NBSIR 76-1180

Standardization and Measurement

Services in Guyana

Authors;

H. Steffen Reiser

Niels C. Beck

Kenneth S. Stephens

Office of International Relations

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

A Report of a Survey Conducted Jointly by the National Bureau of Standards and the

Agency for International Development

Held July 11 - July 17, 1976

Issued February 1977

Prepared for Agency for International Development

Department of State

Washington, D. C. 20523

NBSIR 76-1180

STANDARDIZATION AND MEASUREMENT

SERVICES IN GUYANA

(A report of a National Bureau of Standards/Agency for International

Development Survey Conducted July 11-17, 1 976)

Survey Team Members:

H. Steffen Reiser, Chief, Office of International Relations,

National Bureau of Standards

Niels C. Beck, Retired USAID Industrial Development Officer

Kenneth S. Stephens, Lecturer, School o' Industrial and Systems

Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

This survey was conducted as part of the program under the US/NBS/Agency

for International Development, RASA TA(CE) 5-71.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Juanita M. Kreps, Secretary

Dr. Betsy Ancker-Johnson, Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS. Ernest Ambler, Acting Director

I

0*
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S8068 12-87 i
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Aeknowledgements Iv

I Introduction 1

II Summary of Recommendations 3

III Meetings and Visits 10

1.0 NBS Team Schedule 10

2.0 General Background (Notes from Briefings)

(See also Sections IV and V) 12

3.0 First Meetings at the Georgetown Mission

of the US AID and the U.S. Embassy 13

4.0 First Meetings with the National Science

Research Council (NSRC) 14

5.0 Meeting with the Bureau of Standards

Council of NSRC 16

6.0 Meeting with the Guyana Marketing

Corporation and the Small Industries

Corporation 22

6.1 Guyana Marketing Corporation 22

6.2 Small Industries Corporation (SIC) 23

7.0 Housing Project Tour and Dinner with

Dr. Rex Woo-Ming, Government Analyst 24

8.0 Meeting with the Guyana Rice Board 26

9.0 Meeting with the Guyana Timber Export Board. 28

10.0 Second Meeting with NSRC at NSRC Secretariat 30

11.0 Meeting with the Guyana Sugar Corporation .. 33

12.0 Lunch Meeting with Executive Secretary of

NSRC Especially on Metrication 35

13.0 Cottage Industry Visits 35

13.1 Omal Manufacturing Company 36

13.2 Chef-Aid Enterprises, Lot 6, Ogle Front,

E. C. Demerara, Guyana 37

13.3 Some General Observations 38

14.0 Visit to Government Analyst Laboratory 39

15.0 Meeting with University of Guyana Faculty

and Tour of Facilities 42

16.0 Visit to Guyana Food Processors Ltd.

(Shrimp) 44

17.0 Dlscussons with U.S. Embassy, USAID and

United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

and United Nations Industrial Development

Organization (UNIDO) 51

17.1 U.S. Embassy and AID Debriefing 51

17.2 UNDP (UNIDO) - Guyana 51

11
18.0 Visit to Associated Organizations of Trinidad

and Tobago 52

18.1 U.S. Embassy, Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain .. 52

18.2 UNDP, Trinidad and Tobago 52

18.3 UN Multi-Sector Regional Planning Project for

the Caribbean Commimity 53

18.4 UN Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA)

,

Office for the Caribbean 53

18.5 Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards 54

IV The Economy of Guyana (For U.S. Reader Orientation) 57

V The People (For U.S. Reader Orientation) 59

VI The Organizations and Facilities 61

VII Concltisions 65

VIII Appendices 66

Appendix A. Guyana Act No. 26 of 1974, National Science

Research Council Act 67

Appendix B. Guyana Rice Board, Notice, Rice Marketing Act

(Chapter 72:01), Specifications for White and

Parboiled Rice to be Purchased by the Guyana

Rice Board 75

Appendix C. National Science Research Council, Annual

Report, 1975, Bureau of Standards Council ...... 77

Appendix D. Quality Control Survey and Questionnaire Forms,

An Objective-Oriented System of Standards and

Quality Control 81

Appendix E. System of Standards & Quality Control Operational in the Sugar Industry 84

IX References 89

X Team Resumes 91

iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The three authors sincerely thank their very helpful and cordial hosts

In Guyana for making their brief visit to the country an unforgettable

and fruitful experience. The comradeship pervading life, work, and

business In Guyana, coupled with untapped natural resources. Is

leading Guyana to a more prosperous national future. Equally, we

thank the U.S. Missions In Georgetown for their generous assistance

and guidance. We acknowledge gratefully the financial support by the

Office of Science and Technology of the USAID In Washington and we thank

Mrs. F. M. Bullman and Mrs. J. Cornish of the NBS Office of International

Relations for reading the typescript of this report with great care.

iv
I INTRODUCTION

The U.S. National Bureau of Standards' three-man team visit to Guyana,

funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development at the request

of Dr. Dennis H. Iirvine, Chairman of the National Science Research

Coimcil (NSRC) and Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana,

extended from Sunday, July 11 to Saturday, July 17, 1976, followed by

one working day in Trinidad and Tobago by one team member, Kenneth S.

Stephens. Effectively, five working days from Monday through Friday

were available to the team for covering a wide range of activities in the

Government of Guyana (GOG) organizations, GOG state owned and private

sector industries.

The NBS team's specific objectives were:

1) to survey domestic and export oriented Industries and

related GOG and private sector organizations, and

2) to advise the NSRC on optimum means for establishing a National Bureau of Standards and related activities

to assist effectively industrial development in Guyana.

Working to the tight tolerances of the time frame and the broad scope

of the objectives, the team members have tried to generate some useful

recommendations, fully realizing that their experience is so limited

that the ultimate judgments and decisions must be made by Guyana's own

leaders.

The re])orts on meetings and visits (Section III of this report) contain

some stiggestions , ideas, and recoma endations that may be helpful as points of departure and guidelines along the way to effective standardization and quality control The more important of these will be repeated

and emphasized in the Summary of Recommendations (Section II) to follow

and in Sections V, VI, and VII.

i
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II SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

1.0 General Recommendations

While Guyana Is unique In Its particular environment » geography,

resources, population, government, and history. It Is not unlike many

countries seeking a national Identity and development. Including a significant establishment of science, technology, and Industry. Guyana

has already recognized a necessity to establish a program of

standardization as a step on the road to successful Industrialization.

Other countries have taken this step and still others will.

While recommendations predicated on some of Guyana's unique

characteristics will be made, based on the limited observations of the

NBS team, the extensive thoughts and recommendations of

representatives of cotmtrles alraady embarking on programs of

standardization are also relevant to the case of Guyana. A significant

collection of these recommendations Is to be found In the Proceedings of

a major ISO conference held In 1973 (reference 10 In section IX). Most

are directly applicable to Guyana and represent alternatives for

consideration as Guyana formulates Its standardization program. The

following are some of the principles and recommendations which have been

selected from this reference by the NBS team for consideration by

Guyana. They represent the consensus of experts on standardization

programs from some 30 covintrles* and at least 6 International organizations.

1) In order to ensure an appropriate base for the activities

of a National Standards Body (NSB) and to promote

widespread understanding and support of Its programs, all

Interested parties. Including the academic profession,

should be permitted and encouraged to participate In Its

standards-wrltlng work.

2) The setting of priorities for the work of the NSB should be

related to the over-all national objectives as specified

In the national economic plan; although the UN and Its

specialized agencies and ISO can assist In defining needs,

the final choice of priorities can only be made at the

national level.

3) National standards bodies In developing countries should adopt

an "Integrated approach" to standardization (embracing standards

writing, metrology, quality control, certification, and applied

research) as providing the best means of ensuring Implementation

of standards and their adaptation to local conditions.

4) Developing countries must endeavour to balance the

* Including one member of the NBS team (H. Steffen Reiser)

3
Investment of their available resources In applied

research and other activities for the Improvement of

quality, as well as in the writing of national standards.

To achieve an appropriate balance, an Integrated approach

to standardization is essential.

5) Policies on the question of which standards should be

compulsory and which voluntary vary from one country to

another according to political and social structures. It

is generally accepted, however, that many standards relating

to safety, health, environment, and consumer protection

usually administered by the NSB, following the ISO/IEC Code,

need to be mandatory. In technological terms the main

consideration is that standards, whether voluntary

or compulsory, should contain an inducement for the

improvement of quality; it is, therefore, important

that standards should promote technological advance. Moreover,

the precise legal status of standards is of less importance than

the efforts of the NSB to promote implementation of standards,

in particular through quality control programs.

6) A developing country should have a system of certification,

usually administered by the NSB, following the ISO/IEC Code

of principles for certification systems, which assists

export promotion, ISO, lEC, and the Uil should help these

bodies in their efforts by providing technical advice and

financial assistance.

7) In its certification activities the NSB will need to take

account both of its own national standards and other

international or national standards of other countries,

according to the market requirements.

8) NSB*s in developing countries should be fully aware of the

work of the ISO Certification Committee (CEPvTICO)

.

9) Governments in developing countries should strengthen

the role of the NSB*s by implementing nationally

approved standards in all their operations,

particularly public purchases, and by using, whenever

possible, the technique of "reference to standards" in

legislation and regulations,

10)

The national and regional standards bodies in developing countries

should organize, v;ith the assistance of ISO, information campaigns

on standardization intended for all levels (government,

university, schools, industry, general public, etc.)

4
11) In principle, the Central Secretariat of ISO will be. in a position to assist the NSB in defining needs and specific

projects and in locating possible sources of finance or technical assistance, both multilateral and bilateral. The

NSB, however, must convince its own government of the importance

of these projects in order to ensure their inclusion in

over-all development programs submitted to multilateral and

bilateral agencies,

12) The NSB's in developing countries should maintain an awareness of the work of international technical

committees dealing with questions of major importance for

their exports, and participate in this work as far as possible.

2,0 Specific Recommendations -

A major step in solving a problem is defining the problem itself. For

purpose of direction and focus the NBS team came to Guyana xd.th some specific areas to investigate: engineering safety, product standards,

and quality control in small scale manufactures, all in connection

with the proposed launching of a Guyanese Bureau of Standards (GBS).

The team soon concluded that a significant problem was not so much

what GBS should do but how they should do it; how they should sort out

priorities, establish objectives, attain them in the least possible

time, and where they could get the necessary information to solve

problems. Specific recommendations were developed to supplement those

of part 1.0 above as follows:

1) The Director of the NSB should be appointed and several

additional staff recruited with minimum delay. The long

lead time between the formal initiation of such organizations

and their effective operation is a matter of historical

record. Delay should be minimized,

2) As outlined in section III, part 10,0, a commitment on

the part of the national go^^ernment in terms of budget,

personnel, and adequate organizational infrastructure is

necessary. Requirements in these areas for Guyana's current

and future level of activity must be assessed and presented

for approval and implementation. The first year budget seems inadequate to get the program started at a level commensurate

with Guyana's industrial activity.

3) An inventory of local and export product testing and technical

information needs, including product standards, specifications,

testing, inspection, and certification information in connection

5
with the standardization program should be carried out by

acceleration and expansion of the present effort,

4) A correlated inventory of GOG and private sector test and laboratory

facilities as well as information centers which can meet some

of the needs above should be compiled, again by acceleration

and expansion of the present effort.

5) A similar inventory of the most accessible external sources

of assistance and experts should be made and a policy

established as to the nature and extent of assistance desired.

Some are listed in section III, parts 10,0 and 17.2 and

section VI, part 2,0, If interested, action should

be taken to initiate requests for assistance.

6) Corresponding membership in ISO would be helpful. Membership

of lEC would be of benefit for the development of hydroelectric

power stations and the distribution systems. Membership in

OIML at this time may be an unnecessary expense.

7) Some specialized training of GBS staff will be found to be essential and the industrial inventory will provide some experience.

GBS should survey international, regional, and other national

training opportunities, at first for short term workshops,

conferences, and communication exchanges, later for longer

term training possibilities. *

8) With respect to the organizational infrastructure mentioned in

2) above, several significant decisions, policies, and actions

are involved:

(a) Policies to be determined on the standardization program -

i. Is it to be integrated in the sense of the general

recommendations in part 1.0 above?

il. Will the voluntary or compulsory approach be taken, or a combination?

iii. Is the program to Include a certification and quality

marking scheme?

Iv. Is the certification program to cover domestic as well

as export products?

V. Should there be a separate export inspection

program on a per lot or batch basis?

6
vi. Will existing functions of health, forestry,

agriculture, etc,, be brought under the standardization

program and. If so, how?

(b) Promulgation of an appropriate national standards act and

related certification regulations,

(c) Formulation of a standards council compatible with the

policies of (a) and (b),

(d) Development of an organizational chart for the GBS and

the associated time frame for implementation compatible

with (a), (b), and (c). As mentioned in section III,

part 5.0, the proposed GBS organization chart may need

to be implemented sooner than the projected 10 years. The

Inspectorate Division might be used in support of the

Certification Division, Provision for a public relations program

should be made including consumer affairs and information

services, (See reference 12 of section IX and recommendation 10

in part 1,0 of this section)

(e) Determining where the GBS is to fit into the GOG organizational

structure. In this regard, it appears to the I'lBS team that

the hierarchical structure presently being developed for the

GBS may place the organization at too low a level in the overall

government organizaiton to allow it to adequately carry out its

functions. Other struct;ures should be considered. Perhaps the

Director of GBS should report directly to the Minister

of Economic Development, at least administratively,

with functional responsibility to and support from the

Standards Cotmcil, whicl:. itself might in time be raised to a higher level in the hieiarchy. Some countries have organized

their standardization pxograms at the ministerial level, as outlined in reference 10 of section IX and elsewhere. Top level

support for Singapore’s program has been instrumental in

its success. The team believes that Guyana is in a position to give the necessary support and organizational

strength to its standardization and industrial development

program,

(f) Within the policies and organizations outlined above,

decisions and policies should be made on procedures for

coordination of standardization activities of other ministries

and perhaps bring them under the Standards Council, Further

ideas on this are given in section VI and in section III,

part 5,0 with related references in parts G,2 v/ith

respect to the National Export Council, 8.0 on llinistry

7
of Agriculture, 9.0 on the Forest Department, 11.0 on the

Ministry of Trade and Consumer Protection and 13.0 and

14.0 on the Ministry of Health. The Standards Council and

the GBS will soon represent an important resource which

should be available and constructively used by all ministries.

9) Numerous references are made in the report to the program of

technical assistance to small food processors and associated

workshops for owners and potential entrepreneurs (section III,

parts 4.0, 5.0, 13.0 and 14.0.) There are also related general

recommendations (numbers 4 and 5) in part 1.0 of this section.

Extension and advisory services could be highly effective and

efforts in this regard probably should be expanded and

accelerated. Advice need not be limited to products for

which standards have already been prepared—quality requirements

can be defined separately; such a service will contribute to a better standard or superior ability to conform to the standard

when it is prepared; an extension service can result in

substantial savings in costs and materials. Increase production

and expand sales. Similar services to non-food products should

be developed. Principal areas might be textile products and

building construction materials in conjunction \7ith Guyana’s

program to feed, clothe, and house its citizenry. The Small

Industry Corporation might be staffed and equipped to discharge

this service in the non-food sector. Quality control training

for management and technics], personnel should be organized

and carried out to support this effort.

10) The report also examines the. potential usefulness for

standardization in Guyana of an ongoing testing program,

the use of existing laboratctries, and the establishment

of a test laboratory for GBSl. (section III, parts 5.0,

10.0 and 15.0) Existing facilities can be used, at least

initially, and several ideas for Incentives to laboratories to

cooperate are listed in the report. Concurrent with the use of existing facilities should be the beginning of an additional test laboratory cr further expansion of the existing

ones to perform needed tests for which the capability does not

exist. In planning for the testing program, GBS might establish

a testing committee consisting of top-level representatives from

some of the main testing laboratories (e.g. Analyst Department,

University of Guyana, Guyana Pharmaceutical Co., Guyana Sugar Corp.,

etc.) to map out a program of tests and coordination of testing

facilities. In such planning, certain laboratories perhaps should

concentrate on testing in certain major fields, eliminating

duplication of expensive testing apparatus, and raising

to a high performance level the tests xd-thin these major

fields. Coordination of deliberate overlapping of tests

8
for scheduling and control purposes can be planned. Coordination

of calibration can also be planned. Cooperation with such a group may lead to favorable responses to proposals for equipment

grants from the various external sources.

11) With reference to the importance of applied research, discussions

with NSRC (section III, part 4,0) indicated the development of a National Research Institute of Applied Science and Technology.

This is seen as a significant complement to the standardization

program to help develop better standards and improved quality of

products. Discussions brought out immediate needs in areas of

material properties such as clays, timber, sugar cane, and sugar

by-products, etc. This should be pursued actively and linked

with the standardization program.

12) One of the top priorities for standards development is an up-to-date building code, (See section III, parts 5,0 and 7,0.)

Liaison vd.th the Center for Building Technology of the U.S,

National Bureau of Standards is recommended.

13) Discussions with the Guyana Timber Export Board (section III,

part 9,0) revealed an immediate need for a technical committee

on timber products to actively pursue harmonization of standards

and a system for their application.

14) Of special significance in the rationalization of functions,

responsibilities, and coordination, is the matter of Weights

and Measures, and Metrication, currently the responsibility

of the Ministry of Trade and Consumer Protection, This activity

should be coordinated with the Bureau of Standards and the

Standards Council,

15) Launching of a national certification program and related

quality marking system can be Initiated by focusing on well established industries. It can be accelerated by options

to allow certification to other than Guyanese national standards,

e.g., international, regional, other foreign national,

institutional, trade, industry, or company standards (see

related discussion in section III, part 5,0 and recommendation

7 of part 1,0)

9
Ill MEETINGS AND VISITS

1 , 0 NBS Team Schedule Para .

