CATEGORY:SPEECH
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The Government of Grenada will like to join the rest of the world in the celebration of World Standards Day.

The truth is that a day without standards is inconceivable. Standards are absolutely essential, even if most of the time they are so invisible as to be taken for granted. When they do their jobs we are glad that they are there, but the idea barely crosses our minds that we are being “protected” by standards. Yet we are!

In simplest terms, a standard is an agreed way of doing something. Standards are designed to address a wide variety of needs and goals. Formally or informally, they are applied to commodities, technologies, services and processes in order to promote such key characteristics such as:

- safety and ethical commitment
- compatibility and efficiency
- and effectiveness and ease of use

Research and experience have shown that small businesses can often lack sufficient information to take full advantage of the benefits of standardization. Yet the application of standards can provide them with a competitive edge and enable them to increase market access as well as offer a convenient and reliable means for them to meet regulatory obligations.

The importance of standards in facilitating trade has become even greater with the establishment of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME). One of the key elements of the CSME includes free movement of goods and services among member countries. However, complementary to this free movement of goods will be the guarantee of acceptable standards of these goods and services. This would mean that small businesses will have to meet the necessary standards in order to take advantage of the larger regional market place created by the formation of the CSME. Small businesses must therefore place the Bureau of Standards at the centre of their efforts to achieve product recognition and market viability.

They need to take full responsibility for the quality of their products on the market and should not feel that, government’s protection will shelter their goods from competition. The days of confinement and the days of banning are over. We cannot say to consumers that they must purchase goods that are produced locally if these goods do not reach acceptable standards.

So, as Grenada joins the rest of the World in celebrating World Standards Day, it is important for us to reflect on the chosen theme: Standards – big benefits for small business. In order to benefit, small businesses will have to meet the requirements set out in national, regional and international standards. If not, these standards will act as technical barriers to trade and will become hurdles difficult to overcome for small and micro sized businesses restricting their access to regional and international markets which have been facilitated by such agreements such as the WTO and the CSME.

Let us work together to ensure that our products meet international standards since this is the key driving force for world commerce.