The National Weights and Measures Programme, which is coordinated by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), continued to be a major success for the organisation during 2013 as significant efforts were made to ensure that weighing and measuring devices used in commercial trade were verified to protect consumers and ensure equity in trade. During the year, imported and locally manufactured devices that were submitted to the GNBS for initial verification (first time use) totaled 1406 scales, 2865 masses and 174 measures. The continued manufacture and importation of devices indicated that there was increased usage of devices in the marketplace. Further, the influx of new devices in trade can also be attributed to the fact that some vendors and shopkeepers had their old devices replaced, since the GNBS deemed them defective or unfit for use. In 2013, there was a significant increase in the subsequent verification of devices (those that were already in use) at shops, markets and other locations such as supermarkets, hospitals, clinics, health centers, manufacturing companies, fish complexes, rice mills, sugar and food factories, airlines, post offices, petrol stations and bulk terminals. Devices subsequently verified totaled 7, 692 scales, 17, 487 masses, 46 measures and 176 electricity meters. In addition, a total of 154 weighbridge scales 1, 680 petrol pumps, 37 storage tanks, 72 tanker wagon compartments and 159 bulk meters were verified. Surveillance activities, which involved the inspection of devices used at shops and markets countrywide to ensure that they were stamped and were in acceptable condition, were conducted during specific periods of the year. Inspectors visited 7, 498 stalls/premises and 1388 scales, 829 masses, 242 measures and 5 rules were seized and removed because they were either inaccurate, unverified or in a deplorable condition. In 2014, special emphasis would be placed by the GNBS on the further development of the Weights and Measures Programme in the various Regions, i.e. the employment of GNBS Officers in all Administrative Regions, the verification of tanker wagon compartments primarily for private operators, the verification of water and electricity meters, and the completion of the reviewing and upgrading of the 1981 Weights and Measures Act and the development of Regulations for the said Act. The execution of these activities is critical to the improvement and the effectiveness of the Weights and Measures Programme countrywide which will facilitate measurement transparency in the electricity, water and petroleum sectors. In addition, the enactment of a new Metrology Act and the Regulations would be vital for the effective execution of Weights and Measures activities in Guyana, thus ensuring consumer protection and equity in trade.
