The National Weights and Measures Programme, which is coordinated by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), continued to realize major success in 2019 as targets set at the beginning of the year were exceeded. 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.
Overall, when compared with the targets, 2019 figures were exceptionally higher. For the verification of devices, a target of 33910 devices was set for 2019 and a remarkable achievement of 45,589 devices was verified. Similarly, for surveillance activities countrywide, the GNBS planned to visit 4395 premises and surpassed this target to achieve 7109 premises that were visited to ensure devices in used were verified.
New devices verified during last year totaled 508 scales, 1323 masses, and 31593 electricity meters. These were newly imported or manufactured locally. The continued importation and manufacture 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 replacement of old and defective devices by vendors and shopkeepers.
For devices already in use at shops, markets and other locations such as supermarkets, manufacturing companies, rice mills, hospitals, airlines, post offices, petroleum industry, a total 6332 scales, 12347 masses, 19 measuring rules and 2038 electricity meters were verified. In addition, a total of 145 weighbridge scales 1, 839 petrol pumps, 33 storage tanks, 149 tanker wagons, and 264 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 2019. During surveillance exercises, 552 scales, 159 masses and 15 measures were seized and removed because they were either inaccurate, unverified or in a deplorable condition.
In 2020, the GNBS intends to further streamline and expand its Weights and Measures Programme and work to ensure weights and measures services are fully available in all Administrative Regions of Guyana. This is also necessary to adequately meet the demands of stakeholders.
For 2020, the GNBS plans to commence the verification of Speed guns and breathalyzers used by the Guyana Police Force and to expand the verification of moisture meters used in the Rice Industry. Importantly, the GNBS intends to fulfill its new role in the Oil and Gas Sector by witnessing the verification of custody transfer meters on the FPSO.
In addition, the GNBS anticipates that the finalized Metrology Bill and will be approved to replace the 1981 Weights and Measures Act. Regulations will also be developed to support the new Act.
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 a measurement system that would protect consumers and ensure equity in trade. 
