– Minister Prashad
MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, said Friday that jewellers have expressed their intention to comply with the regulations of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) to have the standard quality mark on their products. This move follows a meeting the minister held with gold jewellers concerning complaints of poor quality jewellery being sold locally and overseas.
Minister Prashad said the GNBS will continue with random testing and sampling in collaboration with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and it is hoped that the complaints of substandard jewellery being sold will lessen.
He reminded that since Guyana is now becoming known more as a tourism destination, reports of poor gold quality on the market will not discredit the jewellers only, but the country as well, hence the need for them to comply.
The gold jewellers were also urged  to endorse the GNBS Product Certification Scheme and adhere to the National Standards Mark to ensure a high quality of gold jewellery.
Also present at the meeting were Acting Executive Director of the GNBS, Evadnie Benfield; Manager of Geological Services of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Kampta Persaud; and General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board, Antram Balram.(GINA)