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GNBS in Focus THE GUYANA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS' BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER
BARTICA SUBOFFICE OPENED In order to meet the needs of residents in Region #7, the GNBS opened its new sub-office in Bartica, located in the building of the Regional Democratic Council.
GNBS CERTIFIES FIBRE GLASS BATH AND SHOWER UNITS FOR THE FIRST TIME FibreTech Industrial Plastics Inc. became the first local company to be certified by the GNBS for their plastic bath and shower units.
OIL AND GAS EXPERTS VISIT THE GNBS A team of oil and gas experts visited the GNBS late April to check on and determine the agency's readiness to facilitate oil and gas operations in Guyana..
W W W . G N B S G Y . O R G
GNBS IN FOCUS
Message from the Head, Corporate Communications. Dear Readers, Welcome to the second edition of our bimonthly
Newsletter
where
stakeholders
on
have
happening
been
all
the
we
good at
update
our
things
that
the
Guyana
National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). During
March
and
April
there
were
many
positive changes at the Bureau; one being, the
establishment
Communications previously
of
the
Corporate
Department,
joined
with
which
the
was
Marketing
The Corporate Communications Department responsible
distributing awareness
for
content about
writing, to
the
editing
create Bureau,
and
stakeholder its
services
Department
promoting System
the
of
is use
Units
also of
(SI)
responsible the
in
for
International
Guyana,
which
include metres, litres, and kilograms. Generally, information is communicated via radio
and
programmes, notices,
this
television newspaper newsletter,
interviews
and
articles
and
and
through
in-
person interactions with stakeholders in the form of lectures and outreach visits. Finally, this department manages the GNBS Email:
info@gnbsgy.org
number:
692-4627.
We
and
welcome
any
feedback or concerns about the GNBS you may have.
01
Omesh Balmacoon Syeid Ibrahim
George DeFreitas
Editorial Contributors Lloyd David Bibi Khatoon
and the standards that are available. The
Photo credits Bibi Khatoon
Department.
is
Mr. Lloyd David Head, Corporate Communications
Concept & Design Omesh Balmacoon
GNBS IN FOCUS
Table of Contents 07
03
03
15
Region Seven Sub-Office Officially Opens
01
Message from the Head, Corporate Communications
07
04 Fibre Tech Industrial Plastics Becomes First Company to Certify Its Fibreglass Products
IWD | Staff Raise Over $50,000 to Support Women and Children
06 08 09
Meet the GNBS Team- March/April Focus Eureka Laboratories Inc. Re-Certified GNBS Joins World Consumer Rights Day Activities
10
11 Oil and Gas Experts Visit the GNBS
MCD Prepares Delicious Seven Curry At Monthly Cook Out
12
Veterinary Services Laboratory Certified by the GNBS
15
Laboratory Technicians Trained to Install Equipment,
13 14
More Traffic Ranks Undergo Training Employees Undergo Training on Lead Auditing
17 18
Upcoming Events GNBS Social
Test Crude Oil
02
GNBS IN FOCUS
REGION SEVEN SUB-OFFICE OFFICIALLY OPENS The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS)
An Inspector of the Bureau is now stationed in the
launched its newest Sub Office in Region #7 on
mining
March
weighing and measuring devices used in trade, the
15,
2021
to
better
serve
businesses
and
opening
ceremony
was
joined
by
the
new
Industry of Commerce, among other officials.
testing
Executive
Ramrattie
Karan
Director in
gathering
pointed
pandemic
and
travelling
have
the
her
of
the
address
out
that
resulting
reinforced
the
Bureau, to
the
the
Ms. small
COVID-19
restrictions importance
decentralizing the services of the Bureau.
on of
office of
will
facilitate
the
verification
arrangements
concrete
hollow
of
all
attendees
of
blocks
for
and
and gold
jewellery. Among
the
the
opening
ceremony,
which was held in the compound of the Regional Democratic Chairman
Council Mr.
Kenneth
(RDC), Williams,
were
Regional
Bartica
Mayor
Gifford Marshall and Regional Commander Senior Sup. Dion Moore.
