– as GNBS verifies thousands of weights & measures devices for first half of 2011
REPORTS from the National Weights and Measures programme which is coordinated by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) have revealed that a significant number of weighing and measuring devices were verified by Weights and Measures Officers countrywide, for the first half of the year 2011. Officers managed to complete the verification, i.e., stamping of scales, masses and measures used for commercial trade at shops, markets, supermarkets, hospitals, clinics, health centres, manufacturing companies, fish complexes, rice mills, sugar and food factories, petrol stations and bulk terminals.
Verification figures for new devices for the year have indicated that 565 scales, 1187 masses and 688 electricity meters were verified, while for devices already in use, a total of 3714 scales, 7463 masses, 32 measures and 60 electricity meters were subsequently verified.
In addition, a total of 59 weighbridge scales used in various industries and rice mills, 822 petrol pumps, 53 bulk meters, 12 fuel compartments for trucks and 14 storage tanks were verified.
“From the total, 207 petrol pumps had to be calibrated, since they were found to be inaccurate,” according to a statement from GNBS.
Weights and Measures services offered under the programme continued to expand with the establishment of temporary stamping locations which complement the service offered at the GNBS Head Office, three Sub-Offices and Weights and Measures offices located in the Various Regional Democratic Council Buildings countrywide.
These temporary stamping locations gave vendors, shopkeepers and other users of scales convenient access to weights and measures services by reducing the time spent away from their businesses. Hence, there was the general willingness of stakeholders to submit their devices for stamping.
During the period however, some users of devices continued to be delinquent in the submission of their devices for stamping. GNBS said this was evident from the Weights and Measures Surveillance exercise conducted countrywide, which resulted in the seizure of a total of 565 scales, 519 masses and 6 measures.
Surveillance visits were conducted at 5655 stalls/premises countrywide to ensure that all weighing and measuring devices used in commercial trade were verified and stamped for the period under review.
With respect to plans for the second half of this year, GNBS said Inspectors and Weights and Measures Officers will commence the re-verification of devices during the period July to September and conduct surveillance inspections at shops, markets and other sale outlets countrywide to ensure that all weighing and measuring devices used in commercial trade are verified and fit for use.