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GNBS in Focus THE GUYANA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS' BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER
REVISED MOU SIGNED BETWEEN GNBS AND GEA A revised Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the GNBS and the GEA to ensure reliable measurements in the local petroleum industry.
THIRD NATIONAL QUALITY AWARDS TO BE HELD The third biennial National Quality Awards, which recognises businesses that adhere to principles of quality, is set to be held later this year.
GNBS COMMENCES TRAINING OF POLICE RANKS The GNBS has commenced a series of training with police ranks from all across the country on the handling of speed guns and breathalysers, as well as tyres..
W W W . G N B S G Y . O R G
GNBS IN FOCUS
Message from the Executive Director (Ag)
"This year, the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us but the Bureau has managed to tailor its services to the needs of its clients ....."
Welcome to the GNBS
Ms. Ramrattie Karan
The
Guyana
(GNBS)
National
continues
implement
Bureau
to
develop,
standards
measurement
services
and to
of
Standards
promote
provide
those
in
and
crucial
the
various
sectors. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us but the Bureau has managed to tailor its services to the needs of its clients with virtual training opportunities
and
the
implementation
of
a
mobile stamping bus among other measures. In the coming months, the Bureau will continue to work towards making quality the hallmark of every industry. In this regard, more training and consultancy
services
will
be
provided
to
companies seeking to implement and maintain the requirements of National and International Standards. Calibration and testing services will also be expanded. Finally,
I
welcome
the
introduction
of
this
bimonthly electronic GNBS Newsletter, which is geared to communicate the key activities and initiatives of this National Standards Body to all our stakeholders.
01
GNBS IN FOCUS
Message from the Head, Marketing & Communications Dept.
Photo credits Mr. Syeid Ibrahim
Omesh Balmacoon Syeid Ibrahim Bibi Khatoon
Welcome to GNBS in Focus It
has
been
an
exciting
journey
for
us
at
the
Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). As we set to commemorate our 36th Anniversary in March 2021 as the National body for Standards and
Quality.
We
must
remember
that
the
foundation established back then has paved the
Editorial Contributors Lloyd David Bibi Khatoon
Concept & Design Omesh Balmacoon
way for us today, to offer improved processes and fulfil the needs of our customers. The
COVID-19
pandemic
has
affected
the
delivery of many of our core services but we are still striving to serve our clients to the best of our ability.
As
such,
for
our
36th
anniversary,
the
GNBS brings to you ‘GNBS in Focus.’ GNBS
in
newsletter newsletter
Focus
is
a
produced aims
at
revised by
and
the
highlighting
rebranded
Bureau. the
This
events,
activities and accomplishments bi-monthly as we set to inform you our stakeholders that we are propelling businesses to deliver quality through standards.
02
GNBS IN FOCUS
Table of Contents 08
04
04
Revised MOU Signed Between GNBS and GEA
14
01 02 05
to Ensure Reliable Measurements in Local Petroleum Industry
08
06 07 09 10
Sensitisation Workshop on Moisture Metres and Scales
GNBS Virtual Training Meet the GNBS Staff Mobile Bus Introduced to Conduct
GNBS Destroys Substandard Light Switches
10
13
Building Capacity of Staff Through
Verification
Awards
GNBS, GRDB Host
Message from the Head, MCD
Training
GNBS Set to Host Third National Quality
Message from the Executive Director (Ag)
New Test Masses Acquired to verify Rice Mills' Scales in Reg #2 and #6
11
GNBS Recertifies Dr. Leslie Persaud medical Diagnostic Centre Lab
12
GNBS Hands Over Certificate to Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Lab
14
GNBS Commences Training of Police Ranks
03
15
GNBS joins Mae's Virtual Career Day to Highlight Careers in Standard
16 17 18 19
GNBS Talk Back and GNBS in 30 2020 Wins Upcoming Events GNBS Social
GNBS IN FOCUS
The
Guyana
recently
REVISED MOU SIGNED BETWEEN GNBS AND GEA TO ENSURE RELIABLE
National
revised
Understanding
of
fortified
(MOU)
it
Standards
a
signed
(GNBS)
Memorandum with
the
of
Guyana
Energy Agency (GEA) in 2014. The revised MOU, which was
signed
Secretary
by
of
Ms.
the
Sharon
Ministry
Roopchand,
of
Tourism,
Permanent
Industry
and
Commerce on behalf of the GNBS and Dr. Mahender Sharma,
Chief
February
05,
Executive
2021,
collaboratively measurement,
MEASUREMENTS IN
and
Bureau
will
ensure and
Officer
allow
that
licensing
a
the
of
the
two
stringent system
is
GEA
on
Agencies
to
monitoring, maintained
within the Petroleum Industry.