July 12, Monday a.m. 3.0 1st meetings at the Georgetown

Mission of the USAID and the

U.S. Embassy

4.0 1st meetings with the National

Science Research Council (NSRC)

July 13, Tuesday a*iH« 5.0 Meeting with the Bureau of

Standards Council of NSRC

p.m. 6.0 Meeting with 1) The Guyana Marketing

Corporation and 2) The Small Industries

Corporation

late p.m. and evening 7.0 Housing Project Tour and Dinner with

Dr. Rex Woo-Ming, Government Analyst

July 14, Wednesday A «in« 8.0 Meeting with the Guyana Rice Board

p.m. 9.0 Meeting with the Guyana Timber

Export Board

late p.m. 10.0 2nd Meeting with NSRC at the

Secretariat

July 15, Thursday A ein • 11.0 Meeting with the Guyana Sugar

Corporation

lunch 12.0 Lunch Meeting with Executive

Secretary of NSRC, Especially on

Metrication

p.m. 13.0 Cottage Industry Visits

p .m. 14.0 Visit to Government Analyst

Laboratory

July 16, Friday a.m. 15.0 Meeting with University of Guyana

Faculty and Tour of Facilities

p .m. 16.0 Visit to Guyana Food Processors Ltd.

(shrimp)

10
late p.m. & evening 17.1 Discussions with U.S. Embassy,

and AID Debriefings

17.2 United Nations Development Program/

United Nations Industrial Development

Organization (U^TIDO)

July 19, Monday a.m. 18.1 U.S. Embassy, Trinidad and Tobago

18.2 UNDP, Trinidad and Tobago

18.3 UN Multi-Sector Regional Planning

Project for the Caribbean Community

(formerly CRIAT)

18.4 UN Economic Commission for Latin

America (ECLA) Office for the

Caribbean

18.5 Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of

Standards

11
2.0 General Background (Notes from Briefings) (See Also Sections IV and V)

Guyana alms to be a socialist state based on cooperatives with strong

historic traditions to British mode of government and administration

of law. The narrow coastal belt with the capital of Georgetown Is

densely Inhabited by over 90% of the population of about 800,000 which

Is 45% East Indian and 35% African descent. To develop the tropical

rain forest and the savannahs beyond remains largely a challenge for

the future. Much needed education Is vigorously pursued by the GOG;

80% of the population receive primary schooling; yet only about 2000

presently attend the University of Guyana. There are, however.

Intermediate level efforts through a GOG Technical Institute, the KuruKuru Cooperative College, the Guyana School of Agriculture, the

Institute of Animal Health Assistants, etc. Personal religious

affiliations are strong but freedom of choice Is effective; almost 60%

are Christians, 33% are Hindu. The party In power Is the People's

National Congress (PNC) under Cde. L. F. S. Burnham; the prlnelpil

opposition party (although until recently In boycott of Parliament) Is

the People's Progressive Party (PPP) under Dr. C. Jagan. The Constitution provides for Individual freedoms, the Prime Minister, the Hon.

L. F. S. Burnham, and cabinet are responsible to a 53 member elected

National Assembly of which they are members. There Is a head of state,

a President - currently His Excellency Mr. Arthur Chung. Besides the

Prime Minister and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs; the following

ministries exist:

Public Service

Home Affairs

National Development and Agriculture

Regional Development

Works and Housing (Communications)

Foreign Affairs and Justice

Cooperatives and National Mobilization

Energy and Nature Resources

Finance

Economic Development

Labour

Information and Culture

Education and Social Development

Health

Trade and Consumer Protection

Clearly the demarcation between and responsibilities of these

ministries Is in delicate balance further complicated by an effective

regional system (six regions) headed by five regional ministers and a strong attachment to CARICOM, a Caribbean Common Market, Including

Antigua, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica,

Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and

12
Trinidad and Tobago. Guyana has a remarkably sovind economy where

private enterprise for common national goals Is encouraged by the side

of wide-spread governmental Involvement. A national Identity and

consciousness Is achieved, technical and managerial skills are In short

supply. Good personal and racial harmony exist, but the public In

Guyana Is extolled to seek even better ones and to develop an unexcelled loyalty and patriotic devotion to the nation's development.

3.0 First Meetings at the Georgetown Mission of the USAID and the

U.S. Embassy

After a weekend arrival (7/11/76) we were cordially received by:

1) The U.S. Agency for International Development's Mission Director,

Mr. Arthur Mudge, the Program Officer, Mr. Peter Kolar, Mr. Gregg

Smith, Capital Development, and Mr. Forest Payne.

2) The Charge d'Affalrs at the U.S. Embassy, Mr. Wade H. B. Matthews,

who a short time later left the post, and his successor, Mr. John

Blacken.

3) Mr. Bernard Gibbs, Senior Scientific Officer at the National

Science Research Council.

Mr. Gibbs outlined our program for the week. Mr. Mudge and Mr. Kolar

explained the opportunities for technical assistance and the favorable

climate despite political differences. The history of USAID programs

In agriculture and Investments was described. Guyana, despite Its

position In the UN as a third-world socialist country, left

opportunities for entrepreneurs and cautious Investments from abroad.

There were difficulties with Guyana's relations to the Organization of

American States, but with a highly educated political elite, Guyana,

as a member of the UN Security Council, played a greater role than

expected by Its size.

Regarding Guyana's trade relations with the U.S., Mr. Matthews

confirmed that the U.S. was now the largest single trading partner of

Guyana, a position which was first realized In 1974. In 1973, Imports

from the U.S. amounted to U.S. $43.0 million, exports to the U.S.,

$28.7 million; In 1974, these figures were 66.3 and 67.5 respectively.

Overall, the Guyanese economy, based on prime mineral (bauxite,

chiefly), agriculture (sugar cane, rice, copra, etc.), fisheries

(shrimp, mainly), and lumber, seems rather sound. Per capita Income

Is rising and relatively evenly distributed.

13
A.O First Meetings with tha Natlorml Science Research Council (NSRC)

Discussions were held on Monday afternoon, July 12, 1976, with our

principal host. Dr. Dennis H, Irvine, Vice-Chancellor of the

University of Guyana and Chairman of the National Science Research

Council, in his office at the University. In attendance in addition

to Dr. Irvine, were Miss Eileen Cox, Chairlady of the Bureau of

Standards Council and an Executive Member of the Guyana Consumers*

Association, Mr. Bernard Gibbs, and Mr. Raj Persaud, scientific

officers with NSRC. NSRC was established in November of 1974 by

Guyana Act No. 26, though it had operated in some form since 1971. A

copy of the Act was obtained and is Included in Appendix A. It has

authority (under section 8 of the Act) to establish working committees

which they have chosen to call "councils" also. Six such committees

have been established to date with a seventh under consideration. The

six are as follows:

1. Agricultural Research Council

2. Bureau of Standards Council

3. Forestry Research Council I 4. Council for Research on Manatees (a large sea cow)

5. Medical Research Council

6. Council for Science and Industry.

Under consideration is a Socio-Economic Council. Organizationally,

NSRC is under the Ministry of Economic Development. At the present

time, the NSRC secretariat is in temporary quarters at 44 Pere Street,

Kitty, Georgetown. Under development is a National Research Institute

of Applied Science and Technology and a building to house the

activities of NSRC including the Bureau of Standards, Some Canadian

International Development Agency (CIDA) support is expected for the

building and equipment.

Invitation of the team to study and advise on standards development in

Guyana was explained. Miss Cox had been corresponding with the U.S,

National Academy of Science which Dr, Iirvlne also visited. Through

the initial visits and dialogue, as well as visits to Guyana by USAID

staff. Dr, Irvine requested the assistance of USAID resulting in the

team's visit coordinated by US/NBS.

Further discussions centered on additional activities to date of the

NSRC to develop a standards bureau to plan and carry out the country's

program of standards promulgation and implementation including

associated efforts in product testing and quality control.

Directorship at the bureau has been considered and offered to Dr, Rex

Woo-Ming, currently the Government Analyst in the Ministry of Health,

14
Some efforts have been devoted to the study of small scale food

processing companies. Including tomato ketchup, jellies, and peanut

butter. There is a need for the development of a small scale bottle

sterilizing unit for bottling ketchup. Concern was expressed over the

quality of raw materials Involving drying and storage operations.

Additionally, processing and facilities were thought Inadequate for

many reasons.

Included In the discussion was a reference to the Lome Agreement In

which the 9 countries of the EEC entered into on open trade agreement

with some 46 developing countries. The agreement was signed in 1975

and came into effect In April 1976. It opens up some additional

export possibilities for Guyana and helps to place additional

Importance on the necessity for quality of products and use of

standards.

A folder of papers on standardization, certification, and quality

control was left with Dr, Irvine,

From the offices of the Vice Chancellor at the University, the team

proceeded to the NSRC Secretariat offices at 44 Pere Street, Kitty,

Discussions held with Mr. Gibbs and Hr. Persaud In addition to Isaac

Azeez, accountant for NSRC, dealt with additional reference materials

for NSRC's use. The following Items were given to NSRC by Steffen

Pelser on behalf of NBS:

1. Measures for Progress - A History of NSS.

2. tJBS Special Publication - 417, Directory of U.S.

Standardization Activities.

3. NBS Special Publication 300, Precision Measurement

and Calibration, Volume 2, Temperature (One of

a twelve volume set)

4. NBS Monograph 148, the Role of Standards Reference

I'laterials in Measurement Systems.

5. NBS Itonograph 250, Ceilibration and Test Services

of the National Bureau of Standards.

6. inJS Monograph 260, Catalog of NBS Standard

Reference Materials.

7. NBS Annual Report, FY 1975.

15
5.0 Meeting with the Bureau of Standards Council of NSRC

Present at the meeting were:

Dr. Dennis H. Irvine

Dr. Rex Woo-Mlng

Dr. Leslie Chin

Prof. Leslie Cummings

Mr. Cecil Pancham

Mr. Cecil Outrldge

Mr. R. Westmaas

Mr. Bernard Gibbs

Mr. Raj Persaud

Chairman of the meeting

Government Analyst

Factory Manager, Guyana Pharmaceutical

Corporation Ltd.

Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences,

University of Guyana

Guyana Manufacturers Assn.

Consultative Assn, of Guyanese

'Industry (Employers Assn.)

Architect, Faculty of Technology,

University of Guyana

NRS Team Liaison (HSRC)

^TBS Team Liaison 6tSRC)

Miss Eileen Cox, regular Chairlady of the Council, was not able to be

present.

Dr. Irvine opened the meeting \d.th iinother brief description of how

his request had originated and eventuated in the MBS team visit. He

then introduced Dr. Rex Uoo-Ming, proposed Director of the new (1976)

Bureau of Standards.

Dr. Woo-Mlng explained that current activities Include:

1) The drafting of a national standards act with

interminis terlal consultation on inputs is in

process. An organizational plan for the Bureau of

Standards has been drawn up and is given at the end

of this write-up. T'Jhlle it was prepared on a 10-year

planning basis, such staffing will be necessary much

sooner for Implementation oJ" a standardization program.

2) Workshops with Bureau staff, the Manufacturer's

Association and industrial plants, e.g., the

first was recently completed for agreement on acceptable specifications for tomato ketchup

including joint plant visits and recommendations

for in-plant testing and quality control.

Notable improvements have been made in the final

product.

3) Meetings with small food processors toward expanding

existing cooperatives and establishing minimum

standards through the co-ops.

4) A Food and Drugs Law has been issued under the Ministry

16
of Health (Laws of Guyana, Chap. 34,03, Food and

Drugs Act, 1971) but complete enactment and enforcement await further progress in (2) foregoing, i.e.,

industrial education and in the issuance of food and

drug regulations. A standard marks system is also

being discussed along with related problems in standards,

inspection, and testing.

5) An inventory of testing facilities is underway at the

major resource locations in Georgetown.

Dr. Leslie Chin, Factory Manager and Chief Chemist at the state owned

CARIP) Drug processing plant, pointed out that the Bureau had also

conducted a questionnaire poll of the larger industrial plants on the

five major exports, i.e,, sugar, (see paragraph 11,0 in this section)

bauxite, rice, timber and shrimp (s«‘e paragraph 16.0 in this section)

to inventory their quality controls and possibility of sharing

technical information with smaller industries. Drs, Woo-Ming and Chin

returned to the subject of co-ops asi a source of distributing the cost

of technical assistance and sharing technical information. Also, in

the area of foods and drugs, Guyana belongs to the Codex Alimentarius

and could propagate Codex information through the co-ops, when formed.

Dr. Stephens spoke briefly on compulsory versus voluntary consersus

standards pointing out that there are different degrees of comptlsion

that can be applied to the implemeni:ation of standards, even of the

voluntary or consensus type - such as preference to goods conforming

to standards in government and industry purchases, Mr. Peiser

interposed the desirability of voluntary cooperation achieved by

providing useful technical information and other technical support to

industry through the standards organisation.

Dr, Chin referenced the typical major constraint of developing

countries 'lack of trained manpower. Mr, Peiser suggested a beginning

for specialized staff training in the annual workshops conducted by

NBS and, later. Dr, Woo-Ming expressed his strong Interest in

attending the next workshop. Dr. Chin added that Dr. B, II, Singh of

UNIDO and the Indian Standards Institution had visited Guyana last

year from his UNIDO post in Barbados and had conducted a seminar on

quality control.

Dr. Chin posed the difficulty of using other laboratories for bureau

testing in view of each lab having its ow. priorities, precluding

prompt response to bureau needs. At a later meeting (see paragraph

10,0) he proposed that the financial incentive is a strong one and

should be pursued further - - citing his own laboratory services in

measuring SO2 in shrimp.

17
Mr. Peiser's scheduled remarks began with outlining the early

Importance of self-reliance based on local staff understanding of

national culture, politics, economies and social context. He pointed

out that early, specific proof that standardization "pays" Is very

difficult, but historically, all successful Industrial nations have

used It as an essential tool. Historical approaches In the U.S.,

Switzerland, Russia, Japan, et al. , have been many and varied from

highly centralized to widely decentralized organizations so that many

options are open to developing countries. The U.S. Is moving toward

better regional and International cooperation. Guyana might also

decide to make the most of Its CARICOM (Caribbean Common Market)

membership. The bureau should also consider early membership In the

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as a corresponding

member, at which level benefits far exceed cost considerations.

Whatever historical approach Guyana chooses to follow, Mr. Pelser stressed

the necessity of the classical standards committees to achieve the

commitment and support of government, manufacturers, imlversltles , the news media, and most Important, consumers. Important here Is the

Inclusion of representation of all ministries In the government since

all will eventually be Involved. For example, a program was suggested

asking given ministries to sign off on affected standards as opposed

to having every ministry represented on the standards council and

perhaps becoming too large and unwieldy for efficient action.

Discussion shifted to the possibility of an accredited laboratory

system to distribute the cost of testing for standardization, the

early development of a modest certification program, product approval

options by foreign national, regional. Institutional, trade or Industry associations or even manufacturing plant standards, (all of

these are employed In Singapore) and access to essential testing

procedures from other nations' standards.

The question of a separate weights and measures activity, on record In

many countries, was viewed favorably as long as a clear responcilblllty

to the standards 6ouncll was established. The voluntary (U.S.) versus

compulsory (Cuba) approach to metrication entered the discussion and a system of accredited laboratories was again suggested as the best

voluntary approach.

Mr. Westmaas, Architect, University of Guyana, posed the problem of

construction standards especially electrical wiring and Mr. Pelser

pointed out some very recent technical developments In this area that

might be worthy of consideration. Mr. Westmaas also reminded

participants of a 1935 building code which could very well be the

foundation for updating construction standards.

18
Guyana has a Weights and Measures Act administered by the Ministry of

Trade and Consumer Protection. The Metrication Board is under the same ministry. Total metrication is currently scheduled for 1981-82.

Literature on standardization, product safety specifications,

certification and quality control distributed to NSRC and Bureau of

Standards Council personnel include the following in addition to those

listed in paragraph 4.0 of this section:

1. NBS Special Publication 329, An Index of U.S. Voluntary

Engineering Standards.

2. NBS Special Publication 352, World Index of Plastics Standards.

3. NBS Special Publication 375, An Index of State Specifications

and Standards.

4. NBS Special Publication 438, Testing and Certification for Export

Products in Industrializing Countries.

5. NBSIR 73-275, Report to AID on an NBS/AID Workshop in Standardization and Measurement Services in Industrializing Economies,

Office of International Relations, NBS, held on May 4-18, 1973.

6. NBSIR 74-550, Report to AID on an NBS/AID Workshop in Standardization and Measurement Services in Industrializing Economies,

held on May 11-24, 1974

7. NBSIR 73-423, Guidelines for the Use of Computer Technology in

the Developing Countries by Ralph A. Simmons, Institute for

Computer Science and Technology, NBS, December 1973, Interim Report.

8. NBSIR 75-785, The Review of Standardization and Measurement

Services at the Ecuadorian Institute for Standards, Raul Estrada

and H. Steffen Peiser, OIR, ITBS, June 27-29, 1974.

9. NBS Report 10 881, A Report on a Survey in Ecuador on Standardization and Measurement Services in Support of Industrializing

Goals, May 1-12, 1972.

10. NBSIR 73-185, Standardization and Measurement Services in Korea,

A Report of Survey Conducted Jointly by NBS & AID, June 19-30,

1972.

