The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) participated in a CARICOM Regional press conference yesterday, March 23, 2017 which was held to inform stakeholders across the Caribbean Region including those in Guyana of accomplishments under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) over the last five years. During the press conference, which was aided by Video Conferencing connections, Directors of National Standards Bureaus (NSBs) and Executives of the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) presented on how the EU$7.8 million fund assisted their individual member states in implementing the five pillars of the Regional Quality Infrastructure (Metrology, Conformity Assessment, Accreditation, Standards and Certification).
In her presentation, Executive Director of the GNBS Ms. Candelle Walcott Bostwick said that Guyana benefited tremendously from the project, particularly through the enhancement of the capabilities of the GNBS to provide services to assist businesses in improving their products and services and overall competitiveness. .
Among the notable achievements highlighted by the GNBS Executive Director was the Launch of the National Quality Awards which when held later this year will recognise participating businesses for their commitment to standards and quality and their efforts in providing the highest quality products and services to consumers.
The Executive Director stated that under the project the GNBS staff was able to benefit from a number of training programmes, which were geared to build their competency to offer services to businesses to improve their competitiveness. In addition, the project provided laboratory and other promotional equipment including computers and a complete video conferencing facility.
The Project also offered support which allowed Guyana to have its first ever accredited medical laboratory, the Eureka Medical Laboratory. This is a boost for the local health sector as medical tests that are recognised worldwide can be accessed right here in our country. Further, the Food and Drug Analyst Department was also provided with support and is in its final stages of becoming accredited to International Standards.
Like the Heads of other NSBs across CARICOM and CARIFORUM member states, the GNBS Executive Director took the opportunity to extend appreciation on behalf of the NSB and the Government to the European Union and its Implementing Partners of the Project for recognizing the need to support the development of a Regional Quality Infrastructure in the Caribbean Region. It is anticipated that the 11th EDF will commence later in this year.
NSBs across the Caribbean host Press Conference to highlight successes.
