Rhynd stated that the BNSI was committed to supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He said the SDGs provide a roadmap for building a more sustainable future, and expressed the view that standards and quality assurance practices could play a critical role in achieving those goals.