11. ITBSIR 73-172, Standardization and Measurement Services in

Turkey, A Report of Survey Conducted Jointly by NBS & AID,

October 14-28, 1972.

12. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Fact Sheets.

13. CPSC - Handbook and Standard for Manufacturing Safer Consumer

Products.

14. American National Standards (Approved & Proposed) Affecting

or Relating to Consum.er Products, Safety, Specifications,

Performance, Test Methods, ANSI.

15. ANSI Consumer Council Publication 2, Guideline for Organizing

a Product Safety Program.

16. The ABC's of International Standards, A.NSI.

17 . 205 American National Standards Adopted Under the Occupational

Safety and Health Act, A’TSI.

/

19
18, Products Liability of Members of Standards Writing Committees,

ANSI.

19, The Voluntary Standards System on Trial by Roy Trowbridge, ANSI,

20, Standards and Certification in a Developing Country, by Rohn Hopper

and Ken Stephens, BSI News , April 1973.

21, Study Tour Workshop on Quality Control and Certification Marking

for Industrial Products, Singapore, May 20-24, 1974, Final

Report, ID/WG. 180/11, Aug. 5, 1974, UNIDO.

22, Thailand's Certification and Quality Marks Programme by Ken

Stephens, 1975 ASQC Annual Technical Conference Transactions,

pp 345-35^T ———————————

23, Final Report by Ken Stephens, UNIDO Post ;THA-082-SD (SF/ID),

Thai Industrial Standards Institute, 28 June, 1974, (less annexes)

24, Creating Effective National Programs in Developing Countries

for Standardization, Certification, and Quality Control by

William Hunter, Ken Stephens and Easaw Chaco, ITCC, Vol III

No. 4, Association of Engineers and Architects in Israll, Tel Aviv,

October, 1974.

25, A Seven Country Survey of Certification Licensing and Qtuility

Marks Programs by Ken Stephens, Qxiality , EOQC Journal, Stnraner,

1975 and Employment Generation Through Stimulation of Snuill

Industries, Georgia Institute of Technology.

20
DR. WOO-MING*S TENTATIVE

PROPOSED ORGANIZATION CHART, GUYANA BUREAU OF STANDARDS (10 YEAR PROJECTION)

Director (97)

1

- Standards Officer III (22)

Food and Agricultural Products Dlvlons (14)

2

- Standards officers II

4 ** Standards Officers I 8 ~ Scientific Assistants

Drugs and Cosmetics Division (7)

1 -* Standards Officer II

2 ** Standards Officer I 4 - Scientific Assistants

1 ~ Standards Officer III (12)

Chemicals Division (7)

1 - Standards Officer II

2 - Standards Officers I 4 -* Scientific Assistants

Labeling and Specifications Dlviaiou (4)

1 Standards Officer II

1 - Standards Officer I 2 - Scientific Assistants

Consumers Affairs Division (2)

1 - Consumer Liaison Officer

1 - Typist/Clerk II Inspectorate Division (10)

1 - Inspector III

3

Inspector II

6 Inspector I Secretary

Deputy Director (49)

Secretary - Typist

1 * Standards Officer III (22)

Engineering Division (14)

2 Standards officers II

4 - Standards officers I 8 - Scientific Assistants

Building and Raw Material Division (7)

1 ” Standards Officer II

2 - Standards officer I

4

~ Scientific Assistants

1 - Standards Officer III (12)

-Textile, Garments and Footwear Division (7)

1 ** Standards Officer II

2 - Standards Officer I 4 - Scientific Assistants

Hetrology Division (4)

1 - Standards Officer II

1 - Standards Officer I 2 - Scientific Assistants

Executive Officer (13)

Purchasing and Stores Division (1)

1 - Purchasing and Stores Officer

Library and Information Services Division (2)

1 - Librarian

1 - Typist/Clerk I Accounts, Records, and General Services Division (9)

1 - Clerk III General 2 - Female Attendants

1 - Typist/Clerk II 1 - Office Assistant

2 “ Typist/Clerk I 2 - Watchmen

Miaobers in parentheses are the number of staff members In the

given section, with the grand total sho«m at the Director level.

21
6.0 Meeting with the Guyana Marketing Corporation and the Small

Industries Corporation

The NBS Team, accompanied by Dr. Rex Woo-Mlng, Mr. Bernard Gibbs, and

Mr. Raj Persaud, visited with representatives of the Guyfma Marketing

Corporation and Small Industries Corporation at the offices of the

latter.

6.1 Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC)

The Guyana Marketing Corporation Is a government owned and operated

enterprise. Technical Officer, Mr. Tom Hicks, described the new

slaughterhouse, refrigeration and smoking plant which has gone Into

production for curing ham and bacon and which, later, will manufacture

sausages, salami and possibly franl:furters . Annual turnover Is around

G$3 million. The Corporation has received technical assistance from

the EEi:, Canada, and the U.S.A. Installation of refrigeration

equipment and smoke house was assisted by Griffith Laboratory of

Scarborough, Canada, to EEC standards.

Responsibility for assessing grade Is given to the GMC purchasers.

Pigs are weighed and graded for the slaughterhouse* Lards are processed and sold In bulk drums. Hydrogenated whole fat Is used for

margarj.ne production. At present, there are two large edible oil

plants using coconut for raw material. Government plans call for

construction of a solvent extraction plant for which soybeans will be

Imported, Initially.

GMC also buys all fruits (especially oranges for an orange juice

operation), vegetables , and fish at controlled prices. (This does not

Include rice, sugar, coconut, or shrimp which enjoy separate treatment

due to their economic Importance.) Lists of government approved and

controlled prices and grades are prepared by GMC and the Ministry of

Agriculture. Quality Incentives are limited to the grading factor for

better prices. Farmers use the system to their advantage. During

periods of surplus, farmers sell to GMC at the fixed prices; during

periods of shortage, they sell on the open market for higher prices.

GMC Is committed to buy everything offered to them, often at

considerable losses, representing a subsidy. Farmers often sell as much as possible In the open market and In the evenings offer their

unsold and sometimes partially deteriorated produce to GMC. For

tomatoes, for example, there Is sometimes as much as a 30% loss by

spoilage. Many of the difficulties In spoilage arise In

transportation to and from buying points and lack of adequate storage

facilities. Some development Is underway to provide cold storage for

vegetables at the "Farm Plant". Sorting and grading Is done at the

Lombard Street plant for distribution and sale.

22
\ Jans and jellies and other products are produced by the Guyana

Agricultural Products Corporation (GAPC) and are supplied by GIIC,

Com is supplied to feed mills and "AERO" silos are now being

developed at the "Farm Plant" for corn storage. Corn meal and popcorn

are to be developed.

On weights and measures for produce and related products, supervisors

check weights using weight standards from the licensing branch of the

Ministry of Trade and Consumer Protection,

6,2 Small Industries Corporation (SIC)

At the same meeting, the Small Industries Corporation outlined a vigorous program. Discussions were with Dudley Chase, General Manager

of SIC, his Assistant, Aubrey Smith, and Industrial Engineer, Noel

King. The NBS team was very favorably impressed with this leadership,

SIC advances capital on applications to innovative entrepreneurs,

favoring the non-traditional areas and projects which promise import

substitution and (to a lesser extent) export promotion. Imports into

Guyana are continually studied and items amounting to G$100,000 per

year or more are considered as potential areas to promote Indigenous

enterprise. SIC evaluates applications to enter into business and

assists in conducting feasibility studies recorded on standard forms,

requiring a month, normally.

Available funding during the two years of existence through a grant by

the Finance Ministry has been G$2.5 million of which G$2 million has

been disbursed. Loans are limited to G$160,000 with terms up to 10

years at 8% per annum. SIC can borrow from the Caribbean Development

Bank at 7 3/4% per annum. Loans are limited to two thirds of the

capital cost of any project - not including working capital.

To encourage business starts, risks are not shunned, so a 30% to 40%

payment arrears has been experienced and perhaps 10% loan defaults.

Building, equipment, etc., are accepted as collateral for loans. The

majority of the loans have been for new enterprises.

SIC's general manager sits on the Council for Science and Industry

under the NSRC, SIC also is a member of the Guyana State Corporation,

the holding company that manages and supervises all government owned

industries, SIC was designed initially to assist small industry but

has become involved in entering into joint ventures itself, e.g,, a textile factory with the Peoples Republic of China, SIC has also

filled some of the void in industrial promotion and development. SIC

works closely \d.th the Ministry of Economic Development which handles

industry generally. It also has interaction with the National Export

23
Council and may have to handle export promotion and perhaps

applications for fiscal Incentives under regional agreements with

CARICOM. These expanded activities may call for a restructuring of

the organization. A UNIDO project with SIC has been approved In the

country program, calling for experts In Industrial engineering and

Industrial economics.

Foreign minority participation Is by no means discouraged In Guyana.

Raw material based Industries must be government controlled, e.g.,

development of Kaolin would permit at most a minority Interest of

foreign (outside CARICOM) Investment. Non-resource based Industries

may have some government Involvement. Under new conciliatory rules to

be agreed with USAID, the Private Investment Fund (PIF), which by now

has been growing through repayments, will be used afresh. Earlier

difficulties with the PIF were expressed in terms of the level of

counterpart funds being too high. Training loans should be separate,

but manufacturing expansion or feasibility studies can be funded under

PIF. Standardization projects could be considered directly by SIC.

A program of export Inspection is not practiced as yet but is being

considered by the National Export Council. Such a program may even apply to the major exports, e.g., moisture testing of bauxite which

affects the price. Partial control of some Items Is already practiced

as in the case of timber (see write-up of visit to the Guyana Timber

Export Board, paragraph 9.0, section III).

Representatives of the Guyana Manufacturers* Association were not

present at the meeting, so scheduled discussions on GMA activities

were not held.

7.0 Housing Project Tbur and Dinner with Dr. Rex Woo-Mlng,

Government Analyst

In the late afternoon. Dr. Rex Woo-Mlng took us on a quick conducted

tour of the city emphasizing historic and contemporary architecture

influenced by the fact that much of the coastal strip is below sea

level. Georgetown and Its suburbs would not be habitable but for an extensive dyke system and a sea wall presently being rebuilt, a major

civil engineering venture in a country that has to Import Its cement.

(No limestone has been found by the Geological Survey of Guyana so that the only scheme we heard of to alleviate this problem is to build

a cement plant using Imported clinker. Limestone is also Imported as an essential fertilizer). Houses in general are built on stilts but

the ground level often is boarded in for additional living space. New

developments, most with single detached family units, are planned by

income level. There is much attractive building even at the low-cost

end of the spectrum and there no longer are distresslnf' shortages. In

one community the future home owners provide the work force but

individual units are not assigned until all are finished so that

24
tmiform standards ara obtained. Guyana badly needs a building code.

Future Interaction with the NBS Center for Building Technology would

seem highly desirable. A major structural problem for example, Is the

use of heavy timber beams for the foundation on mudlike soil. No good

joints are known so that very long non-standard lengths are required.

For school buildings, for example, timber companies must screen their

allocated territories for a diminishing resource presently limited by

access for transporatlon rather than by total reserves. The strong

preference for greenheart beams suggests Inadequate measurement of

expected lifetimes of treated beams of other species. Closely similar

problems arise for local telegraph poles with a 7 year expected life

compared with 20 years for treated Canadian pine poles.

Classical colonial Dutch architecture Is represented in the beautiful

Stabroek Market with clock tower. The British colonial development

programs have left their mark In the harbor, industrial, stores, and

residential reserves built by the "Booker empire".

The most expensive villas being built are beautiful homes. A Cultural

Center has just been completed. It is architecturally pleasing

outside and seems well furnished also Inside with most Impressive wood

paneling In the main auditorium with a large stage and orchestra pit.

The Prime Minister's official residence, in keeping with the

characteristics of the Incumbent, is modest with family quarters not

much larger than those of the White House in Washington. A monument

to a slave In revolt In a strip of parkland Is artistically powerful

but has displeased many local critics although the theme of slaves In

revolt for liberty and self-determination is held as the highest Ideal

accomplished in this country's history.

Dr. Woo-Mlng then joined the team for dinner at the Pegasus Hotel.

Dialogue on problems Involved in getting the Bureau of Standards off

the ground was resumed including Dr. Woo-Mlng' s difficult decision to

leave an active laboratory career for one that may consist principally

of administration and paperwork. This discussion served to emphasize

the Importance of a strong government commitment and support for the

standards program including adequate budget, staffing, physical

facilities, and proper organizational structure to enable necessary

actions and Interactions with other branches of government. Industry

and commerce.

25
8.0 Meeting with the Guyana Rice Board

A visit was made to the Guyana Rice Board, 1-2 Water Street,

Georgetown, on Wednesday morning, July 14, 1976, where discussions

were held with Mr, Neville E, Sutherland, General Manager, Mr. Vivian

Chin, Deputy Director of Research, and Mr, Brooks, Chief Grader. The

NBS Team was accompanied by Mr. Bernard Gibbs and Mr, Raj Persaud of

NSRC and Dr. Rex Woo-Mlng of the Government Analyst Department.

Mr. Sutherland sketched the history of the Rice Board which Is a merger of two fonner organizations. The first was the Rice Marketing

Board established by statute in 1939. It was mainly concerned with

the marketing of rice, not Including paddy although It had power to

set the price of paddy, and was the sole buyer and seller of rice

since 1939. Varying quality and price of rice prior to 1939, with

resultant complaints by overseas buyers, led to the formation of this

Board which also served as a war measure. In 1948 the Rice

Development Company was formed to use modem large scale methods In

rice cultivation. Two large rice nillls, with capacities of five long

tons/hour were established through the Colonial Development

Corporation, In 1969, the Government took over the Company and

renamed It the Guyana Rice Corporation. Then In 1973, It was merged

with the earlier Rice Marketing Board to form the Guyana Rice Board,

handling research, cultivation, milling and marketing of rice.

Since 1939, standards for grading of rice have been set by the

Ministry of Agriculture, Chief Agricultural Officer, In conjunction

with the Rice Board. Implementation of these standards Is a responsibility of the Rice Board. Some Input Is obtained from rice

customers. A copy of the present grading standard Is given In

AppendiLx B. It lists Important quality characteristics or factors for

parboiled rice and three varieties of white rice.

Grading officers are located at eight buying centers situated so as to

reduce mauclmum travel to about 15 miles for farmers. Some 200 private

rice mills are registered. Quality Incentives are created by

different prices for various grades. However, It was pointed out that

the millers do not buy the rice directly from the farmers, but are

paid for the milling service. This system would seem to reduce the

Incentive to the miller for careful milling adjustments.

Samples are drawn from outside bags and others during loading. Sample

dividers are used to obtain a composite subsample of approximately one

half pound for Inspection. Defective grains are removed from the test

sample, weighed and a percentage weight computed for comparison with

the grading standard. An appeal process permits sellers to challenge

the grading within a 10 day limit. Samples are kept for about 3

months, however. Approximately 3-4% of sample results are appealed.

26
Perhaps 1-2Z are granted. An appeal can result In confirming the

grade or raising It, never lowering It.

Some discussions on automatic electronic grading was held. It would

be extremely desirable. If developed. Contacts with several

organizations have been made In this regard with no success to date.

This Includes the Beaumont, Texas RLce Center and Garener Laboratory

of 5521 Landellen, Bethesda, Hd.

Moisture content Is not used In the grading process, but Is measured

for control of purchases and milling. Electronic moisture meters are

used at the rice mills. Interest In printed readout was expressed. A

Burrows Model 700 digital moisture computer specification sheet was

shown as an example of moisture measurement equipment. Solar drying

on concrete pads Is practiced commonly.

Some 240,000 acres are devoted to rice, mostly along the seacoast.

Yields vary widely from 11 to 13 bags (1 bag Is 140 lbs.> per acre to

around 26 bags per acre on the Guyana State Farm but Individual yields

up to 35 bags per acre have been recorded. Production has not been

stable over the last three years. Exports are to all parts of the

world. Trinidad Is the largest market principally for parboiled rice

of extra super and super grade. Jamaica Is a large customer for

packaged white rice. Packaging Is In 2 lb. (906 g.) polyethylene bags

at the Georgetown factory and rice mill. Some eight brand names were

displayed In the Rice Board office for domestic and foreign markets.

IRRI varieties are not popular In Guyana due to their taste and

appearance being too short for the long slim appearance preference of

Guyana's customers. The Guyana Rice Board has also found that IRRI

varieties are not resistant to the local Guyanese blast disease.

Guyana participates In IRRi's genetic evaluation unit (GEU). Rice

farming In Guyana Is generally mechanized with large tractors used for

Initial soil preparation and combines for reaping and harvesting.

Some Interest was shown for the power tiller and the axial flow

thresher and dryer for small operations. Equipment and operators for

cultivating, sowing, harvesting, and threshing are rented to peasant

farmers at "prices below costs" based on a fixed fee per bag of rice.

Later comment by NSRC staff indicated that many farmers use these

facilities and spend their spare time raising second crops of

vegetables and fruits. On the larger GOG estates, aircraft carry out

direct seeding for all Guyanese rice strains, and apply fertilizer and

pesticides. Rice Board representatives speak knowingly of rice

strains, diseases, pests, fertilizers and international market

preferences.

