The Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS) awarded its first quality certification to three micro-enterprises, Wednesday.

The Bureau issues the quality logo to products meeting the relevant national standard requirements.

Director of the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards, Dr. Mkabi Walcott says it is the organization’s mandate to promote quality infrastructure.

“This is part of our quality policy today. I think we should be proud as an institution and proud as micro enterprises to see that today we are working towards doing just that: enhancing the economy of the nation by enhancing micro enterprises. In doing so, we are also enhancing the quality of life of our people, because what we are doing today is ensuring these products that are being produced here locally are being done so, meeting quality standards and ensuring quality and safety to the consumers of the product.”

Dr. Walcott also spoke on the importance of embracing a culture of quality in Saint Lucia.

“We believe that quality is understanding and exceeding the needs of each of our stakeholders and doing the job right through due process, openness, transparency, and today these three micro enterprises have done just that. They have done the job right through due process, openness and transparency allowing for the SLBS to come into their facility and conduct the series of audits to ensure compliance to these standards.”

The quality logo certification was awarded to a bakery and two agro-processing businesses.