03
conduct
products monitored by the Bureau. Additionally, the
Honourable Oneidge Walrond, Minister of Tourism,
Acting
to
registration of stakeholders and the inspection of
consumers in the region. The
town
GNBS IN FOCUS
IWD | STAFF RAISE OVER $50,000 TO SUPPORT WOMEN & CHILDREN
In
observance
of
International
Women’s
Day
(IWD) 2021, staff of the GNBS hosted a Bake sale
to
support
underprivileged
women
and
children. The sale was able to raise a total of $55,600; Blossom
all
of Inc.,
which a
was
handed
over
to
Non-Governmental
Organisation (NGO) which provides support to women and children in various areas including Bartica, Region Seven.
04
GNBS IN FOCUS
MEET THE GNBS TEAM Team members featured in March & April
Briana Mangal, Nikieta Robinson (Top to bottom left)
Lloyd David, Clifton Franklin (Top to bottom right)
(Top to bottom centre)
Shaleeza Ally, Narine Mohanlall, Lashaunna Singh
06
GNBS IN FOCUS
FIBRE TECH INDUSTRIAL PLASTICS BECOMES FIRST COMPANY TO CERTIFY ITS FIBREGLASS PRODUCTS Fibre
Tech
Industrial
Plastics
(FTIP)
on
March
23,
2021 became the first local company to have its
that they have been tested and have proven to be of quality.
fibreglass products certified by the GNBS’ under its
07
Product Certification Programme.
Mr.
The company’s bathtub and shower units were found
proclaimed
to
confidently able to export its fiberglass products
be
in
conformance
with
requirements
of
the
Somat
that
Director
company
beyond. In addition, he said with increased local
permitted to affix the National Standards Mark to
business from the Oil and Gas Sector and the
bathtubs and shower units it manufactures, giving
boom
customers the assurance
manufacturers to have their products certified.
FTIP
is
in
construction,
it
is
Region
be
now
such,
CARICOM
now
FTIP
units
As
the
will
of
to
557:2020).
in
Managing
Guyana Standard for plastic bathtub and shower (GYS
countries
Ali,
ideal
for
and
local
GNBS IN FOCUS
EUREKA LABORATORIES INC. RE-CERTIFIED The Eureka Laboratories Inc. was in March re-
General requirements for the operation of a
certified
laboratory (GYS 170: 2009). This certification
by
the
Certification
Services
Department of the Guyana National Bureau
process
is
done
biennially
following
a
of Standards, giving the assurance that their
successful audit of the laboratory system to
processes are being conducted as required
the requirements of the Standard.
by the National Laboratory Standard –
08
GNBS IN FOCUS
GNBS JOINS WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY ACTIVITIES March is dedicated to Consumer Protection and
the
Guyana
Standards
National
joined
Competition
with
and
Bureau
the
of
Guyana
Consumer
Affairs
Commission (CCAC) and the Department of Consumer
Affairs
Tourism,
Industry
several
activities
awareness.
(DCA) and to
Among
of
the
Ministry
Commerce create
those
to
of
host
consumer
activities
were
a
pop-up exhibition in Region Ten, a live TV programme and a webinar. The CCAC and the CAD also joined the ‘GNBS TALK BACK’ radio programmes to educate consumers on their rights and responsibilities. During
these
urged
to
take
dependence circulation Consumer
events,
of
on
heed
Day
were
towards
plastic
single
Rights
consumers
and
use 2021
reducing
to
reduce
plastics. was
also
World
observed
under the theme “Tackling Plastic Pollution.”
09
GNBS IN FOCUS
OIL AND GAS EXPERTS VISIT THE GNBS The
GNBS
capacity
to
is
currently
serve
expanding
Guyana’s
its
Petroleum
assess
the
Standard
readiness
Body
to
of
support
the this
National rapidly
sector. As a result, a team of 13 experts
developing sector. The GNBS is preparing
from the Ministry of Natural Resources led
to commence the testing of crude oil, and
by
conduct
Mr.