After a low year in 1973, the 1974 spring crop produced a record of

43,500 tons, surpassing the previous highest production of 37,000 tons

in 1969. This was further Increased to 61,000 tons In the first half

of 1975. Value of exports, even in 1973, approximately U.S. $11

million, was sustained by an Increase In unit value of more than 40%,

while quantities were down by 31% over those of 1972,

27
9.0 Meeting with the Guyana Timber Export Board

Participating In the meeting and discussions In addition to the NBS team were

the following:

The Timber Board Is under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources

and was formed In late 1973, Board Manager, Cecil Hepburn, chaired

the meeting which turned Into an early and very candid exposition of

Board ])roblems vis a vis the Forest Department and the saw millers.

Out of 12 mills, of which 7 are currently active, only one Is

Government of Guyana owned and operated.

The Board has many responsibilities

1) negotiating contracts with foreign buyers

or their agents and holding the mills responsible

for meeting the terms and specifications of the

contracts.

2) shipping, paperwork and transfer of payments to

Thus, the Individual miller deals only with the Board which collects a fixed fee for Its services. On the other hand, the GOG Forest

Department Is responsible for Inspection, grading and certification of

all export lumber for seasoning, species, and soundness, but not for

dimensions, which are left entirely up to the miller. The Board,

which has no direct role In the grading and certification. Is

responsible for settling all claims by foreign buyers against the saw

millers, l.e,, the Board has a responsibility v;lthout any grading

authority whatever. The grading rules, prepared and published In a handbook by the Forest Department, are very precise; so much so that

both the Board and the millers fear that they preclude expansion of

export sales that could be made according to modified specifications.

The rules Include dimensional specifications which are used only by

the miller and buyer except In the case of foreign claims where they

become the Board's unenviable responsibility to adjudicate, Mr,

Willems, owner of one of the largest local saw mills, explained that

P. Blamy

G. S. Edmondson

Cecil C, Hepburn

K. Hurram

David Persram

George R, Prashad

R. Ramdulara

R. Scata

L. J, P. Willems

Toolsle Persaud, Ltd.

Forestry Department

Guyana Timber Export Board

Toolsle Persaud, Ltd,

Forestry Department

Personnel Manager

Guyana Thermo-Plastics Ltd,

Toolsle Persaud, Ltd,

Willems Timber & Trading Co. Ltd,

the millers

28
the relatively new grading rules (1974) were to be enforced only after

a trial period of one year for adjustments and changes to be made at

the request of the Board and the millers. Nevertheless, the rules

were made effective immediately after publication. Moreover, the

present rules do not cover some defects that buyers have criticized in

recent exports.

Obviously, Forest Department communications with both the Board and

the saw millers have not been too effective, though the principal

Forestry Department representative, Mr. David Persram, displayed a very cooperative attitude in dealing with these problems. The NBS

Team« on participants' reaction to a suggested central standards

authority (with mixed results), proposed that a neutral central

competence or qualified technical committee could do much to arbitrate

the differences. Mr. Pelser cited the example of the embattled U.S.

Food and Drug Administration which finds frequent consultation with

NBS useful in settling disputes.. One could surmise that even this

meeting with the NBS team was the kind of open forum that might lead

to better agreement on options already open to the three groups

represented, e.g. , the wider use of modified grades and the "ungraded

lumber" designation to customer acceptance and sign-off.

Guyana's export lumber is almost all in heavy, durable marine

construction grades and species, e.g., greenheart. Unfortunately,

there j.s no reforestation program and forest management is only

beginning. There have been no inventories so no estimates of reserves

can be made. Large orders of single species cannot be cut in a typical tropical forest of mixed and sometimes unidentified species.

NBS Team members suggested that the existence of a strong, competent

technical authority might, through its other national and

international contact, channel help to accelerate a progressive forest

assessment and management program. Also, admittedly, high saw mill

costs could be mitigated for both export and local lumber grades and

sizes if a more cohesive standardization program were mounted in a national Bureau of Standards. In fact, good standards help resolve

disputes among producers, dealers and consumers.

In closing, participants discussed the very grave problem of

transportation of logs (the millers cut and transport the logs to

their own mills), especially in the hinterland. Some help may be

forthcoming in the long term from Canada and the IBRD (World Bank) in

the form of large loans to improve transportation facilities on a country-wide basis.

Another problem currently facing producers is the discontinuation of

timber leases by the Government in favor of an allocated "block"

system and requirements to cut different species in the block. This

system appears to be motivated on forest management principles but is

29
reducing the efficiency of the producers. In some cases, to the point

of futility.

It was apparent that a systems study taking Into account the roles,

responsibilities, and authorities, of the main components (Export

Board, Forestry Department, Producers) could result In a set of

procedures and prescribed Infrastructure for a smooth and viable

operation of the timber and forest national program.

10,0 2nd Meeting with NSRC at NSRC Secretariat

Present at the meeting were:

Dr, Pat Munroe

Dr, Leslie Chin

Dr. Rex Woo-Mlng

Mr. Bernard Gibbs

Mr. Raj Persaud

Secretary General, NSRC

Factor^r Manager, Guyana Pharmaceutical

Government Analyst

Senior Scientific Officer, NSRC

Scientific Officer, NSRC

At the request of the NBS Team this meeting was crowded Into

Wednesday's schedule. For the first time, the team met Dr. Pat

Munroe, Secretary General of NSRC, who had just returned from England,

After being assured that the schedule of meetings and visits was well

under way, he asked to be excused since he was still recovering from

an accident for which he had been under treatment In the U.K.

Drs. Woo-Mlng and Chin proposed a series of questions and problems:

1) The first year budget for the Bureau of

Standards Is so meager (G$40,000/U.S. $16,000)

that use of staff and facilities In other laboratories

would appear to be necessary.

2) What Is to be done about the existing

priorities for testing In these laboratories?

3) Will the Bureau be limited to paperwork

alone? For how long?

The NBS team did not purport to answer all these questions, nor any

one of them perfectly, but essential priorities Include paperwork

for:

1) Establishment of a standardization program and related

activities, such as operation of a bureau of standards, coordination and operation of test and laboratory facilities,

weights and measures licensing and control, calibration

assistance and control, certification licensing and control,

quality control promotion and assistance, export inspection, etc.,

in order to support a growing Industrialization program, will

30
require a commitment on the part of the national government

In terms of budget, personnel, and adeqtiate organizational

infrastructure. Requirements in these areas for Guyana's current

and future level of activity must be assessed and presented

for approval and implementation. The first year budget of

U.S. $16,000 in contrast to a GlIP in excess of U.S. $400 million

is meager, indeed, and is seen as a token amount to support

initial start up studies.

2) An inventory of local and export product testing and

technical information needs, including product standards,

specifications, testing, inspection and certification

information, in connection with 1) above, should be carried through.

3) A correlated inventory of GOG and private sector test and

laboratory facilities as well as information centers which could

meet the needs of 2) above, shotild be compiled. Priorities for

tests can be achieved b^ financial incentives, appeal to national

patriotism, by introduction of organizational changes, and related

methods.

4) A similar inventory would help of the most accessible external

sources of assistance and experts: ISO, UNIDO, Caribbean Common

Market Standards Council, and, directly or through the Council, the

Jamaican Bureau of Standards and Scientific Research Council,

the University of the West Indies and related activities in

Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados; the US/NBS, the BSI, EEC, the

Asian Productivity Organization, other sources in the U.S.,

U.Ko, Brazil, Singapore, et al., may be helpful if such external

assistance is desired.

Planning and paperwork, this may be, but it is challenging and

product;ive toward the establishment of a competent Guyana Bureau of

Standai'ds and associated assistance to industrial improvement and

growth. Participants were reminded of the many options toward

standardization open to developing countries as set out in the first

meeting with the Bureau of Standards Council on Tuesday morning,

Moreover, the fact that Secretariats for both CARICOM and its

Standards Council are in Georgetown should facilitate regional

contacts. NSRC integral connections with the University of Guyana

should be pressed to solicit priority help from the University

laboratories^ Dr. Chin, himself, proposed that the financial incentive

to do testing can be a strong one. Additionally, work experience for

the academic program at the University of Guyana test laboratories can

be a significant incentive. Advanced student assistants can be

utilized in many cases.

Traditional ties with U.K. , trade with the U.S,, and upcoming trade with

EEC and other countries, previous frequent contacts with IRRI, the

recent treaty with Brazil, and strong relations with the UN should all

work in a positive direction in accomplishing these early but vitally

important tasks.

31
Significant litaratura obtainad at tha aaatlng la aa followa:

1) National Scianca Raaaareh Cotnaeil Annual Raport

1975. The aectlo^ fp9P partalnlx^ to the

Bviaau of Standarda Council la reproduced in Appendix C

and raflacta activitiaa, plana, and objectives.

2) Quality control survey and questionnaire forms. An

Objective-Oriented System of Standards and Quality Control.

Thlci is reproduced in its entirety in Appendix D.

3) Report on the Development and Enforcement of Standards

in Guyana to NSRC, April 1975, by J.A. Campbell, Caribbean

Food and Nutrition Institute, Jamaica.

32
11.0 Meeting with the Guyana Sugar Corporation

Cane sugar, until recently the largest export product from Guyana, has

now yielded first rank to bauxite. Sugar remains a close second.

Since May 1976, the Industry Is almost completely nationalized under

the Guyana Sugar Corporation reporting to the Ministry of Agriculture,

Evidence of the "Booker Empire" clearly remains. The British Booker

Company Ltd. not only dominated the sugar trade but was Integrated

Into, for Instance, shipping, which It still operates, and retail

stores now also nationalized Into "Guyana Stores Ltd."

On July 15, we were received by Mr. Joshua M. Ragnauth, a chemist now

In a key management position. The Corporation operates eleven Estates

with Individual production controls and factories producing raw sugar

(around 365,000 long tons per annum and around 3 tons per acre). One

estate factory also has a "plantation" white sugar product for

specialized domestic uses simply produced by additional washing and

filtering raw sugar. The Corporation takes 10% of the cane from

peasant farms who are offered ploughing and harvesting services below

competitive cost.

Guyana's consumption Is high, 35,000 long tons per year or 80 lbs. per

head per year compared with over 100 lbs. per head In the U.S. • one

of the highest In the world. Exports go to (In order) the U.K., U.S.,

Russia, China, Venezuela, and many other countries. Most raw sugar Is

shipped In bulk. That portion that Is bagged Is In 250 lb. woven

(some lined) polyethylene bags for the home market, and 112 lb. for

export, because foreign stevedores refuse to handle 250 lb. bags (!).

The Chinese Insist on jute bags.

Individual staff members belong to the International Society for Sugar

Cane Technology (ISSCT) that produces proceedings and other

literature. The Corporation adheres to the International Commission

for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis (ICUMSA) and the Sugar

Association of the West Indies which still exists separately from the

Group of Exporting Countries from Latin America and the Caribbean, a kind of sugar OPEC.

The Corporation had filled out and presented to us the questionnaire

received last month from the National Standards Council on the System

of Standards and Quality Control which Is reproduced In full In

Appendix E. The questionnaire with associated nttmbered questions Is

In Appendix D (referenced In part 10.0 of this section).

Some further points arose from discussions. The 20 ton capacity scale

at the Georgetown harbor Is the most accurate In the country. Twelve

ton scales are Installed at the estates. There Is a Government

Weights and Measures Office In the Licensing and Revenue Department of

33
the Ministry of Trade and Consumer Protection. A Mr. Bentham

ccillbrates and adjusts scales, but most of the calibration and

maintenance work is performed by the manufacturer (Avery, mostly, of

the U.K.) who has a representative In Guyana and who arranges for

periodic visits of a competent technician.

Complaints are few. Those from the local market (on dirt) are said to

receive undue attention. The U.K. market is more tolerant, especially

on color, than the U.S. which charges penalties or pays premiums for

superior controls on moisture value, color. Insoluble ash contents and

total sucrose (by optical rotation) . Some discrepancies In

measurement between Guyana’s New York agent and the Importer In the

U.S. need to be studied. However, It Is recognized that substantial

reduction In price due to the colox test readings are on a fair basis.

Mr. Ragnauth Indicated that the presence of some other optical active

compounds (sugars) did interfere wd.th the sucrose analysis - a great

opportunity for the NBS (Prosen’s) calorimeter which, however, I did

not mention.

When world prices were high It was beneficial to Guyana to lower

quality and vice versa. In practice this was very difficult to

regulate because of the huge modern shiploads.

Mr. Ragnauth thought the Corporation would welcome and cooperate with

the proposed National Standards Council, especially In the following

areas

(a) Development of standards for packaging, sizes,

labeling, product quality, etc.

(b) Making available resource, limited laboratory

facilities* and expertise.

Mr. Ragnauth also thought the Corporation would welcome development

work by the NSRC’s Science and Industry Division which in its new

research laboratories might well find more uses for bagasse, molasses,

etc., and even develop new sucrose derivatives. Brown sugar had proved

unsuitable for the soft drink industry, Barbados had a research

program for separating the sugar cane from the pith. The rind gave

the best fibers, the pith the best animal feed.

34
12.0 Lunch Meeting with Executive Secretary of NSRC

Especially on Metrication

The team had lunch on Thursday by Invitation of Dr. Pat Munroe of NSRC.

Present were Dr. Munroe, Dr. Chin, Miss Eileen Cox, an Executive

Member of the Guyana Consumers Association and Chalrlady of the

Standards Council, and Mr. Raj Persaud of the NSRC Technical Staff.

Mr. Pelser was asked to present a brief overview of the U. S.

Metrication Program.

Mr. Pelser summarized NBS efforts to obtain, analyze, and then channel

Information on metrication to government and private sector

organizations In the U.S., especially through professional societies

and Industrial associations. The American Society for Engineering

Education now offers a "Metrication Kit" to Its members.

Traditionally, In the U.S., solutions to such problems must rest on a volxmtary basis. The terms of International trade have Injected an element of compulsion Into the process of metrication as seen by some

manufacturers. The General public tends to welcome the arithmetical

simplicity of the Metric system.

Dr. Munroe expressed his strong desire for external assistance In

Guyana's metrication program since so little had been done to date.

13.0 Cottage Industry Visits

Accompanied by Dr. Rex Woo-Mlng, Government Analyst, and Gloria Singh,

Scientific Officer In the Microbiology Division of the Analyst

Department, the NBS Team visited two cottage Industries on Thursday

afternoon, July 15, 1976.

35
13.1 Omal Manufacturing Company

The Oinal Manufacturing Company la a small home type industry owned and

operated by Wilfred and Evelyn De Ruahe with 12 employees. They have

had the business for just over three years. Their sole products are

two brands of peanut butter. They started with the "Omal” (an

Amerindian name for "gold") brand and Introduced the "Lyn" brand with

an additional salt flavor two years ago based on market requests.

Distribution to markets is through two principal agents. Demand

currently exceeds supply though they continue to operate with one

shift, selling all they make with a capacity of 1,200 pounds per day.

Packaging Is In sizes of 8, 10, 12, and 16 ounce polyethlene and glass

containers and 25 and 50 pound drums for companies using the peanut

butter as a raw material for processing In other products.

A Spanish t3npe peanut has been selected to achieve the desired flavor.

The peanuts are imported from India but appear to be transhipped

through England. They are received shelled In lAO pound bags which

are stored In alrcondltioned space.

The process steps are: (1) Roasting In a rotating type oven with

electric elements (unknown temperat\ire) for approximately 2 hours and

40 minutes. Rotation Is at around 28 rpm. Oven capacity Is three

bags or 420 pounds; (2) skinning, which appears to be accomplished

via rubbing action by a canvas belt drawing the roasted peanuts from a hopper through a constricted opening with counter air current in what

appears to be a homemade xmlt; (3) sorting and Inspecting the

desklnned peanuts on a flat stainless steel table about five feet

square with four to six graders. Tlie table top Is perforated nctar the

middle with small holes large enough to allow the bitter com of' the

peanut to pass through by a manual rubbing action of a quantity of

peanuts by back and forth movements over the surface of the tab].e.

After sufficient rubbing, a quantity of peanuts Is drawn to the edges

of the table and Inspected to remove overly roasted and blemished

peanuts; (4) rough Hrlndlng during which salt and sugar are added

according to the brand type; (5) fine grinding or milling which

results In the extrusion of the desired consistency of the peanut

butter; (6) packaging with maniial weighing on a bench scale

(Including labeling). For bulk packaging, extrusion from the milling

Is directly to the drum.

The Government Analyst Department has been conducting a survey of

sanitary practices and purity of final product with emphasis on tomato

ketchup and peanut butter. Hence, the Inclusion of this factory In

our visits. Microbiological analysis of samples from this factory has

shown unsatisfactory results. Little or no sanitary measures are

carried out short of a general Instruction to employees to wash their

hands and clean equipment at the end of each day. The occasion of the

36
visit afforded additional opportunity to discuss this natter with the

owner. Dr. Woo-Mlng also gave a brief explanation to a number of the

employees on the Importance of good sanitary practices on public

health (Including themselves). Ultimately, he stressed continued

sales and employment depend on good practices. Some of the Items

discussed were (1) use of knee or elbow operated faucets; (2) single

use towels In dispensers (a cloth towel Is provided currently); (3)

written Instructions In poster form and reminders for employee

cleanliness; (A) dismantling and cleaning of grinding and milling

machines at frequent intervals (considered difficult, and hence,

prolonged) ; (5) use of rubber or similar type gloves (previously

rejected for slowing up the sorting process); (6) keeping containers

and lids In boxes until direct use, otherwise keeping containers

stacked upside down until use; (7) Introduction of a pasteurizing

process after milling, (where milling Is known to raise the

temperature, perhaps a slight additional elevation of temperature may

achieve the desired result); (8). similar processing of the

containers (polyethlene containers are from Barbados and used directly

from the carton while glasses are from France and cleaned with an ordinary vacuum cleaner); (9) scxeenlng of wall openings In the

factory; (10) possible better control of shelf life via package

dating (only shipping cartons are dated at present).

