The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) on Friday launched a portal that will allow persons to easily access standards and other relevant information without having to visit the organization’s office.
The portal has several functions and will provide real-time information on standards to all stakeholder through the GNBS website. Currently there are 600 standards available on the website.
In brief comments at the launch ceremony, held at the GNBS’ office in the National Exhibition Centre in Sophia, the Executive Director (ag) of GNBS Ramrattie Karan said that in addition to the standards, there are additional details also available.
Also speaking was the head of standardization, Elton Patram, who said that the organisation had recognised that there was a need to have ease of access to standards for some years now.
In the past, he said, persons would have to call to find out a specific standard and would be told to visit the office if they need more in depth information. This process was severely challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, with persons having to adhere to measures such as social distancing and persons were no longer able to physically visit the office for some time.
However, Patram said, having highlighted the issue, the pandemic also brought the opportunity to have that issue addressed and as a result it saw a contract being awarded to the New Technology Enterprise to develop a portal for GNBS so that persons could access information on standards and guidelines online. The project was finalised in mid-2020 and by November 2020, a contract was awarded.
