Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer

Government needs to be given specified standards for the quality of services and products it provides to its citizens, says Hermon Edmondson, member of the technical committee at the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ).

"There needs to be a policy that monitors the quality of Government and the standards of living it provides for its people," Mr. Edmonson said during an address at the BSJ National Conference at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston, on Wednesday. "They should meet international standards."

In this regard, he called for the deployment of the National Quality Policy that was approved by Cabinet on October 8, 2001.

A section of the policy recognises that "Quality is an important issue for the Jamaican people, and that there is an inconsistency in the requirements of quality for the domestic and international markets."

Protecting Welfare

It also recognises a need "To improve quality and productivity, through the participation of all stakeholders in the society, to improve the quality of life of the Jamaican people."

Mr. Edmonson said the policy was approved to protect the welfare of Jamaican citizens by ensuring that services they receive are of international standard.

Marguerite Domville, manager of the National Quality Infrastructure project at the Ministry of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, con-curred said the cost of poor quality is very expensive and "Jamaicans need to be protected from exploitation."

Ms. Domville said however that the policy has several strategies within it that extend under the jurisdiction of other Government ministries. She added that this is the reason behind the less than forceful nature of the policy at present, as these ministries need to give their approval. These strategies include the establishment of regulations for public health and safety and the participation of the private sector in developing services that ensure cooperation with set social standards.