The owners appeared to be receptive to suggestions and were Interested

In expanding their operation as soon as possible. They obviously

appreciated the assistance from the. Analyst Department.

13.2 Chef»Ald Enterprises, Lot 6, Ogle Front,

IS. C. Demerara, Guyana

A very small home Industry preparlr.g and bottling tomato ketchup. The

business Is owned and operated by /bdul Majid Khan and his son-in-law,

Lalchan Vlramuthu. Lalchan had been an employee of another tomato

ketchup company (one where test by the Analyst Department had resulted

In a 1% tomato solids measurement against a requirement of 6%).

Tomato puree Is made from fresh tomatoes selected and bought on the

local market. Sodium Benzoate Is sprinkled on top as a preserving

agent. They have calculated the amount as 6 ounces In lA gallons to

achieve a maximum of 0.1%. Ketchup Is cooked; caramel flavoring,

cloves, and other spices are added, and a rice starch filler Is used.

The mixture Is boiled for A5 minutes and food coloring, diluted In

water. Is added about five minutes after removal of heat. Bottles

Imported from Barbados (12 and 30 ounce sizes) are washed and bleached

In an area outside the house. The washing operation Involves soaking

In a 3% caustic soda, washing with a brush, rinsing In chlorine bleach

solution and rinsing In hot water. Bottles are moved to a bench

Inside the home. The bottles are manually filled with the hot ketchup

using a plastic funnel and dipper from a plastic pan Into which the

37
hot ketchup has been poured* Filled bottles are passed on for

capping* Caps are from Canada* Capped bottles are turned upside down

(to partially sterilize the cap) and set aside to cool* The Analyst

Department has recommended accelerated cooling In water but this has

not been Introduced* They claim there Is no problem with formation of

a dark ring on the Inside of the bottle at the filled edge*

Production Is about 5 to 6 batches a day, 20 to 25 days per month* A

batch Is represented by 240 12-ounce or 96 30-ounce bottles* There

was no production during the visit and apparently none for several

days due to Illness of the cook* There are five employees*

Lalchan handles contacts with wholesalers and supermarkets personally*

They have received a certificate from the Government Analyst

Department attesting to a 5*9% toriuito solids content* This Is shown

on marketing contacts and has resuiLted in additional orders.

Besides some of the precautions ta1:en In washing of bottles anc the

natural cooking of the ketchup, the process Is almost void of sanitary

measuras* Cooking and filling are In unscreened and dusty rooms,

frequented by flies* Many suggestions by the Analyst Departmerit have

been made and are under consideration* Both Mr* Khan and Mr*

Vlramuthu were cooperative and appreciative of help received. The

business Is only one month old and plans are being made to develop a separate factory location*

13*3 Some General Observations

The processing and packing of highly perishable food at the cottage

Industry level Is a multi-faceted problem anywhere In the world*

Guyana Is no exception* With minimal equipment and maximal food

handling, desirable sterility In both these cottage operations Is

almost impossible to attain* Both processors had obviously tried to

Implement suggestions made by the GOG Analyst lab staff* But neither

processing area was screened, plastic package lids for peanut butter

were hand sealed with plastic tape so that shelf life should be

measured In days* (At present, distribution, on average, Is estimated

to require several weeks.) A small vinit sterilizer for bottles might

help the ketchup maker but environmental cleanliness, proper clean-up

after shut-down, toilets and lavatories were sadly lacking In both

operations*

Nevertheless, the GOG Analyst visits many of these cottage Industries,

provides specifications, e.g., percentage of solids and preservatives

content, promotes accurate listing of all Ingredients on container

labels, presses for sanitary Improvements and tests the final products

for accurate content percentages, contamination, bacteria, and toxins*

38
\ This has resulted in notable improvements in many processed foods sold

in the local market.

The size of this task is evident when one lists the variety of cottage

industry products in the local markets: margarine, biscuits, jams.

Jellies, preserves, confectioneries, custard, curry powder, and other

spices, beverages, butter, evaporated milk, etc.

14,0 Visit to Govcmncnt Analyst Laboratory

Dr. Woo-Mlng took the NBS team on a quick tour of the Department of

the Government Analyst laboratory, which is under the Ministry of

Health. In the older techniques, e.g., wet chemical analysis, there

is here a resldtial and useful competence. Modem, Instrumental

analytical equipment is almost unavailable but electrical/electronic

analytical apparatus from the 1940 *s and '50's in the U.S. were

operating. Uncertain calibration methods and a history of poor

maintenance may limit the accuracy of these Instrtiments. A list of

equipment in use at the Government Analyst Department is given at the

end of this write-up.

Dr. Woo-Mlng has worked diligently to repair laboratory apparatus. As

Indicated in earlier comment, he is active against harmful local food

products, testing and inveighing against substandard tomato ketchup,

soy souce, cassareep (cassava extract meat tenderizer), peanut butter,

beverages (including alcoholic) jellies, jams, confectioneries,

potable and industrial water. Routine microbiological tests using

Caricom standards are carried out. Molds and yeasts are found

frequently. His work also Includes chemical investigations for the

Police Department, some of which have been most successful. His staff

of 24 is hardly adequate in terms of his national responsibility and

the critical need to expand and improve the services. In this

connection, some planning for the next five years has been started with

the preparation of a proposed organizational chart for the Analyst

Department which follows:

39
DR, WOO-MING'S TENTATIVB

PROPOSED FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION CHART - AMALYST DEPARTMENT

(UMDER MimSTRY OF HEALTH - - FIVE YEAR PLAM)

GMcittMt A—lyc/Cbiim< —1—r «f Fm4 a«4 BMga

•tlaoM AMImcjf Cm^ccm

CoafldcBClal Secretary Govamment Analyst Laboratory

1

- Anal. Tech. Asst. II (to be created In 1977) Deputy Government Analyst/Asst. Comm, of Food & Drugs

Principal Scientific Officer (to be created In 1976) Physical Methods Division

1

- Anal. Scl. Officer (1 to be created In 1981) Anal. Scl. Asst.

1

- Anal. Tech. Trainee (1 to be created In 1980) Food and Nutrition Division

1 - Sr. Scl. Officer (1 to be created In 1976) Nutrition Division

1 - Anal. Scl. Off.

1 - Anal. Tech. Asst. I (1 at present, odd. post In 1977)

2 - Anal. Tech. Trainees (1 to ba created in 1976. add. In 1977) Food Division

2 - Anal. Scl. Officers. (1 at present, add In 1978)

1 - Anal. Tech. Asst. Ill (1 to be created in 1979) 1 " Anal. Tech. Asst. II 3 - Anal. Tedi. Asst. 1 (1 et present, add 1976, add 1977)

4 - Anal. Tech. Trainees (1 at present, add 1976, 77 sad 78) Food, Drug and Water Microbiology Dlv.

1 - Sr. Scl. Officer (1 to be created in 1977) Food and Dreg and Water Nlsmblology Sections

2 - Anal. Scl. Off. (1 Fsod NLdk. at prsssnt, add 0 A W Ml^. in 1977)

1 - Anal. Tech. Asst. 11 (1 to he efnstsd la 1976)

2 Anal. Ts^. Asst. I (1 st prassot, add 1976)

3 - Anal. Tech. Trainee (1 so be ereetsd 1976, add 77 and 78)

Drugs, Cosnetlcs and Toxicology Dlvftsiens 1 - Sr. Sol. Off. (1 to be created 1976)

Toxicology Dlv.

1 - Anal. Sel. Off. 1 - Anal. Tech. Asst. II (1 to be created In 1977)

1 • Anal. Tech. Asst. 1 1 - Anal. Tsch. Trainee (1 to be created la 1976)

Drugs and CoSnetlcs Division

2 - Anal. Sel. Off. (1 at present, edd la 1979)

1 - Anal. Tech. Asst. Ill

1 - Anal. Tech. Asst. II (1 to be created In 1979) 2 - Anal.. Tech. Aset. I (1 at present, add In 1977)

2 ~ Anal. Tech. Trainees (1 to be created In 1977, add In 1978) Consuaers Affairs Division

1 - Anal. Tech. Asst II Forensic Division

1 - Anal. Scl. Off.

1 “ Anal. Tech. Asst. II 1 - Anal. Tech. Trainee (1 to be created la 1979) Water Division

1 - Anal. Scl. Off.

1 Anal. Tech. Asst. I 2 - Anal. Tech. Trainees (1 to be created in 1977, add in 1981) Revenue and General Cham. Services Dlv.

1 > Anal. Scl. Off. (1 to be created In 1977)

1 - Anal. Tech. Asst. Ill

1 - Anal. Tech. Aset. I (1 to be created in 1978)

2 - Anal. Tech. Trelnees (1 at present, add In 1974) Executive Officer (1 to be created In 1977) Purchasing and Stores Division

1 - Storekeeper III

1 - Storekeeper I (I to be created In 1976)

Library and Infomatlon Services Division Librarian I Accounts, Records and General Services Division

1 - Clerk III General

1 - Clerk II General

1 - Typlst/Clerk I (1 at present, add In 1977)

1 - Lab. Aide (Should be redesignated Kale Attendant)

3 - Female Attendants

1 - Gardener (1 to be created In 1976)

2 - Watchmen

40
Lilt of Kquipmcnt In use at the Government

Analyst Department

DESCRIPTION QUANTITY

Vacuum pumps 4

Baird & Tatlock Microtome 1

Stanton Balance (200g) 2

Mettler Balance (160g) 1

Manesty > Tablet Disintegration Unit 1

Hanson Corporation Dissolution Unit 1

Griffin - Flask Shaker 1

Ovens 4

Furnaces 3

Gallenkamp - Ballistic Bomb Calorimeter 2

EEL - Flame Photometer 1

Christy & Norris Laboratory Mill- 1

Mullard - Conductivity Bridge 2

pH Meter 3

Gerber - Milk Testing Apparatus

(a) Gerber Centrifuge 1

(b) Gerber shaker 1

Astell - Cryoscope Refrigerated 1

Bausch & Lomb - Spectronlc 20 Colorimeter 1

Griffin - Thermostatic Water Bath 1

Bellingham & Stanley - Refractometer 1

Phillips - X-Ray Diffraction Apparatus 1

Pye Unicam - SP 500 U.V. Visible Spectrophotometer 1

M.S.E. Mistral 2L Refrigerated Centrifuge 1

BTL Analmatlc - Karl Fl^er Apparatus 1

Bellingham & Stanley - Polarimeter 1

pH Coleman - Electronic Photofluorometer Mod. 72 1

Hilger - Quartz Emission Spectrograph 1

Pye Unlearn - 1800 Ultraviolet/Visible Spectrophotometer 1

Pye Unicam - GCV Chromatograph 1

Perkin Elmer 257 - Grating Infrared Spectrophotometer 1

Buchl - Rotovapor R 1

Baird & Tatlock - Autoclave 1

Virtis - Freeze Drying Apparatus 1

Leel - Incubator 2

Nephelometer - EEL 1

Cairver - Laboratory Press 1

Manesty - Water Still 1

Omega Photographic Enlarger 1

Llnhoff Camera 1

41
15.0 Meeting with University of Guyana Faculty and Tour of Facilities

At the Guyana University for a meeting with faculty members, we were

first received by Mr. Errol Fraser, Acting Head of the Physics

Department. He Is a specialist In Optics and showed us with justified

pride his teaching laboratory well designed to teach elementary

classical optics. He also specializes In steam bending of tropical

hardwoods on \dilch the Information In the literature tends to show

that very little bending can be achieved. His experiments Indicate

that many of Guyana's thousand species can be bent successfully. He

has heard little of the good novel work on Impregnation which

presently requires sophisticated pressure Injection equipment at the

felling site. Depending on viewpoint, he Is realistic or pessimistic

about time, staff, and facilities for other than teaching. He

deplores uncontrolled private consulting because he claims It takes

away from what rightfully belongs to the students. During the later

meeting at which we stressed the benefit to students of exposure* to

real-world applied science problems, Mr. Fraser seemed to modify his

position and we found his academic integrity Impressive. This e^plsode

Is recounted because It Illustrates that In establishing new systems

such as for standardization. It Is essential to listen to diverse,

sincere and valid viewpoints. We found It much easier to be listened

to than would have been the case had we ourselves been faculty members

of GU. When on the telephone. Dr. Pat Munroe later said he wanted

NSRC to request an NBS consultant for one or two years. He was, I think, not concerned so much with technical knowledge as with the

difficulty of achieving essential compromises which need technical

understanding plus personal acceptance by one's peers.

When Mr. Bernard Gibbs joined us, he took the Chairman's role. The

others are mentioned below in order of the incidental seating.

It Is a little unfortunate that engineering faculty members had come

and left because we were late. Busy people cannot be expected to

wait. Punctuality for meetings is a reasonable requirement.

Dr. Rex Woo-Mlng, Analyst, is the Director-designate

of the Bureau of Standards who had been with us most

of the week.

Ms. Edith Kunar of the Chemistry Department

Ms. Verian Thomas, Chemistry, Is the part-author of a report on formulation of activities of the National

Bureau of Standards (Guyana). She deplored the

inaction following three years of debate.

Dr. Victor Bardouille, of the Chemistry Department

Dr. Mark Vahrman, Professor of Chemistry, has recently arrived and has

an eye on applied science. He has three projects, one

on the use of charcoal, another on wax from sugarcane, and

a third on water purification.

42
Dr. Halvldar Singh Is a teacher of experience vho is

Interested also in glass-blowing. We later visited the

little glass-blowing shop. A skilled technician could

work to more profit with the addition of an annealing

oven.

Mr. Krlshnadat Brijpaul of the Mathematics Department is true

to his descent, for he is a statistician, a subject in

which Indians excel. His expertise would stand the

National Standards Council in very good stead. He said a few faculty members have asked him to analyse data but none

as yet have requested help before the measurements are

made. Statistical help in experimental design is a prerequisite for good standards work.

Mr. Clifford Wong is also a mathematician. Both deplored

the lack of a computer at GU while underused computers

proliferated in Guyana. Complaints had been purine in

to the University for failing to train enough programmers.

We explained the responsibilities of the N6S Institute of

Computer Sciences and Technology and its concern for good

utilization of an Important high-technology export from

the U.S.A.

Ms. Marian Heyliger, microbiologist, has a function that is

of extreme importance in Guyana. One must hope that she

will teach many students, who can serve the developing

food and processing sectors.

Dr. Girdharl, animal physiologist, deplored the fact that

he had no previous knowledge of the Bureau of Standards

Council or any plans for a Standards Bureau. He had some support from others who wanted to see more consultation

and dissemination of policies and plans for science and

technology.

The heart of the general discussion was on four principal subjects:

First, a description of the interaction between universities in the

U.S. with technology, in general, and the standards system, in

particular.

Secondly, Mr. Fraser emphatically described the ethical standards,

independence. Integrity, competence, and time of development that were

needed for a successful standardization system. He felt such a standards program was attainable only through a major commitment by

the Government.

Thirdly, we discussed the shortage of space and equipment, such as the

absence of high vacuum and low temperature (below dry ice) facilities.

43
Lastly, the question was debated but not resolved whether a Guyana

Bureau of Standards should have associated with it from the very start

its own laboratory facility or whether it was practicable to draw on

existing competences and facilities possibly under a system, of

laboratory accreditation for standards work. In the latter event, the

University of Guyana and the new Institute of Applied Science and

Technology would have to play a major role. Mr. Gibbs thought this was already agreed by the NSRC. As the need for entirely new tests

and new test methodology development became apparent, the Standards

Laboratory would take up these new directions. The question might be

asked whether in a country like Guyana, desperately short of qualified

specialists, there is any alternative to a call for great devotion and

sacrifice on the part of the few whc can help Guyana acquire the

sorely needed diversified standards capability.

Our visit to the UG ended with a view of sample laboratories with much

basic e<iuipment in chemistry and engineering.

16,0 Visit to Guyana Food Processcrs Ltd. (Shrimp)

Mr, Deiryck Siebs, Plant Manager, clr.alred the meeting. He tabulated

some significant data for the UBS team visitor (Niels C. Beds) alone. This one plant exported, mostly to Japar and the U.S., 6 million lbs, of

shrimp in 1975 at an average price of US $3. 00/lb, for gross sales of

US $18 million. Guyana Food Processors, GOG owned and operated, employs

a fleet of 86 trawlers, most of which are U.S, or Japanese flag ships,

and all of these have refrigerated holds with brine tanks where the

catch lienefits from immediate icing and, for some markets, treatment

with sodium bisulfite to prevent "black spots". Seven trawlers at the

dock flew American or Japanese flags and are so owned, but all ships

are mostly Guyanese crewed and skippered. The only foreigner

observed on docked ships was Japanese, According to Mr, Siebs, these

foreign trawlers, who contract their catches to his plant, are only a small percentage of many foreign trawlers which fish the Atlantic

within 200 miles of Guyana’s shoreline, e.g,. South Korea, Venezuela,

Cuba and other U.S. and Japanese vessels.