LOCAL PETROLEUM
In addition to all petrol meters, bulk meters and tanker
INDUSTRY
the revised document will now facilitate measurement
wagons used at Service Stations and Petrol Terminals,
monitoring on Marine Fuel Vessels. It will ensure that these
vessels,
Meters)
Petrol
and
dispensers
transportation
(Petrol
Pumps
carriers
and are
verified/calibrated before the Guyana Energy Agency issues licenses to them. The signed agreement also allows for efficient and effective information sharing on the agreed terms.
04
GNBS IN FOCUS
BUILDING CAPACITY OF STAFF THROUGH TRAINING
In
its
bid
to
increase
staff
competence
and
capacity building, the GNBS has facilitated a number of training courses and workshops for its
staff
members.
December,
January
During and
the
months
February,
of
staff
members were exposed to training in the areas of:
Speech
Based
Craft,
Thinking,
Corporate
Behaviour,
Implementing
Risk and
Documenting the ISO 9001 Standard and Data Analysis. Arrangements are already in place to provide additional training which will enhance staff
behaviour,
performance.
05
confidence,
knowledge
and
GNBS IN FOCUS
06
GNBS IN FOCUS
MEET THE GNBS STAFF To promote staff recognition and boost morale, the Marketing and Communications Department this
year
launched
its
‘Meet
the
GNBS
Staff’
campaign on the Bureau’s Facebook page. The profiles,
which
are
published
every
week,
highlights the work-life of staff as well as some of the services offered by the GNBS. At the same time, it inspires others in and out of the Bureau.
Edward Melville, Lorenzo Gill, Breana Chase- Wilson, Andrea Mendonca. (Top to bottom right) Anthony Cordis, Vishnu Matbadal (Top to bottom left)
07
GNBS IN FOCUS
GNBS SET TO HOST THIRD NATIONAL QUALITY AWARDS The
GNBS
National
will
this
Quality
businesses
for
year
Awards
hosting
(NQA)
to
third
recognise
by
the
International
Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) to
systems and best practices. The NQA is set for
management system. Participants will also
October
be
part
of
to
developed
help them implement an effective quality
(as
commitment
its
quality
2021
their
be
National
Quality
Week). Participating
graded
Management businesses
will
be
evaluated
based
on
Principles
Seven and
Quality
criteria
for
good environmental and safety practices.
against the ISO 9001:2015 Standards
08
GNBS IN FOCUS
MOBILE BUS INTRODUCED TO CONDUCT VERIFICATION With the protection of its staff and consumers
trade transactions. Inspectors from January 19,
in
2021
mind,
Mobile
the
Stamping
verification devices
GNBS
at
of
this
Bus
year for
weighing
markets,
shops
introduced
use and and
during
a its
measuring other
retail
outlets. Verification
is
mandated
to
ensure
that
consumers receive accurate measurements in
09
began
around
the
verifying
city
using
scales the
at
mobile
markets unit;
this
exercise concluded on March 5. The Mobile Stamping
Bus
adherence
to
increases process.
the
does all
not
only
COVID-19
rules
efficiency
of
the
ensures but
also
verification
PAGEXX
GNBS IN FOCUS
GNBS DESTROYS SUBSTANDARD LIGHT SWITCHES The
Product
GNBS
Monitoring
ordered
imported
the
light
Department
destruction
switches,
of
which
of
the
4,800 were
inadequately labelled and lacked the necessary certification mark as required by the National Standard.
The
items
were
destroyed
on
Wednesday, January 13, 2021 in the presence of GNBS’ Inspectors. The GNBS as of February 01, 2020, commenced the monitoring of a number of electrical fittings and equipment based on the
requirements
national
Standards.
of
thirty-one
Monitoring
by
mandatory the
GNBS
ensures consumer protection from substandard and defective products, which can prove to be fatal. Recently, ten (10) tonnes of masses were acquired by the GNBS to be used in Regions Two and Six to verify large capacity weighbridge scales at rice mills
and
other
business
establishments.
The
20
pieces of 500 kg masses will be equally divided
NEW TEST MASSES ACQUIRED TO VERIFY
and sent to the Bureau’s sub offices in these ricegrowing regions. This will significantly enhance the
RICE MILLS SCALES IN
efficiency of the verification process and protect millers and rice farmers in the agriculture sector
REG #2, #6
from miscalculations in prices due to inaccurate weights of paddy and rice.
10
GNBS IN FOCUS
GNBS RECERTIFIES DR. LESLIE PERSAUD MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE LABORATORY The
on
ensure that patients receive accurate and
January 08, 2021 renewed the certification
GNBS
reliable results whenever their services are
of
utilised.
Dr.
Centre
11
Certification
Leslie
Persaud
Laboratory
Department
Medical for
Diagnostic
continuing
The
Head
of
the
GNBS
to
Certification Department, Mr. Al Donovan
maintain the requirements of the GYS 170
Fraser handed over the certificate to Ms.
