GNBS in Focus Issue 01

J A N U A R Y -

F E B R U A R Y

2 0 2 1

I S S U E

0 1

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