According to Mr. Siebs, Guyana Food Processors is only the second

largest shrimp processing plant in Guyana, An "American" processor

has a larger plant (140 trawlers) tv;o miles away. Another much

smaller privately owned plant located in Georgetown, completes the

processing picture. The equity position of the Americans in the

"American" processing plant is not clear nor did the ITBS team have an opportunity to pursue, at length, the subject of allowable foreign

equities in Guyanese industries.
Quality of catch Is a problem with the older trawlers relying on Ice

for holding shrimp on relatively long voyages. However, Mr. Gibbs

said that 95Z of the fleet Is now refrigerated. Currently, only a visual check of shrimp grades Is made with suspect samples being sent

to Carlb Drug (Guyana Pharmaceutical Co.) for chemical and

bacteriological analysis (see reference In paragraph 5.0 of section

III). The Japanese market has no objection to treatment with sodium

bisulfite. The U.S. market does, and anticipating still more rigorous

specifications being generated by the US-FDA, GFP has Installed a "complete" testing laboratory and Is recruiting staff for a more selfcontained quality control, Inspection, and testing system.

The new modem processing plant Is completely equipped with U.S.

machinery and controls. The frozen catch in bags Is thawed, washed,

graded, and deep-frozen in packaged solid blocks. Holding capacity is

far in excess of present production. The processor deals directly

with the buyer or his agent. Sanitation Is excellent, human handling

at a minimum, and employee facilities as good as the best In any Aslan

plant this team member has seen. Including Japan.

Up-to-date Guyanese total exports or export shrimp figures are hard to come by but shrimp exports In 1973 were 12.6 million pounds. Like

others, the industry was hard hit by OPEC*s monumental increase In the

cost of diesel fuel In 1973, but rising shrimp prices abroad and

concellatlon of a GOG export tax recovered a substantial net profit in

1975.

Recent declines in total catch have, been blamed on both overfishing

and shrimp "cycles" but both U.S, end Japanese research vessels have

very recently confirmed, at least in part, the overfishing cause. This has prompted Guyanese authorities to consider the establishment

of a 200 mile offshore limit, like Brazil recently declared and

Ecuador has had for some years.

A short discussion followed with ti e only other participants: Mrs,

Esselyn Paul, Guyana Agricultural Products Corporation, and Hr, Clement

McCalman of NSRC explaining the decentralization of GOG testing

facilities for crushed pineapple and dried fruit. The latter is

packaged in plastic but the canning of crushed pineapple in snail

plants is a very ambitious program, in terms of both sanitation and

cost.

Attention to the matter of quality control (including cost

considerations) by Guyana Food Processors, Ltd., is reflected in the

following outline of their instructions at major processing points

bearing an April 3, 1976 date.

45
" NOTES ON QUALITY CONTROL OF PROCESSED a^RIMP FOR GLAZING OPERATION

1, DO NOT bring out more than 500 lbs, of shrimp at a time.

2, The flow of operation should be 500 lbs. being worked on and 500 lbs

being checked ready to be worked on,

3, This means therefore, that at no time there should be more than

1,000 lbs. of frozen shrimp waiting to be glazed,

4, When the shrimp has been taken from the contact freezer the door

must be kept closed.

5, The temperature of the glazd.ng water in the tank MUST NOT be

higher than 35 F.

6, This temperature must be maintained by placing quantities of ice

in the tank.

7, The sprays on the glazing line MUST always be properly adjusted

to give a fine uniform spray, so that the water freezes on contact with the frozen shi-imp.

8, Greater care MUST be taken when packings are placed in master

cartons

.

9, Greater care MUST be taken in marking and stitching and strapping

master cartons.

10, Master cartons MUST NOT be thrown around and firm action MUST be

taken against persons who persist in doing this,

11, Greater care MUST be taken when packing master cartons in the

holding rooms.

"NOTES ON QUALITY CONTROL OF PROCESSED ^RIMP FOR PERSONS IN CHARGE OF

HOLDING ROOM

1, A detailed study and greater efforts MUST be made with respect

to packing in the room,

2, Cartons must not be packed in such a manner as to cause damage

to the walls.

46
3. Master cartons MUST NOT be thrown around nor walked on, nor used

as supports for conveyor belts.

4. Master cartons MUST be changed whenever they are discovered faulty

and certainly before they ore shipped.

5. When shipping ensure that cartons are properly marked and

carefully handled by freezer-room crews or persons employed

loading trucks.

6. Do not leave doors of holding room open for longer periods than

are necessary when shipping.

7. When shipping try to avoid the careless handling of cartons and

certainly not allow crews to walk over piles of cartons.

’ ’notes on quality control op processed shrimp FDR SUPERVISORS OF UNLOADING

1. DO NOT unload more shrimp than can be processed immediately.

2. Shrimp in bags left lying on the wharf causes temperature to rise

and reduces the quality.

3. Shrimp MUST NOT be left in the wash tanks for longer periods than

necessary. /

4. Whenever shrimp is in wash tanks, ice MUST BE added to maintain

o u a temperature of approximately 40 F to 45 F.

5. Shrimp MUST NOT be left in the wash tanks over the luncheon period.

6. Shrimp left in the wash tanks during the break period MUST have

sufficient ice to maintain a temperature of 40 F to 45 F.

7. Persons engaged in stirring the bine MUST stir them thoroughly

with a good washing motion but without causing damage to the shrimp.

8. V^ater in the wash tanks MUST be changed at regular periods.

9. When using both lines to process one boat, shrimp for the No. 2

line, must be thrown into the first wash tank and NOT in the

second wash tank.

NOTE

;

Because of the reduced use of sodium, it is imperative that the

shrimp be kept as cool as possible during processing.

47
“ NOTES ON QUALITY CONTROL OF PROCESSED SHRIMP FDR CHAR5EHAND5 OF

CAhRYINGrl,^ CREWS

1, Do not leave processed shrimp lying around the processing area,

2, Remove full pans and put empty pans in a constant stream

operation.

3, Check freezer before loading to see that the room is

operational,

4, After loading close door and switch on blower. This procedure

shajl be adopted until the room is fujly loaded,

5, After loading check the pans, inform the Plant Attendant, who

will check the freezer before it is finally closed. When the

freezer is finally closeii, notify Plant Attendant who will be

responsible for putting room into operation immediattily.

NOTE;

The board on the door of the freezer MUST state the quantity of

shrimp and the companies to whom it belongs.

48
"notes on quality control of processed shrimp for supervisors and

CHARGEHAND5 IN PACKING AREA

1, Efforts must be made immediately to improve the quality of

grading by the machines.

2, Reports by persons carrying out counts HOST be used frequently

to maintain proper adjustment to the machines.

3, Counts taken on the floor MUSTbe frequent and machines adjusted

accordingly,

4, Increased efforts MUST be made at the separation of pink and

white shrimp and the picking out of broken shrimp,

5, Boxes of shrimp, after tiey are packed and filled with water

MUST be thoroughly shaken and then opened to see that the top

layer is uniformly arranged.

6, Boxes of shrimp MUST be more clearly marked and stamped, dirty

and smudged cartons must be rejected.

7, Box makers MUST take greater care in marking and stamping boxes.

DO NOT sacrifice good clear marking for speed,

0. Shrimp loaded on pans MUST be taken into the freezers as quickly

as possible and in a constant stream during the time of processing.

9, In order to do this, I suggest that as trolleys are completed

they are taken into the freezers in a constant stream.

10, Greater efforts MUST be made to ensure that no shrimp is left

in the machines or on Ihe tables during the break period or at

luncheon. If shrimp is left during the break period it MUST be

thoroughly and heavily iced.

49
II GENERAL

These notes are intended to help all of us to do a better job and

those further hints are therefore just some brief reminders:

a) We are food handlers and packers. We handle a product which

can suffer spoilage very easily. If therefore, we want to

maintain good quality we must keep our shrimp very cold all

the time. This point is very, very important - VERY COLD

SHRIMP IS VERY GOOD SHRIMP.

b) Because we handle an expensive perishable product, we must

take great care to see that the quality is good, the grading

is good and the packing is good,

c) In order to do the best for the product, we all must be alert,

have initiative, be interested in our work and be prepared to

give more than a normal job,

d) We ourselves must therefore be healthy, clean in our habits,

wear clean clothes and keep the Plant and surroundings in a very clean condition.

Our Plant depends on the efforts of each and everyone of us to maintain

the high reputation, high quality and good prices our shrimp receive in

the Overseas markets.

e) All supervisory staff must ensure that employees use the hand-dip

and foot-baths at all times and thus avoid contamination of

shrimp with foreign and harmful bodies.

SO
17.0 Discussions with U.S. Embassy, USAID and United Nations Development

Program (UNDP) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization

(UNIDO)

17.1 U.S, Embassy and AID Debriefing

Mr, Wade H, B. Matthews, U.S. Charge d 'Affairs with his deputy and

successor, Mr, John Blacken, received the NBS/AID Team for an extensive debriefing session. Similarly, Mr, Arthur Mudge, outgoing

Director of the US AID Mission In Georgetown, spent several hours

discussing with us problems and opportunities. In both sessions, some time was spent analysing the possibilities of assistance by the U.N.

and the U.S. on a regional or national basis. Several gaps In our

visits were acknowledged but a consensus on Important conclusions was

reached. We acknowledge gratefully the encouragement and support

received from the U.S, Embassy and US AID Mission. All readily agreed

with a profound empathy for the development goals of the country and

Its people,

17.2 UNDP (UNIDO) - Guyana

The United Nations Development Programme office In Georgetown serves Guyana and the Lesser Antilles. The UNDP resident representative Is

Josef Schutzenberger, Representatives of a number of the UN

agencies are In residence. The post of UNIDO Field Adviser has been

vacant for some two years but Is expected to be filled by August or September 1976,

Possible multilateral assistance to Guyana In the formulation of a standardization program was pursued with Blrgltta Nygren, Assistant to

the UNIDO Field Adviser, who has been In residence since June 1974,

The country programme for Guyana for the years 1977 thru 1981 has iust

been prepared. This Is coordinated with UNDP through the Foreign Aid

Unit of the Ministry of Economic Development (Winston King, Director),

The programme for 1977 Is considered full or completely subscribed and

for 1978 almost completely subscribed. Unless major revision of the

country programme Is possible and pursued, the earliest Inclusion of a UN project In standardization (certification, testing, metrology,

etc.), similar to those sponsored In other countries, would be In

1979.

Interim assistance may be available through the Special Industrial

Services (SIS) programme of UlTIDO, This has limitations of one

adviser for a maximum period of six months. Such an approach may be

reasonable during the formulatlve stages of development of the

standardization program In Guyana, The task of helping to write the

project document for a larger scale UN project can be Included In

the activities of an Interim adviser If so desired. The steps

51
involved in pursuing this type of assistance are: (1) prepare

project data sheet including background, institutional framework,

duties, and qualifications of adviser - - assistance in preparation

available from the UNDP/UNIDO office, (2) submission to the Foreign

Aid Unit of the Ministry of Economic Development for approval, (3)

forwarding to the UNDP resident representative for approval and

further UN coordination, (4) forwarding to UNIDO, Vienna, for

approval and recruitment of adviser, (5) selection of adviser from

among available candidates by representatives of the Government of

Guyana, This process is likely to take 8 to 12 months from initiation

of the proposal to the arrival of the adviser.

18.0 Visit to Associated Organizations of Trinidad and Tobago

In view of the regional connections involving standardization and

related activities uncovered by the NBS team in Guyana, especially the

newly organized Caribbean Common Market Standards Council, and the

possibility of organizing a regional technical assistance program,

from which Guyana might benefit, opportunity was taken of the return

trip to visit with associated organizations of Trinidad and Tobago,

18.1 U.S, Embassy, Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain

Discussions were with Ms, Bonnie Lincoln, Commercial Attache, and

centered mostly around the feasibility of a regional approach to

technical assistance on standardization and related activities.

Consensus was favorable for such a regional program by AID, UNIDO or both, though a program among a limited number of countries in the

region may be more readily organized and Implemented - - a view shared

by Dr. Lines, Director of T&T Bureau of Standards, in discussions

later in the day, Trinidad and Tobago is presently a recipient of

assistance on tax matters by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under

program of Technical Assistance Advisory Commission (TAAC)

.

Information was obtained on procurement of copies of the Lome

Agreement and the GATT Code on Standards, items referenced in

discussions in Guyana. Visits during the day were summarized in a later discussion,

18.2 UNDP, Trinidad and Tobago

A courtesy call was paid to UNDP where discussions were with Mr, Dimas

Pires, Deputy Resident Representative, having recently taken up this

post. This office serves Trinidad and surrounding areas with other

offices in Guyana and Jamaica. No regional activities specifically

related to standardization have been conducted and none is under

consideration at present.

52
18.3 UN Multi-Sector Regional Planning Project

for the Caribbean Comnunlty

Originally organized under the UN Economic Commission for Latin

America (ECLA) as the Caribbean Regional Integration Advisory Team

(CRIAT), the present project title represents a change of name

coincident with an organizational change from ECLA to UNDP directly.

The team leader is Dr, Nasau Adams. F.A. Francis is fiscal and

financial adviser. Both were out of the country and Information was

ably provided by research assistant, Mr, Winston Rennie.

The project has close coordination with the CARICOM secretariat in

Georgetown, Guyana, and with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)

Activities to date Include (1) fiscal summaries of individual

countries in the region, (2) livestock and food research, (3)

technical assistance to CARICOM and (4) some background work for the

Lome Agreement. This organization should be treated as a resource in

planning and Implementing regional standardization activities.

18,4 UN Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA)

Office for the Caribbean

Mr. Louis L, Smith, Statistician and Agricultural Economist, vras a congenial and helpful host for the visit, ECLA*s main office is in

Santiago, Chile. The Trinidad (Port of Spain) office (more of a suboffice) serves the Caribbean.

A significant recent development is the formation of the Caribb«ian

Development Cooperative Committee (CDCC) at the 16th session of ECLA

in Trinidad in May 1975. The first meeting of this organization was held in Havana, Cuba, in November 1975. It is made up exclusively of

Indeper.dent countries of the Caribbean Including the Bahamas,

Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, et al. A secretariat in

the ECI.A sub-office in Trinidad is aow being staffed. Its work program

includes all aspects of economic and social development (hence

standaidlzatlon and related activities). It is viewed as more

comprehensive, geographically and functionally, than CARICOM which is

alternatively viewed as the "Engllsli Speaking” block, A UN interagency meeting was organized in July 1976, in New York to determine

how they will work in concert with CDCC. The second meeting of CDCC

is scheduled for November 1976, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic,

Regional standardization activities in the Caribbean will need to be

coordinated with CDCC.

53
18.5 Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards

Informative and cordial discussions were held with Dr. Michael G.

Lines, Director of the Trinidad and Tobaf'o Bureau of Standards. ^Jhile a food and drug ordinance has been Issued as early as 1960, the

standards act of T&T is dated in 1972 and standards regulations bear a 1976 date, so the program is only recently underway. Some 60-70

standards are in various stages of completion. TTS-1 is a "Guide to

the Drafting and Layout of T&T Standards". Some assistance in the

startup of the standards work was provided by a UNIDG project vrlth

J. P. Mehrotra of the Indian Standards Institute as adviser from June

1974, to June 1975.

Standards prepared by T&T BS are of several types including "basic

requirements for", "requirements for", and "specification for". An

attractive and informative newsletter is published bi-monthly.

The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards is heavily Involved in the

regional standardization activities. In fact, on the day of the visit

the Trinidad Guardian and the Express carried articles announcing the

selection of Dr, George Sammy, Chairman of the Standards Councl]. of

Trinidad and Tobago, as the first Cliairman of the Caribbean Common

Market Standards Council at the Council's inaugural meeting on ^lay 20

and 21, 1976, at the CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana, Regional work is

already underway as evidenced by a first draft for discussion on Certification of Goods in Regional Trade prepared on behalf of the

CARICOM Standards Council by Dr. Liies and Dr, Henry of the Jamaican

Bureau of Standards, They are also reviewing the Committee for

European Standards (CEN) and Andean Pact procedures.

Dr, Lires opinioned that purely regional standards were unlikely for

the imuiediate future. Rather, emphasis will be on harmonizing of

exlstir g mandatory standards through discussion and consultation with

approval and Implementation by the 2ARIC0M Council of Ministers , With

respect to regional technical assistance. Dr. Lines suggested that it

would be more feasible to formulate a limited regional project among

several cooperating countries. Trinidad and Tobago would be glad to be

a part of such a program.

Interest in legal metrology and programs of weights and measures was

expressed. Membership in OIML was suggested for consideration. At

present, the Bureau of Standards is awaiting official word from

Cabinet on the forming of a Committee to make proposals for the

Weights and Measures ordinance. Present reponsibility is vested in

the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Commerce with some electronics

and electrical activity at Caribbean Industrial Research Institute

(CARIRI), Also coincident with the visit was an article entitled,

"The Scales are Loaded", with subtitle, "You are being Robbed I", in

54
the current weekly Issue of The Bonib of July 16, 1976. The article

reports results of a survey showing Infrequent checking of scales (23%

never checked) and Inaccuracies of from two to four ounces (In favor of

the vendor) on a one-pound pre-tested weight. Currently under study by

the T&T Bureau of Standards are the model laws on metrology of Canada, U.K.,

Jamaica, and India. During the visit a meeting was arranged with

Mr. Bertrand Hamanan, Standards Officer, T&T Bureau of Standards. He

has just completed a three month training course In standardization at

the Indian Standards Institute, New Delhi, with some emphasis on weights

and measures and will be called upon to help develop the program of

Trinidad and Tobago.

Interest was shown by Dr. Lines and Standards Officer, Mr. Gene Hutchinson,

In the Thai Industrial Standards Institute program and related papers, and,

therefore, the following materials were later mailed to Dr. Lines:

Reference Literature for Dr. Michael G. Lines

Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards

1. United States Membership In the International Organization

of Legal Metrology (OIML) , NBS LC 1059, May 1975.

