Metro Office and Computer Supplies (Metro) was on Tuesday evening presented with its ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems Certificate by the National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ).
The certification came under the 11th EDF (European Development Fund) -EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) Programme. The presentation took place at a ceremony held at the Grand Coastal Hotel, East Coast Demerara.
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) said in a release on Wednesday that it played an “integral role” in realising this outstanding achievement by Metro, which is now the newest internationally certified company in Guyana. It noted that the Bureau during 2021 worked with the Metro Team providing Technical Assistance towards the implementation of the Quality Management System requirements.
At the presentation ceremony were representatives of the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), NCBJ, Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM), the European Union, GNBS, the National Standards Council (virtually); staff of Metro; and special invitees from the private sector.
Chair of the National Standards Council (NSC), Vladim Persaud, congratulated Metro for attaining the certification. He advocated that businesses should adopt a “transformative mindset that considers prosperity, sustainability, quality, and true economic growth.” He also underscored the use of standards as integral to business transformation to meet the prevailing demand for quality products and services.
EU Representative, Kristina Sevastou, in her remarks disclosed that significant focus is being placed on identifying and addressing quality-related issues affecting firms within CARIFORUM States like Guyana. She noted that under the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) project launched in 2019, six private sector organisations from across the region (including Metro) were committed to achieving certification. She added, “The acquisition of international quality standards is key to the private sector in Guyana and to the wider CARIFORUM region, deepening the penetration of their products and services in international export markets.”
CEO of CROSQ, Deryck Omar, commended the GNBS for providing Technical Assistance to Metro in record time, and at no cost under the 11th EDF programme. He disclosed that this has allowed Metro to be the first of the six companies identified for certification across the region under the TBT Project.
And representing the NCBJ, Navenia Wellington Ford, stated that her institution as a Certification Body within the Region, was delighted to present the International Certification to Metro. She commended the company for “Levelling Up”, by climbing to the higher level of ISO 9001 Certification.
President of Metro, Dirgindra Ramnarayan, expressed gratitude for the technical support and funding which aided the certification of his business, and commended the Metro Team for its efforts toward becoming internationally certified, the release added.
