The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) recently concluded its Public and Private Sector virtual Stakeholder Consultations on the Revision of the CARICOM Regional Quality Policy (RQP), bringing together representatives from the public and private sectors across the CARICOM region to help shape a more responsive, fit-for-purpose regional policy framework for a quality infrastructure that will reflect the current realities and needs of the people and institutions they are intended to serve.

Held on June 18^th and 19^th, 2026, the Public and Private sector consultations respectively formed part of an ongoing regional effort to renew and strengthen the Regional Quality Policy under the implementation of the Caribbean Component of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Quality Infrastructure Programme (ACP QIP), funded by the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union (EU). The ACP QI Programme supports enhancing regional quality and regulatory infrastructure governance towards more productive capabilities and value chains, and business-friendly and inclusive national and regional policies. To this end, the revised Policy seeks to strengthen the regional quality infrastructure by elevating the strategic role of standards, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment in supporting trade, competitiveness, innovation, sustainability, consumer protection, and regional integration. 

Led by Dr. Sharonmae Smith Walker, Chief Executive Officer at the CROSQ, the consultations provided stakeholders with an opportunity to review the proposed revisions to the Policy, discuss its strategic priorities, and provide feedback on the proposed implementation, governance, financing, and monitoring arrangements that will guide its execution across the region. Delivering opening remarks for the consultations on both days, Chair of the CROSQ Council and Executive Director (Ag.) of the Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards, Mrs. Solange Baptiste, underscored the importance of quality infrastructure to the region, stating that, “If regional integration is the destination, quality is one of the bridges that will take us there.”

Virtual consultations were conducted on both days by panellists, including Dr. Smith Walker, Mrs. Baptiste, Mr. Nicol Best, Technical Officer-Metrology at CROSQ, and Ms. Teyonna Delice Mayers, General Project Officer-Project Implementation, CROSQ. Stakeholders were presented with findings from a comprehensive review of the existing Policy, which identified several strengths, including its strategic foundation, alignment with international quality infrastructure principles, clear linkages to trade and competitiveness, in tandem with its value as a framework for regional cooperation. At the same time, the review highlighted opportunities to strengthen implementation and operationalisation mechanisms, governance and coordination arrangements, monitoring and evaluation systems, and financing and sustainability frameworks across CARICOM member states. 

Participant feedback during both sessions focused heavily on the sustainable financing, governance arrangements and practical implementation aspects of the revised Policy within member states. 

Public sector discussions therefore, crucially explored the ways in which the Policy has been designed specifically to support national implementation efforts, regulatory coherence, institutional coordination, and the development of effective governance mechanisms. The importance of ensuring that Member States are adequately supported in translating regional quality policy objectives into national policy was also stressed, with Dr. Smith Walker emphasising that, “The revision of the RQP ensures that it is more user-friendly, so that it can be perceived as a strategic tool that enables implementation in alignment with the objectives of the Caribbean Community, rather than be seen as just a mere advocacy document.”

Private sector discussions highlighted the contribution of quality infrastructure to competitiveness, market access, innovation, and trade facilitation, with participants reflecting on the importance of ensuring that the Policy remains responsive to business needs while supporting resilience and sustainable economic development across the region. Critically, with respect to private sector concerns Dr. Smith Walker made it clear that, “QI is not supposed to be down-the-chain in decision-making; QI should be a strong driver supporting trade confidence, enterprise competitiveness, regulatory effectiveness, resilience, and regional integration, therefore, if the revised RQP is implemented well it will strengthen trust in CARICOM goods and services, proving that Quality is the best business plan.”

This stakeholder feedback is now crucial to the next stage of the revision process of the RQP as CROSQ continues to work closely with CARICOM member states and regional stakeholders to finalise a robust policy framework that supports deeper regional integration and a more competitive and quality-driven CARICOM region.

At its core, quality is about trust; trust in our institutions, trust in our markets, and trust in the goods and services that carry a Caribbean stamp. Through the revision of the CARICOM Regional Quality Policy, CROSQ remains committed to building the foundations of that trust for generations to come. As CARICOM continues its journey towards deeper integration and greater economic resilience, quality infrastructure will remain one of the region’s most powerful tools for transforming that ambition into achievement and regional cooperation into tangible opportunity.