2. OIML Pilot Secretariat 25: Developing Countries

(corresponding to technical committees) and Reporting

Secretariat, RS 1 - 5 (coz responding to working

groups) from the general program of Secretariats.

3. Work Plan, Reporting Secretariat P.S. 25/RS 3.

4. Weights and Measures Directory, KBS, March 1976.

5. Model State Weights & Measures Law 1975, ITOS, NCT-7-I.

6. Model Weights & Measures Ordinance, 1975, KBS, NCWM.

7. Regional Seminar on a System of Standardization and

Metrology for Latin America, NBSIR 76-938, June 1974

(Issued February 1976),

8. Testing and Certification for Export Products In

Industrializing Countries, NBS Special Publication 438,

Singapor Seminar, May 1975 (Issued February 1976).

55
9.

Industrial Product Standards Act (Translation), Thailand,

1968.

10. Ministerial Regulations Nos. 1 — A, Issued under the

Industrial Product Standards Act.

11. Ministerial Regulations Nos. 5-8, Issued under the

Industrial Product Standards Act.

12. Certification Marking Procedures, Thai Industrial

Standards Institute,

13. Standards and Certification in a Developing Country, by

Rohn Hopper & Ken Stephens, ESI News , April 1973.

lA. A Seven-Country Survey of Certification and Quality

Marks Progratas, by Ken Stephens, Georgia Institute

of Technology.

15. Standards - A New Frontier for Quality, Presentation

at 19th Fall Technical Conference, ASQC - Chemical

Division and ASA - Section on Physical and Engineering

Sciences, Denver, Colo., October 30 - 31, 1975.

56
IV THE ECONOMY OF GUYANA

(For U.S. Reader Orientation)

Plagued by historical high and low spots and severe problems in

communications and transportation, especially in its vast hinterland,

Guyana’s economy is still best described by the term most frequently

used by Guyanese, that is, “vibrant ". There is a deep local

conviction that Guyana's people are more than capable of making

capital of her substantial resources, that industrialization is the

key to success, and that a free wheeling, hard driving approach to

industrialization is the only way to close the gap between the dream

and its realization.

Again, tIBS Team opinions suffer from short exposure but the impression

obtained is that the balance of trade was positive as late as 1972 and

only the surge toward increased production has created negative

imbalances since then. If tooling up can result in some of the more

recent export earnings quoted to the team in specific product areas,

the imbalance should be only temporary, e.g., Guyana exported 12,5

million pounds of frozen shrimp in 1973; in 1975, one newly equipped

plant accounted for 6 million pounds at U.S. $18 million. Although

the U.K. and U.S, have been her principal trading partners, knowledge

of many other international market preferences and the ability of

local producers to meet them is growing rapidly. Altogether, CARICOM

countries import U.S, $1 billlon/yr, Guyana, with 16% of the people

in CARICOM, imports only 7% (U.S, $70 mlllion/yr.)

Moreover, CARICOM is also "vibrant", growing like hybrid rice

internally and thrusting out in innumerable market fronts abroad. The

per capita income is rising and benefits are far better distributed

than in most developing countries.

Incentives to selected Industries Include Income tax exemptions from

one to ten years, tax free imports of machinery and equipment,

essential raw and building materials not produced in Guyana.

Allowable foreign equities in local industries are not clear although

foreign industrial and commercial Interests are quite evident.

Additional incentives for foreign investment would accelerate

economic growth, especially in medium and large areas where industrial

'holes' exist, e.g., glass and glass products, paper, industrial

chemicals, plastics, canned and powdered milk products, cans, plastic

containers and seals, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and a variety of assembly line products where local labor could be better

utilized in medium to high value added by manufacturing operations,

(No adequate sources of calcium carbonate for cement have been

discovered,

)

57
Sugar, rice, meat and other processed agricultural Items, fishing,

lumber, mining and quarrying make uo 72% of all * Industry* but coming

on rapidly are secondary products: animal feeds, ham, bacon,

lard, and a rather wide variety of processed food products; beverages.

Including alcoholic, building materials. Industrial gases, V70od

products, metal products (limited), small ship building, paints and

garments

.

Guyana’s major problems are feeding, clothing, and housing her 800,000

population, shoring up the narrow coastal strip on which most of them

live, and Improving transportation and communications, especially In

her rich hinterland where ambitious programs for development are vigorously pursued, Guyana also lacks a deep harbor. Population,

per se, is no problem and employment appears to be relatively high

although worker productivity has yet to be surveyed. Typically, most

economic statistics need updating. Interpolation and extrapolation.

In sum, Guyana’s economy is developing very well.

58
V. THE PEOPLE

(For U.S. Reader Orientation)

As was pointed out In the General Background of this report, (see

section III, part 2,0) 80% of Guyana's people received primary

schooling, but far fewer go on to Intermediate or higher education.

Regardless, there Is an educated leadership, articulate, responsive,

and dedicated to the nation's omnipresent theme, "one people, one

destiny". The many GOG and private sector leaders that the team met

were refreshingly candid and very much aware of their single destiny

and the problems that lie In the way. A notable percentage has

foreign degrees, especially in the U.K., the U.S,, and the University

of the West Indies a regional facility that Is oWlously growing In

competence and Influence,

In medium and large Industry, traditional disciplines are evident,

shored up and expanded by social ferment and a singularity of purpose.

There Is an Industrial estate In Georgetown, burgeoning with new

medium to small Industrial plants, most of which are a cut above many

developing countries' Industries In management, buildings, layout,

equipment, and controls. Even in the cottage Industry area there Is an admirable spirit of private enterprise.

The people problems that accompany this expanding economy are, as expected, many and difficult. Leaders are spread very thin, serving

on numerous councils and commissions as well as struggling to satisfy

the demands of their specific assignments, in the GOG, In associations

and cooperatives, and in the private sector. Racial integration. In

this country with substantial minorities rather than dominant

majority. Is remarkably successful, but the worldwide Inequities of

racial discrimination cannot be solved overnight, even in Guyana.

Guyana University strives to complete and staff the new Institute of

Science and Technology, the Intermediate technical and trade schools

are recruiting Increased enrollments, admittedly with very limited

resources. GOG, through its various agencies and cooperatives, is

expanding services and memberships into the sparsely populated

hinterland and NSRC, the Consumers Association, co-ops, and various GOG

boards and corporations press ahead with both industrial producer and

consumer education.

59
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S-*'® ..
VI THE ORGANIZATIONS AND FACILITIES

1.0 Government of Guyana

Other reports, e.p., J. A. Campbell, 1975, have detailed the extent or desirable GOG ministerial, or organizational relationships with the

proposed Bureau of Standards. This report does not propose to repeat

these unless they bear directly on the recommendations. Generally

speaking, there are too many entities rather than too few, l.e., too

much compartmentatlon and proliferation of titles and purposes for the

human and physical resources available. So it is with governments

everywhere.

Nevertheless, NSRC appears to have attainable goals and excellent

leadership. Some doubt must exist as to the awareness at high

government levels of the vital importance of NSRC*s proposed Bureau of

Standards to successful industrialization, improved balance of

payments, and higher standards of living. To be sure, GOG has placed

some top priorities on these objectives, but do top leaders see the

successful establishment of the Bureau as the historical tool all

successful industrial nations have used to get there?

The proof will show in the top level budgeting and support of tVte Bureau's organization and growth, especially in support that GOG

decision makers must provide to give the Bureau access to infomiatlon

and facilities in other GOG laboratories and through external sources

of assistance. This does not excuse NSRC or the GBS staff from making

every reasonable effort to "sell" the program through reasonable

progress toward GBS goals, but in the ultimate analysis, high GOG

leadership must provide adequate budget and continuous support for the

best available staff, for their advanced training and development, for access to internal and external resources necessary to compile the

various inventories recommended by the NBS Team and, eventually, for

buildings and equipment to mount a capable National Standards

Laboratory to meet national needs. A viable infrastructure cutting

across the various lines of authority and responsibility on standards

related functions between and within Ministries will also requite top

level cooperation.

It would appear that the necessary access for GBS to Guyana

University staff and laboratories could be quickly worked out in view

of the close relationship of the two organizations under NSRC, but the

GBS concept has been under discussion for over three years and

decisions and action are now appropriate. Similar working

relationships must also be set up with the Government Analyst

Department under the Ministry of Health, the Agricultural Products

Corporation, laboratories under the Ministry of Agriculture and other

61
GOG Boards and Corporations with trained technical staff, technical

Information sources and testing facilities, e.g., the Timber Export

Board, Sugar Corporation, Rice Board, Guyana Marketing Corporation,

and the Guyana Food Processors, Ltd, Several of the groups expressed

a willingness to work with GBS when questioned by the NBS Team. The

Guyana Elctriclty Corporation, the Guyana Telecommunications

Corporation, and the Guyana Water Authority should also be inventoried

for possible assistance.

GBS must also maintain close connections with the Ministry of Trade

and Consumer Protection and with the Guyana Consumers Association. In

the final analysis, a clear and current understanding of consumer

product reaction and public awareness of and satisfaction with what is

being done about it is the ultimate accomplishment of an effective

GBS.

The NBS Team had no contacts with thtf Guyana Military, but if local

resources are to be used to the|full, national military establishments

almost invariably have surplus technical staff, unclassified

information, and surplus facilities useful in industrial testing.

2,0 Other Organizations

The International organizations of UNIDO and ISO have been prominent

in NBS Team recommendations. The inventories listed should include

these as well as U.S. NBS, BSI, EEC, CARICOM, CDCC (see section III,

part 18. A), the Aslan Productivity Organization, IRRI and the

Philippines, OIML, COPANT, Codex Alimentarlas, U.S., U.K., Brazil,

Singapore, Jamaica, Barbados, Cuba, and other national sources for

standardization information, experts and training.

CARICOM and its associated organizations are especially noteworthy.

In this connection, the team had the opportunity to read two meeting

reports: The Regional Harmonization of Standards, Kingston, Jamaica,

Sept, 25 - 26, 1974 and the Inaugural Meeting of the Caribbean Common

Market Standards Council (with attachments of previous meetings on

regional standards from Nov. 1968 and Oct. 1975) at Georgetown, May 20

-21, 1976. This Council will have one representative from each of

the member states in CARICOM? Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and

Tobago, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St, Vincent, Montserrat,

Antigua and St, Kltts-Nevis-Auguillo. Guyana is represented on the

Council's executive committee by Dr. Rex Woo-Ming (who has, we

understand, accepted major responsibilities in the field of drug and

cosmetic standards) and the NSRC has observer status on the Caribbean

Common Market Standards Council,

62
The ambitions of the Council as outlined in the latter report

addresses almost every point of regional or international interest or responsibility previously discussed in the context of GBS:

1. The formulation and adoption of regional standards.

2. Assistance in the development of National Standards

Bureaus.

3. The development of regional testing facilities.

4. Coordination of testing methods and quality evaluation.

5. Advice on problems involving standards of products

in Intrareglonal trade.

6. Determination of quality and advice on acceptability

of extraregional products.

7. Cooperation with international standards organizations.

8. Assistance to member countries in the development and

promotion of new products for extraregional exports.

9. Assistance with intrareglonal education of consumers

and manufacturers in standardization.

10.

Recommendation and promotion of the adoption of a Common Market set of reference metrological standards.

The high, useful potential of the CARICOM Standards Council and the

presence of its first staff in Georgetown presents many opportunities

for GBS to share in and help lead in its development.

The eaxller report on Hannonlzation of Standards provides an insight

into available regional and national sources of technical Infonaation,

experts and testing facilities, e.g., the University of the Wesi:

Indies (Dr, V7oo-Ming won his Ph.D. here), the Jamaican Scientific

Research Council and Jamaican Bureau of Standards, the Caribbean Food

and Nutrition Institute, the Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados Bureaus of

Standards. Through GBS, Guyana will now be able to share in the

communications among these organizations: technical information,

draft standards and by formal invitation, in this meeting, in the

testing facilities in Jamaica,

National pride and lack of a standards organization may have deterred

such exchanges in the past but now the advantages should loom so large

that GBS’s regional activities should be quickly initiated and pursued

through these organizations, without losing oversight and

responsibilities for control activities within Guyana’s boundaries.

It is one thing to make inventories; it is quite another to implement

the courses of action which are indicated. Time, budget and a sufficient number of competent staff are of the essence. The

attainment of GBS objectives is not a one-man job and the recruiting

of additional staff to assist the GBS Director should begin now, if

GBS stature at home and regional leadership is to grow and mature.

63
The NBS Team would be remiss not to emphasize a truism, l.e., the laf;

between Inventory preparation and the establishment of the relations

Indicated will be significant, no matter how diligent the pursuit.

Especially In the case of International and UN organizations, this

lead time may be two to three years from Initial contact to

materialization of assistance. Moreover, UNDP (UNIDO) budgets are

already short of funds through 1979, although an NBS Team contact In

Georgetown revealed the possibility of a UNIDO expert’s assistance for

6 months as early as 1978 (see write-up In Section III, part 17.2).

And while International and regional activities and assistance may be

very useful In various stages of development, ultimately the

philosophy and Implementation of standardization are the concern and

responsibility of every sovereign state.

64
VII CONCLUSIONS

The leadership In Guyana Is fully aware that standardization Is an essential prerequisite for successful Industrialization. One method

of Introducing standards, measurement, and related activities Is

through a strong National Standards Council backed by capable

technical staff and test facilities, possibly centered on a National

Bureau of Standards. The decision to use this approach has been made

by Guyana but the level of effort and support to date has left

effective Implementation for future realization. Some Impatience at

the slow progress In the field of standardization was expressed by

some Informed technical personnel.

The NBS Team Is very much aware of the fact that many, and perhaps

most, of the data, observations, and opinions expressed In this report

have been reported before. As the team discovered, however, the

Important Infoniatlon Is fragmented and hard to find. It lacks

collection In a central facility, collation, and coherent application

to the problems at hand. This, as the report has tried to point out.

Is one of GBS*s primary purposes.

The team Is also cognizant of the fact that some of the

recommendations concern projects which have already been started,

especially by the NSRC staff, e.g. , a questionnaire poll of key

Industries has been Initiated, workshops have begun and GOG laboratory

facilities are already doing Industrial testing. But the order of

magnitude of all this activity Is far below what must be achieved for

successful Industrialization. The report and Its recommendations have

strived to frame these additional essential Inputs In the

establishment and growth of GBS.

The ready availability of accurate, understandable technical

Information, alone, has produced some remarkable results, especially

In the hands of Industrial plant personnel.

65
VIII APPENDICES

Five appendices have been referenced in the preceding parts of the

report as follows:

Appendix A. Guyana Act No. 26 of 1974, National Science

Research Council Act.

(Referenced in Section III, Part 4.0)

Appendix B. Guyana Rice Board, Notice, Rice Marketing

Act (Chapter 72:01), Specifications for White

and Parboiled Rice to be Purchased by the

Guyana Rice Board.

(Referenced in Section III, Part 8.0)

Appendix C. National Science Research Council, Annual Report,

1975, Bureau of Standards Council Section.

(Referenced in Section III, Part 10.0)

Appendix D. Quality Control Survey and Questionnaire Forms,

An Objective-Oriented System of Standards and

Quality Control.

(Referenced In Section III, Parts 10.0 & 11.0)

Apptindlx E. System of Standards and Quality Control

Operational in the Sugar Industry

(Referenced in Section III, Part 11.0)

66
APPENDIX A

GUYANA

ACT No. 26 of 197A NATIONAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL ACT

I BBSont.

A. CHUNG President

19th August 1974.

ARRANGEMENT OE SECTIONS

SECTION

1. Short title and commencement.

2. Interpretation

3. Eetablishment and incorporation of the Council.

4. Functions of the Council.

5. Members of the Council.

6. Affixing of the seal of tho Council.

7. Meetings of tho Council end procedure.

8. Commlttoes.

9. Power to delegate functions.

10. Power to appoint officero and other employees end agents.

11. Protection of members.

12. Remuneration of members.

13. Funds and resources of the Council.

14. Accounts and audit.

15. Report and accounts to be submitted to the Minister.

16. Discoveries and inventions.

17. Policy directions.

16. Exemption from taxes.

19. Offences.

20. Regulations.

Price 48^ To be purchooed from the Ministry of Information, Georgetown, Guyana

Printed by Guyono Printers Ltd.

67
No,. jt.6 LAWS ..Or_._C.UV.ANA A.O. 1974

AN ACT to prevido for the oetebllshmont and Incorporntion of the Notional Scionco Ansearch Council and Tor purposoe connoctod

tharooith,

Cnectod by tho Parliamont of Guyana:-

Short

title

ond coMMncoMont. Intarpratation.

1, This Act may be cited as the National

Science Research Council Act 1974, and

shall come into force on such day ao the Minister may appoint by order.

2. In this Act unless the context otherwiao requires - "Chairmen" means tho Chairman of the Council and includoo

any person performijig the functiono

of Chairman of the Council.

"Council" means tho National Scianoo

Rooaerch Council established by

oaotion 3,

"invention" includes any new procsoo

er near technique, whether or not a patent could be granted in relation

thsrato.

"nonbor" moans a member of the Council

ond includes tho Chairman,

"Minister" nearte the Minister aooignod

responsibility for economic planning

and development.

"Secretary-General." means the Socrotsry-. Gonerel of the Council appointed under

section 10,

3.

Thera is hereby ostabliehed a body to bo called tho National Science Rssoarch

Council which shall bo a body corporstb.

