STANDARDS CORNER
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards joins with other standards bodies and metrology institutions around the world to observe World Metrology Day under the theme, Metrology: Underpinning Economic Development. The 2009 theme highlights the importance of metrology to trade. We can all be proud that metrology has made such a vital input.

This year, marks the sixth in the series of World Metrology Day celebrations, which we join in marking the contribution metrology plays to trade as an engine of economic growth. Metrology is the science of measurement and almost everything we do in our world depends on the accuracy of measurement

Can you imagine a world without trade? Ever since time began, man has traded: one village grew potatoes, another fruit and the trade and exchange benefited both. Since then, trade raised living standards and created wealth and as every economist knows, trade is essential to economic stability and growth, as well as to the alleviation of poverty.

It’s an essential component of life today, just as it was millennia ago and we don’t need to look back far as in just a short few months we all have seen how the financial crisis has led to a decrease of confidence in companies of all sorts, resulting in a fall in national revenue, and to a predicted downturn in world trade. But what drives trade?

METROLOGY AND TRADE

When we look back at history we can see that metrology and trade are interlinked and today, Governments see the need to set up systems which govern weights and measures to protect their economic interests and consumers also. Weights and measures are a vital part of the framework of any society Therefore, it’s no surprise that many of today’s National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) saw their beginnings in National Weights and Measures Offices – many of which survive today.

GNBS AND METROLOGY

In Guyana, the GNBS has been tasked with the responsibility of spearheading the Weights and Measures (Legal Metrology) and Scientific Metrology programmes. With respect to legal metrology, Guyana has a comprehensive weights and measures programme and metrology facilities are directly available in all administrative regions except Region number one. The activities are centrally coordinated by the head office of the bureau and there are monthly planning meetings which serve to provide feedback and give direction to the programme.

Regarding scientific metrology, GNBS has steadily strengthened its capabilities and has been providing valuable service to industry in the areas of mass, length, volume, temperature, pressure and moisture meter calibration and efforts are continually being made to add new services, provide training for staff in order to deliver a quality service to stakeholders.

As we commemorate World Metrology Day, let us remember that metrology and trade are inextricably linked and there will always be the need for accurate, precise and reliable measurements, so let us strive for a fair trading system and a better, safer planet.

Remember, metrology doesn’t bring many quick results – but it is painstaking and thorough.

For further information, call the Guyana National Bureau of Standards on telephone numbers: 219-0064, 219-0065 or 219-0069