Guyana is taking significant strides in enhancing its national quality infrastructure through a comprehensive standardization strategy. Minister of Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues announced Wednesday that the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is developing a national policy to formalize stakeholder interactions and strengthen quality assurance mechanisms across sectors.
The policy initiative, revealed during the GNBS’s National Quality Awards ceremony, aims to ensure both public and private sector products and services meet rigorously defined standards. This development comes as the bureau recognized 35 enterprises for excellence in quality standards, including state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), selected from over 100 qualified contenders.
In collaboration with the Caribbean Regional Organisation on Standards and Quality (CROSQ) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), GNBS has formulated a national standardization strategy for 2025-2028. Minister Rodrigues emphasized this strategy supports digital transformation while focusing on economic growth and competitiveness.
The bureau has substantially expanded its operational scope, adopting 22 new national standards covering diverse products including salt, ice cream, milk, abattoirs, helmets, and liquid petroleum gas. Beginning in 2026, GNBS will introduce verification services for electric vehicle chargers and expand the ‘Made in Guyana’ certification program to include export requirement criteria through partnership with Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest).
With over 600 standards already developed and 11 additional standards awaiting approval, GNBS has exceeded key performance indicators. The bureau’s capabilities are enhanced through 26 laboratories at its Sophia Exhibition Center facility and expanded legal and metrology services. Administrative improvements include digitizing the metrology database to reduce processing times and enable real-time certificate issuance.
CROSQ CEO Sharonmae Smith-Walker commended GNBS’s ‘remarkable journey’ since its 2017 establishment, noting that several Caribbean nations have followed Guyana’s lead in developing quality recognition ceremonies. She highlighted Guyana’s commitment to regional collaboration through free training and mentorship programs, specifically mentioning technical assistance provided to Belize in metrology.