A two-day workshop, organised by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) on behalf of the Caribbean Metrology Corporation (CARIMET) and in conjunction with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Metrology System (SIM) legal metrology working group and the Guyana Bureau of Standards (GNBS), got under way on Tuesday at Grand Coastal Inn, East Coast Demerara. The forum dealt with the Verification of Water Meters and Electricity Energy Meters.
Participants were drawn from the various consumer bodies, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) and GNBS.
CARIMET Coordinator, Mr. Robert Medford, said that the workshop is geared towards capacity building in which they can share resources and implement activities in training to strengthen the sector.
He added that as they move forward to manage our resources, both natural and energy, it was realised that the consumer and provider must be fairly treated and in the Caribbean there are many metrology standards which are governed by the Metrology Act.
Mr. Medford stated that under this Metrology Act they are mandated to cover legal metrology which in essence promotes equity and trade between both consumer and provider.
He added that no consumer wants to pay more for less and no provider wants to get less or provide more so that there is equity.
“We have identified that the repercussion of electrical and water metres is a priority but how do we achieve equity in these areas, we need to build our human capacity and share our resources,” Mr. Medford said.
Also making brief remarks were Facilitators, Mr. Juan Carlos Mateus Sanchez and Mr. Vitor Neves Hartmann.
The feature address and declaration of the workshop opening were expected to be performed by Minister of Home Affairs,Mr.Clement Rohee who did not, neither was Minister of Trade, Mr Manniram Prashad available, thus, Permanent Secretary, Willet Hamilton represented the minister.
During his address he said that the creative workshop hosted by GNBS in meters for water and electricity verification is to guarantee the rights of consumers by ensuring the devices used from their premises which measures electricity and water consumed are correct.
He also lauded GNBS for hosting the workshop in order to strengthen the programme in Guyana and in the region as a whole and noted that the workshop came at an opportune time as standards bodies around the region, including GNBS, are seeking to build capacity and strengthen their competence in these two areas.
Mr. Hamilton said the workshop was planned in recognition with member countries to penetrate consumer protection with equity in mind even as GNBS is preparing to verify water and electricity meters imported by the utilities prior to installation to consumers which will facilitate transparency.