Standard - General Requirements for the
Tereasia
Operation of a Laboratory.
Manager,
Certified laboratories like this, always
Persaud and other employees.
Ramlochan, in
the
the
presence
Lab’s of
Quality
Dr.
Leslie
PAGEXX
GNBS IN FOCUS
GNBS HANDS OVER CERTIFICATE TO PESTICIDES AND TOXIC CHEMICALS LAB
The GNBS in January handed over a certificate to the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Laboratory for conforming to the requirements of
the
GYS
170
Standard
-
General
requirements for the operation of a laboratory. The event was held as the facility increased its scope
to
Registrar Board,
include for
Ms.
certificate
from
in
the
testing
Toxic
Trecia
Certification Fraser
the
the
fertilizers.
Chemicals
David
Head
of
Control
received
of
Department, presence
of
Mr. the
the Al
the GNBS
Donovan
Honourable
Zulfikar Mustapha, Minister of Agriculture.
12
GNBS IN FOCUS
GNBS, GRDB HOST SENSITISATION WORKSHOP ON MOISTURE METERS AND SCALES The
Guyana
National
Bureau
of
Standards
(GNBS) in collaboration with the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) in February held sensitization
workshops
with
rice
millers
in
Regions Two, Three, Five and Six. The sessions focused
on
the
verification
and
use
of
moisture meters and scales used at the mills. The
workshops,
Metrology accuracy
conducted
Department, and
by
the
sought
consistency
of
to
Legal ensure
measurements
across the industry, provide transparency and minimize
loss
due
to
the
use
of
inaccurate
measuring instruments. The
GNBS
is
looking
to
phase
out
all
non-
commercial moisture meters used in the rice industry
and
Weigh-Bridge
convert Scales
all to
Electromechanical
fully
metric,
by
the
second crop for 2021. The GNBS in collaboration with the GRDB will be visiting mills in the Rice growing Regions of Guyana during the harvesting period to ensure they are adhering to specified guidelines.
13
GNBS IN FOCUS
GNBS COMMENCES TRAINING OF POLICE RANKS The Guyana National Bureau of Standards
2021,
(GNBS) in February conducted a series of
Region, Assistant Superintendent Raun Clarke
training sessions on the use of speedguns,
noted that the training are timely and ranks
breathalysers, the International System of
will
Units and requirements for tyres with Ranks
relate to members of the public and do their
of
job effectively.”
the
Guyana
Police
Force
in
Regions
Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven. At
the
first
session
held
at
Officer
be
in
a
in
charge
better
of
position
Traffic
to
be
in
able
the
to
Similar sentiments were expressed by other the
New
Traffic ranks in the various regions.
Amsterdam Police Station on February 11,
14
GNBS IN FOCUS
GNBS JOINS MAE'S CAREER DAY TO HIGHLIGHT CAREERS IN STANDARDS
15
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards
different levels.
(GNBS)
Communications
on
February
12,
2021
joined
the
Virtual
e-Career
GNBS and our various services as well as
Day as it was called, saw the attendance
Careers that are applicable to the services
Event.
The
by
the
to
GNBS.
talk
Khatoon,
used
Day
opportunity
Bibi
students of Mae’s Secondary School for a Career
the
Officer,
of representatives of other agencies who
offered
There
presented what careers can be pursued at
persons logged into the event.
about
were
the
75
GNBS IN FOCUS
‘GNBS TALK BACK’ AND ‘GNBS IN 30’ The
Marketing
and
Communications
the
National
Communications
Network
and
Department (MCD) from this year commenced
aired on Channel 11 on the last Monday of every
a weekly radio programme titled ‘GNBS Talk
month
Back’
tune in!!
and
a
monthly
television
programme
from
19:30h
to
20:00h.
Remember
to
titled ‘GNBS in 30’ to promote the work of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards. These
The
programmes
speakers
from 11:00hr to 11:15hr on the Voice of Guyana
from the other departments, help to publicise
further educates the public on the Standards
the
developed and sold by the GNBS. During these
various
including consultancy
which
include
services
offered
training and
legal
guest
by
the
courses, metrology
Bureau
auditing, among
others.The television programme is recorded by
radio
15mins
programmes
programmes,
aired
concerns
on
Wednesdays
and
questions
communicated to us through our Whatsapp and social media platforms are also addressed.
16
GNBS IN FOCUS
2020 WINS
17
GNBS IN FOCUS
World Consumer Rights Day Activities Commencing Virtual Measurements on Liza Unity from Singapore
Opening of the GNBS Sub Office in Bartica GNBS Staff to Participate in International Women's Day Event at International Level GNBS 36th Anniversary
18
GNBS IN FOCUS
19
GNBS
SOCIAL
GNBS IN FOCUS
20
RATIN B E L G E C
36 YEARS
O
Y F Q T I UAL
