…hosts Staff Appreciation Day
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) honoured eight staffers yesterday at its 13th Annual Long Service Award ceremony. Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, presented the awards in the training room of GNBS, at the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia, Georgetown.
The employees recognised were Shailendra Rai, Candelle Walcott-Bostwick, Edward Melville, Rodlyn Semple, Abidin Mohamed, Kenrick Singh, Kevin Beepat, and Neruddeen Abzal.
Addressing the gathering, which included Acting Executive Director, Ms. Evadnie Benfield, and Chairman of the National Standards Council, Melvyn Sankies, Minister Prashad complimented and congratulated the recipients for their dedication and hard work.
He expressed his ministry’s appreciation for the work being carried out by GNBS, and said that the Bureau, which seeks to improve the quality of goods and services in Guyana through the process of standardisation, is one of the best entities under his ministry, being very efficient and effective.  
He alluded to the Bureau’s high standard and reputation which is recognised by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), noting that many agencies in the Caribbean do not consistently maintain standards the way they do in Guyana.
He said what the GNBS does is very important, although some people do not realize and understand this, and more so, with regard to the national competitiveness strategy and global trade,- standards are extremely important, since countries with high standards and quality products would catch the export market.
“Our reputation will go a far way in making our country, in making our private sector, in making our goods and services, more competitive,” he said.