By Staff Writer
The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) yesterday hosted a brief ceremony for the recertification of its central laboratory to the GYS 170:2009 Standard by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS).
The GYS 170:2009 is the National Standard that guides laboratories to conform to dispense quality services to consumers. It provides laboratories with the know-how on the steps to developing and maintaining a thorough management system which in turn allows for the provision of accurate and reliable test results as requested by consumers.
While offering remarks at the event, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the services provided by the laboratory will assist with enhancing Guyana’s position in rice production.
“Over the years, this laboratory has played a very significant role in helping the government to enhance our rice industry…While we are here to certify this facility, I want to say that the future of the rice industry under the PPP government is looking bright.
Although Guyana is now an emerging oil and gas producing country, our agriculture sector is poised to become one of the main contributors towards building our economy,” Minister Mustapha said.
As for the Deputy Executive Director of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, Ramrattie Karan, the official was keen to note that GRDB has worked hard over the years to maintain its certification.
“A decade has passed and we recognize that it has been hard working to maintain GYS170:2009 certification here at the central laboratory. We also recognize that the laboratory has attained international accreditation during that period. Even with attaining international accreditation, the laboratory has not given up its national identity or its national certification and the GNBS is proud to be joining with the GRDB to celebrate this milestone,” Ms. Karan said.
Chairman of the GRDB and Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Madanlall Ramraj, while offering brief remarks, stressed the importance of maintaining the standards required both locally and internationally.
