‘Metrology is like a pillar that supports the economic and social development of a country and as Trinidad and Tobago seeks to diversify our economy, metrology is uniquely positioned to be a catalyst for innovation’ were the words of Senator the Honourable Vasant Bharath, Minister of Trade, Industry, Investment and Communications and Minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Economy at the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) Cocktail Reception in commemoration of the Proclamation of the Metrology Act No. 18 of 2004.

The Reception, held on Thursday 9 July, 2015, marked a critical step in the process of development of national quality; and its aim is to sensitize industry players as to the implications and benefits of the Metrology Act 2004. In the Feature Address delivered by Senator Bharath, he noted that ‘the Government has spearheaded the establishment of a national infrastructure with the focus placed on creating an enabling environment to foreign direct investment. The Metrology Act will add value to this infrastructure by improving the quantification processes necessary for the conduct of transactions and therefore further facilitate the ease of doing business and assist in meeting the changing needs of industries, by providing assurance to both consumers and producers. The Act will also provide the quality reference point and the universal language for exchange of goods and services. It is the reference point where a National Quality System will find its building blocks’.

He announced that ‘as Trinidad and Tobago continues to expand its stock of measurement infrastructure to match the growing demands on industry, this improved measurement infrastructure will see the birth of the National Metrology Institute, that will be a home for national metrology and also facilitate specific infrastructural requirements for measurement needed to support the growth and innovation of our economy’.

Mrs. Allanna Rivas, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards gave a charge to the TTBS staff stating that ‘the proclamation of the Metrology Act has further charged the TTBS to ensure that quality and compliance become the watchwords of the trade and industry environment in which you operate’. Mr. Theodore Reddock, Executive Director (Ag.) Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards expressed gratitude to all stakeholders and pioneers involved in seeing this Act from parliament to proclamation. Ms. Erica Caruth, Head Legal Metrology (Ag.) delivered a presentation on the Metrology Act; while Mr. Ramesh Ramdeen, CEO, TTMA brought greetings on behalf of his Board and membership.