THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), the organisation responsible for metrology in Guyana, joined with other bureaus and institutions, such as the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML), and stakeholders nationally to commemorate World Metrology Day 2013.

World Metrology (Weights and Measures) Day is observed on May 20 annually, a day set aside to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875. This treaty provides the basis for a coherent measurement system worldwide. World Metrology Day recognises and celebrates the contribution of all the people who work in inter-governmental and national organisations throughout the year.
As a part of the observance, the GNBS hosted an “open day” for the general public and the media, where information pertaining to measurement services and practices were shared with visitors. Members of the public were given the opportunity to visit the labs in the bureau to experience the impact that metrology has on their everyday lives.
The GNBS promises to continue to fulfill its mandate as it improves and expands its range of services offered to stakeholders to ensure their various measuring needs are met efficiently. This year, the day was observed under the theme ‘Measurements in daily life’.
Acting Executive Director of GNBS, Ms. Evadnie Enniss, highlighted that in the course of a typical day, measurements are used almost in every aspect, whether it’s checking the time, purchasing food or produce, fuelling up, or undergoing a blood pressure check. These are just some of the basic activities in daily life that require measurements of some sort.
Yet accurate measurements are taken for granted, she said. Not surprisingly, most people are unaware that in the background there is a worldwide community specialising in metrology, which is the science of measurements, proving accurate measurements. Everybody depends on this community to do its job, and do it with efficiency.
The GNBS is a semi- autonomous organisation which came into existence under Act # 11 of 1984, and falls under the purview of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce. It is governed by its board (National Standards Council) and its daily activities are executed by the executive director under whom there are department heads and the respective staff members within the department.
The organisation, which comprises 55 technical and non-technical staff, receives a Government subvention which, together with the revenue it generates, takes care of the financial needs of the organisation. The head office is located in the exhibition site at Sophia, Georgetown and has four sub-offices.
The bureau’s main focus is to promote national quality infrastructure for economic, social development and consumer protection in partnership with key sectors through standards, metrology and conformity assessment. This is to improve the quality of goods in Guyana, by partnering with government, consumers and industry through the process of standardisation.
The bureau is sub-divided into six departments in order to achieve its goal. These are standardisation, conformity assessment, metrology and standards compliance, laboratory services, information services, and administration and finance. (GINA)