Bahamas Launches Bureau of Standards and Quality

The Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ) celebrated its official launch ceremony at The Source River Centre, 1000 Bacardi Road, on 8th July, 2016. The Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Perry Christie; the Governor General of The Bahamas, Dame Marguerite Pindling; and the Minister of Financial Services, The Hon. C.V. Hope Strachan attended the unveiling of the BBSQ. Dr. Renae Bufford was praised by the Prime Minister and Minister of Financial Services for her hard work and dedication in bringing the Bureau into fruition.

From left to right: Minister of Financial Services, the Hon. C.V. Hope Strachan; Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie; Governor General, Marguerite Pindling; and BBSQ Director, Renae Ferguson-Bufford

The BBSQ is the principle national authority charged with the regulation of standards and quality. Established under the Ministry of Financial Services, which has responsibility for international trade, the BBSQ’s main mandate is to facilitate and promote services in metrology, standardization, testing, certification and quality assurance to protect the consumer, enhance international trade and the competitiveness of goods and services.

The BBSQ is charged with developing standards based on international and regional principles and practices, adopting international or regional standards and promoting their use to improve the overall quality environment for products and services. The organisation will be an important player in improving industry competitiveness in the domestic and export markets, facilitating trade by reducing technical barriers to trade, and strengthening consumer and environmental protection against unsafe products or services.