Bobby
Gossai,
Senior
Petroleum
Coordinator of the Petroleum Management
other
related
calibration
and
verification services.
Programme visited the GNBS in April to
10
GNBS IN FOCUS
MCD PREPARES DELICIOUS SEVENCURRY AT MONTHLY COOKOUT
Ahead of this year’s Phagwah celebration, the Marketing
and
Communications
Team
prepared delicious ‘Seven curry’ for the staff of the Bureau to kick-start the holiday weekend. Lunch, which was served in both the traditional leaves and boxes, was also shared with staff members of our sister agencies located in the National cookouts
Exhibition are
Centre.
meant
to
These
foster
monthly
unity
teamwork among staff of the organisation.
11
and
GNBS IN FOCUS
The
GNBS
has
Certification Laboratory
successfully
of
the
of
completed
Veterinary
the
Guyana
VETERINARY SERVICES LAB CERTIFIED BY THE GNBS
the
Services Livestock
Development Authority (GLDA) to the GYS 170 Standard
(General
operation
of
a
requirements
laboratory).
The
for
the
laboratory
received its certification for the first time on Tuesday,
April
assurance
13,
that
2021,
results
giving
its
users
the
emanating
from
the
consultancy
services
of
the
GNBS
as
they
pursue ISO 17025 accreditation.
facility are credible and reliable. Ms. Ramrattie Karan, Executive Director (Ag.) of the GNBS handed over the certificate to Dr.
The certificate was presented in the presence
Grayson
of Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce
Halley,
Chief
Executive
Officer
of
GLDA at a ceremony held in the compound of
Hon.
Oneidge
Walrond
who
noted
that
the Laboratory at Agriculture Road, Mon Repos,
upholding Standards is important to compete
East Coast Demerara (ECD).
regionally and internationally. the
Minister of Agriculture Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha
for
who delivered the feature address pointed out
achieving the milestone and encouraged them
that Certification is important as the country
to continue utilizing the auditing, training and
looks to export meat and meat products.
At
the
event,
management
Ms.
and
Karan
staff
of
congratulated the
laboratory
12
GNBS IN FOCUS
Officers from the Product Compliance, Legal Metrology
MORE TRAFFIC RANKS UNDERGO TRAINING
and
Communications
the
Marketing
Departments
&
concluded
a
series of training sessions with Traffic Ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on the use of
speed
guns,
breathalysers,
metric
units
and the requirements for tyres. The sessions were held in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and Ten. These training sessions should
help
to
improve
the
work
of
the
Guyana Police Force (GPF) on the roadways.
13
14
GNBS IN FOCUS
Team
members
of
the
GNBS
completed
training on auditing the BRC Global Food Standard
for
Food
Safety
Issue
8.0.
and
Quality Management System Lead Auditor Training. These trainings provided staff with the knowledge of Lead Auditing based on the requirements of these Standards. As a result,
employee
skills
and
competency
when it comes to the auditing of quality management
systems
are
expected
EMPLOYEES UNDERGO TRAINING ON LEAD AUDITING
to
increase.
14
GNBS IN FOCUS
LABORATORY TECHNICIANS TRAINED TO INSTALL EQUIPMENT, TEST CRUDE OIL Laboratory Metrology
Technicians and
Testing
of
the
Department
Industrial were
in
April trained to conduct crude oil testing. The Technicians are now able to conduct testing of API-gravity for crude oil, viscosity, density and specific gravity to support the local petroleum sector. The training, which was facilitated by Mr.
Jose
Olaya
from
INTECH
Instrumentos
y
Equipos, C.A also focused on installation of the various pieces of equipment used to conduct the aforementioned tests based on the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) method currently being utilized by the GNBS.
15
GNBS IN FOCUS
GNBS IN FOCUS
World Metrology Day Activities
IMT Department to begin testing of density, viscosity and API gravity of crude Opening of the GNBS Corriverton Sub Office
World Accreditation Day Activities
Announcement of Winner of Measurement for Health Poster Competition 17
GNBS IN FOCUS
18
RATIN B E L G E C
36 YEARS
O
Y F Q T I UAL