Annually, Standards Bodies worldwide unite to observe World Standards Day on October 14, celebrating the vital role standards play in shaping a safer, smarter, and more sustainable world. In Guyana, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) goes a step further by dedicating the entire week (October 12-18) as National Quality Week (NQW).
The theme for this year’s observances – A SHARED VISION FOR A BETTER WORLD – SPOTLIGHT ON SDG 17, focuses on building partnerships and this will be highlighted during the activities of NQW. This theme was chosen by the Key International Organisations, including the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) as the world moves closer to meeting these SDGs by 2030.
Today, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) 17 becomes more crucial for building partnerships to achieve the other sixteen SDGs, which includes reducing poverty and hunger, providing quality education, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, building industry, innovation and infrastructure, and ensuring responsible production and consumption.
In the field of Standardisation, at all levels people are working together to develop standards which offer solutions and a shared vision for a better world. As the National Standards Body, the GNBS is proud of the crucial partnerships it has established over the years to promote the use of standards to create a culture of quality in Guyana. Several of these partnerships were formally established with key stakeholders including consumer groups, business groups and regulatory bodies through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding, while there continues to be mutual collaboration with others towards advancing our nation.
At the international level, GNBS has also signed MOUs with Standard Setting Bodies including American Petroleum Institute (API) and ASTM International which enable access to the latest standards that are critical to local industries. We also greatly value every opportunity provided outside of these MOU’s, especially with other Bureaus in the Caricom Region, Measurement Institutes and Groupings Worldwide. No doubt, individually and collectively, these partnerships have supported our national efforts to establish a Quality Infrastructure to support the rapid transformation we see today, which also brings Guyana closer to achieving many of the SDGs.
As customary, during National Quality Week several activities are organised. This year, they include a speech competition for students of secondary schools in region 2, the dissemination of key messages via the media, a “we are standards” campaign aimed at enhancing awareness of standards, and the GNBS Long Serving Awards Ceremony to honour our dedicated staff. Additionally, a stakeholder session is slated for the International Business Conference on October 15, and just outside of National Quality Week, in November the GNBS will also host the National Quality Awards 2025, to recognise local businesses that demonstrate outstanding commitment to quality, excellence, and continuous improvement. GNBS welcomes the participation and support of all stakeholders in these activities.
For more information on National Quality Week and standards and services offered by GNBS, call 219 0064-66, WhatsApp 692-4627, or visit www.gnbsgy.org.