*.(1) It shall be tho functions of tho council -

Cotobliohmont and

Incorporation of tho Council*

F unctions of

the Council.

a) to assist in the formulation of, end to advise tho Government on, a Natlonnl

Sclonce Policy;

b) to determine' prioritios for scientific and tochnologicel

activltiea In Guyana; und

c) to promoto roseurch and ts snsure tho application of the reaulta of scientific

end tochnolugical ectiultioa to tho cJovelopmont

of egriculturo, industry

and social uielfaro in Guyana,

68
A, 0. 1 97ft ,Nj)j._26,

HQinbere uf the Council

SCiCNCE RESEARC H N CJJ^

(2) In porticdlor and without prejudice to the

gonorslit', of tho provisions uf suL'-soctioi

.(1) • it shall bo tho functions of Council

o) to advisu tho Govornment ont the eppli ratio n 0 f science and

scion' if ic rosoarcli to probloms

of national i niportonce

;

b) to advise the Government on priorities in the national rosearc'- pro gramme

;

c' to advise on tho allocation of funds for 6Ci entific research and

on tho roc rui tmont and Use of ra- search sta fr;

d) to adviso upo n, and oncouro ge the training o r. resecrch perso nnsl

by the provie ion of sc^lolc!r Shi ps

,

fello'.ships. bursaries end other

forms-of assi stance;

e) to adviso on the action to bo takon to in ain tsin an adoqua te supply of oci entific and technical per sonnel having ro- gard ta l;ho need of Guyenr. f rom

time to );i me for such personnel;

f) to advise on suitable arrangements

for planni ng, managing and coordinc ting sc ientific cctiv i ties

at various Ic vels, includin9 tho establishm ent of Rosonreh I nstitutes

;

g) to rouiew gonorally and advioo on

tho prsgrai.imGS and budgets o( Ro- eoarch Institutes;

h) to collect and disseminate information relating to ociontific and technical matters, and to publish

reports and papers and ^lold conferences on scientific :.nd technical

msttors

;

i) to do such other things as may bo necessary for the aduancomont of scientific and tochnologicr.l ro- Boarch in Guyana for the purposes

of national deuelopinent

.

p) Subject to thu provisions of this Act, the Council shi'.l have power to do anything which

in its opi' ion is nocuosary to ensurn tho

proper diecnargo of its functions under tho

Act,

5, (l ) Subject to soction 7 (3), the Council shall, consist of not more than thirty members who

69
Wo.? 6

Affixing

of the •oal of

the Council.

•hell bo appointed by the Minietor by in> •trumont in urlting from omungst poreone

oppecring to him to be qualified nnd ex- psrlenced in mattors rolatiny to scionccj,

tochnblogyi industry, financo or administration, or hawing such othor qualification or exporienen luhich tho Minister con- eidore to bo relowunt to tho dswelopmont

of Guyana,

( 2 ) At least six members reprosonting botuioon

thorn tho various sciences and technology

ehell be appointed by the Hinistor after consultation uith the Uniuorsity of Guyana,

(3) A mombor, other than the Chairman, may at any time resign his office by instrument

in luriting addressed to the Chairman, who shall forthwith cause the same to be for- warded to the Minister and upon the date

of tho receipt by the Chairmen of such

inetrumont such number ohull cease to be

a member. () Tho Chairman may at any time resign his

office by instrument in writing addressed

to tho Minister and such resignation shall

take effoct as from the doto of tho receipt

of such instrument,

( 5 ) Tho Minister may terminate the eppointmont

of a mombor who absents himeolf from threo consecutive meetings of the Council without

leavo from tho Council

() Tho names of the members of the Council es first constituted and evory change in tho memborship thereof shall bo published in the Gazette.

( 1 ) Ttio seal of tho Council shall bs kept in the custody of tho Chairman or tho deputy Chairman or tho Sbcrotary-Ganeral or ouch other officer of the Council an the Council may opprove, and may be affixed to instruments

pursuant to a resolution of the Council and in tho presence of the Chairman, or Deputy

Chairman, and the Secretary-General

,

(2) Tho seal of the Council shell be authenticated

by the signatures of tho C.hairman, or Deputy

Chairman, and the Gocrotary-uor.e ral , and Shall

bo officially ano judicially noticod,

( 3 ) All documents, othor than those roquirod by law to bo under seal, mode by, and all de- cisions of the Council may be signified

under the hand of tho Chairman, or Deputy

Chairmen, or the Socrotary-GorTeral

. (1) Tho Council shall.mot ot such timos as may

bo nocoseary or expedient for fho tran- saction of busi neso, onri mcctintja of tho Council shall be hold ot least twice in every year end et euoh plocoo and times

nnd on such days ns tho Council may determino.

Hooting

of tha Council

ond procedura.

cu.va_na

70
A.D. 197^ NATIONAL SLIUICE: HESLARCH CnUNCIL No. 26

The Chalrriin iiitiy ot any tine coll u special Dcoting of the Council and

eholl cnll a spocijl mooting luithin seven dnys of n requisition for that

purpose cicdrecsod to him in writing

by any four niombors.

Ten members of the Council shall form o quorum for the transaction of business ct a meeting.

Minutes in proper form of each meeting

shall be recorded and shall bo confirmed by the Council at a subsequent

mooting.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Council shall have the pouer to re- gulate its oiun precoedinge.

The Council may appoint such committees

as it may ttiink fit to advise the Council in the exercise of any of its

functions under this Act.

Every committee appointed under this

seetTon shall consist of at least tuio members of the Council, of ii/hoin one

shall bo appointed to bo chairman of

the cominitroe, and such other persons,

luhether me“boro of the Council or not,

as the Council may think fit.

9 , Subject to the provisions of this Act, the

Council may delegate to any member or committee or officer of the Council the power and authority to carry out on its behalf such functions as the Council may

determine.

10, The 'Council may appoint and employ at such

remuneration and on ouch terms and conditions as it thinks fit, a uecretary-Cenoral

(who shall bo tfo Chief executive Officer of the Council) anc such other officers, other

employees and agents as it thinks necessary for the proper carrying out of its functions

under this Act,

Provided that:-

e) no salary i". excess of sovon thousand ti-o hundred dollars

per annum snail ho assigned

to any office without the prior apprcyal of the Minister;

b) no appointrt-nt shall bo mado to any offlco to which a salary in excoss of seven thousand two hundred dollars pur annum is assigned without thn prior

approval of tho Minister.

( 2 )

(3)

(O

(5)

e. (1)

( 2 )

Committee

Power to delegate

f unctione

71
No. 76 LAWS or GUYANA A.D. 1974

11. (1) No action, auit, prosocutlorr

or othor procoodings shall bo brought nr inotitutod porsonolly

against uny rnombor in respoct of

any act done bo a fi.:a in pursuance of the execution or intended execution of this Act.

(2) Whore ony momber is exempt from

liability by reason only of the

prov/isions of this ruction tho 'Council shall be liable to tho

extent that it would be if such

member were an officer or other

employee, or agent, of, the

Council

.

Remuneration 12, There shall bo paid to tho Chairman

of members. and other me-iberc ouch renuner tion

(if any) (jhethor b, uay of salaries

or trouslling cr ether al.' owancas ) as the Minister may untarnin".

funde and reeources

of the Council.

b) all other sumr, or property

bhich may in any mrnnor

tacome payable to or vested

in the Council for ‘‘o

general purposas of the Council or in respoct of

any matter incidental

theroto.

(2) The expenses of the Council

(including any remuneration of

the members, officers, other emplo,ees and agents thereof

)

shall be paid out of tho funde

and resources of tho Council,

13, (1 ) The funds and rosourens of the

Council shall consis. cf:-

a) such sums n.i may bo provided by Parliamsnt ; and

1A. (1 ) The Council shall keep proper

accounts and othor records in respect of its operations and

such accounts shall bo audited

annually by an auditor appointed

by the Council with tho approval

of the Ministor,_

(2) Tho members, tlio Socrolary-Conerol

,

officers and other on.ployooa of the

Council shall grant to the auditor

appoirtod to audit thn accounta of tho Council under this ooction,

Qccoes to all books, documenta,

cash end cocuritios of tho Council

and Bhall givo to fiim on requoat

all euch information as may be

wlthiri thoir knowledge in relation to tho functions of the Council,

Protection

of membora.

72
A,p_.. 1974. N£TI0.N!'L SCICMCi: RESfARCH CQUHCIL _Npj26

(3) Any poreon uiho Tails or refusoo or noglocts to contply uiith any roquoat

mndo by tliu auditor undor this section or othoruiso obstructs him in the porforinance oT the functibns

conTorrod upon him by this section

shall bo liable on summary conviction

to a fine of fifty dollars, in default

of payment, to imprisonment for one

month.

Report and 15. accounta to be sub- mitted to the Minlater(l) The Council shall not later than the

30th Oune in each year prepare and

submit to tho Minister. a report on its activities during the last pre- ceding calendar year, including a statement of its accounts audited in accordance with tho provisions of section 14.

(2) Tho Minister shall cause a copy of

the report together with the audited

statement of accounts and tho report

of the auditor thareon to be laid

before the National Assembly,

(3) Tho Council shall submit to tho Minister for approval not lator

than CSObhSSppcombor in eacn year,

its estimates of revenue and expenditure for tne next ensuing

calendar year and shall during tho last-mentioned year submit to the Minister for his approval any es- timates of further expenditure as may become necessary.

16.. (l) All discovories and inventions made

by the Council or by any of its

officers or other omployees or agents

in tho performance of its functions

under this Act, shall bo vested in

the Council one tno Council niay mako

any such discovery or invention

available to the public on such

conditions nnd subject to tho pay- ment of such fuss or royalties as

the Council may think fit,

(2) Tho Council niay, with tho approval

of the Mi nistoi •-

a) pay such bonuses or royalties

as it may think fit to any person who m.jkoc ony discovery

or invention in tho couroo of ony reoearch undortakon by or carried out under the direction of tho Council, whothor

such poroon is a member,

officer or ottior ompioyeo of

the Council or not;

73
A. D. 1974 N ATIONA L SCI CNCC RCSEft RCH COUNCIL No. 26

b) jhore any diecov/ory or in- vention is made availatilo to the public subject to the payment of foos or royalties,

exempt any person from the requirement to pay euch fees

or royalitios or any portion

thereof.

17. The Minister may, after consultation with

the Chairnan, give to the Council diroc- Policy

tions of a general character as to the directions

policy to bo followed by the Council in the performance af its functions and the Council shall give effect to any such

directions.

10. The Council shall be exempt from the pay- exemption

ment of customs duty, capital gains tax, of tax, corporation tax, income tax, property tax, end purchase tax.

19, Any person uiho:-

a) being a mombjr, officer or other

employee or igcnt of the Council

without the juthority of the Council publishes or communicates

to ary persoii otherwise than in

the course of his duties as a member, officer, or other employee

or agent of ;ho Council, any in- formation acquired by him in the course of such duties; or

Offences

b) being in possession of any in- foimetion which to his knowledge

has been disclosed in contravention of this Act, publishes or communicates such information to

, any person.

shell be liable on summary conviction to a fine

of one tnousar d dollars and to imprisonment for

a term of two years.

20. The flinister may, after consultation with

the Council, make regulations for the carrying out of the provisions of this Act,

Pessed by the National Assembly on the 7th August 197A,

f.A, Maroin Clerk of the National Assembly

7A
I

APPENDIX B

GUYANA DICE BOARD

1 NOTICE

NICE MAD KEYING ACT (CHAPTER 7Z;01)

In pursuanca of Section 17 (1) of the Rico Marketing Act (Chapter 72t01)| the Guyana Rice Board hereby givea notice that Bha Board

haai with the approval of the Chief Agricultural Officer (ag), fixed gradaa

of tica affective os from March 1, 1!)76 ea follows:-

SPECinCATlONS FOR WHITE AND PARBOILED RICE TO BE PURCHASED

BY THE GUYANA RICE BOARD

A - Minimum Soecificatione for Different Gradea of Parboiled Rice

GRADE

FACTORS ,

Rod Rice Oar-aged Discoloured Brokone Ifhole Grains (trains Grains

i * *

Colour Remarks

Extra Super

Broken

0.5

20.0

0.0 0.0 B.O 91.S light red riea should contain

red-etraakad

graina only

Super 1.0 0.5 1.0 12.0 as.5 straw

) Extra No.l. 2.0 1.0 2.0 20.0 75.0 straw ) No.l. 3.0 2.5 3.5 25.0 66.0 dark )\ Appearanea

straw

1t of head

Extra No. 2. 4.0 3.5 5.0 30.0 57.5 dark

straw

' rice must

) conform

.to the

No. 2. 5.0 4.5 10.0 35.0 45.5 dark straw ) guide

eamplaa

No. 3. 6.0 10.0 10.0 45.0 29.0 dark straw

Sugar Broken 5.0 1.0 2.0 45.0 light Broken

10.0 10.0

over 45.0

should not

contain

more than 25 chipa

capable

of passing

through

a 5f/64 ecroen

Should not contain

eu>ro than

25 Chips

capable

of passing

through a 5^64

screen

Parbollsd rice inferior to'Ro,3 and Broken' will not be purchased except by

nagotiation as to price between farmer and the Management of the Guyana Rice Boerd

75
a . MM1M1 aatCincATlOMS fc^ approved WAWlgTIga twi. SJMtmuurj.

aLUEBELLE AWP »N" VARIETIES)

(1) _SMQificBtiona for Rice Processed from the varletle* - 5»eibonnot and Blueballe FAC TORS

Purity Red Rica DeTiogod Discoloured Chalky Clear Clear

Grade Grains Grains Grains Broken Whole

groira

% * t % % % %

Extra White A 90 0.5 0.0 0.0 7.0 14 78.

5

White A 90 1.0

' 0.2 0.2 10.0 20 6B.6

White B 80 1.5 0.5 - 1.0 20.0 25 52.0

White C 60 5.0 3.0 5.0 25.0 45 17.0

White Broken A 1.5 0.5 1.0 White Broken B 5.0 3.0 3.0

White Rice of an inferior quality to White *C will not pevohaeed

except by negotiaticn an to price between the fecne* end the ^ Management of the Guyana Rice Boerd

(ii) iMBiflcettQna fog «hlta Rice Droceeaed fxom t|^e *W»

FACT 0 R S Purity Red Rice Oamjged DiscolQucsd Chalky Oeez Claei

Grade Grains Grains Grains Bsc4«en Who&t Graire « % t % < «

Extra White A. 90 0.5 0.0 0.0 ?.o 14 79.!

White A 90 1.0 0.2 0.2 10.0 20 6B.L

White B 90 1.5 0.5 1.0 20.0 25 52.0

White C 90 5.0 3.0 5.0 25.0 45 17.0

White A -Broken 1.5 0.5 1.0

White B Broken 5.0 3.0 3.0

White rico of on inferior quality to White 'C will not be

purchaaed except by negotlotion as to price between the farmer

and the Honagemert of the Guyana Rice Boerd

Note > Only the above approved varioties viz Starbonnot, Bluebello and N should be milled Into Whits Rice. BY ORDER OF Tt£ GUYANA RICE BOARD

March 31, 1976. NevUla E. Sutherland

Cenaral Manager

76
APfEMDIX C M4TI0WAL ICHMCI RESEARCH COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT. 1975

BUHCAU or STANDARDS COUNCIL

This Council hoc from its inception, constantly and onorgotically

pursued its objective of ostoblishing a Duroau of Standards in Guyana.

The Chairman has boen especially diligent on insisting that consumers

should get thoir money's luorth of whatever they buy, and perhaps her

onthusiasm in this regard has been communicated to the members of her

Council.

Other factors which have stimulated the activities of this Council

are its close collaboration with those CARICOM Countries which already

have thoir own Standards Bodies and the need for harmonization of the

policies of thoeo bodies in the context of the growing regional integration

movement.

Early in 1973, Council took stops to secure the appointment of a Director, Bureau of Standards. At the samotlme. Council invited

Dr» 3, A. Campbell, Deputy Director, Caribbean food and Nutrition Institute

(CFNi), to advise on the organisation and functions of a Bureau of

Standards. Dr. Campbell submitted a report of his visit togother with

some recommendations. The report was circulated to members of the business

community and other interested sectors for comment.

In September, Council sponsored a Seminar on Standards and Quality

Control at the Guyana Teachers' Association which aimed at:-

(i) Alerting all sect ions of the community as

to the scope, significance and value of a Bureau of Standards in Guyana;

(ii) establishing guidelines for a functional

Bureau of Standards;

(ill) initiating die cussions and advising on

procedures pertaining to quality control

for the benefit of manufacturers; and

77
Appendix C continued

t

Objectlvce

These u/ere defined as objoctivos which would provide large

returns for any given investment of resources. These objectives

are

(1) To advise on the establishment of a functional Bureau of Standards with

a Director not later than Dune 1976;

(2) to ensure that there was an objective

oriented system of standards operating

in each of the major export industries,

B.g,, sugar, bauxite, rice, timber and

shrimp;

(3) to ens ure that there was an objective

oriented system of setting standards

for all major items purchased directly

by the External Trade Bureau;

(4) to ensure that the draft of the Food

and Drugs regulations was prepared by

March 1976 and enacted by September

1976;

( 5 ) to demonstrate in a manner visible to

the consuming public and others, the

effective work of the Bureau of

Standards Council by ensuring that

locally produced commodities were manufactured to standards acceptable

to the consumer;

78
(6) to ensuro thot ouiteblo end neceeeary

building codos be published for the

building industry;

(7) to ensure the enactment of legislation

dealing with consumer protection u/ith^

spociel emphasis on labelling by Dune

1977;

Appendix C

(8)

.to keep abreast of the trend towards

metrication in More Developing Countries

(MDCs) in the CARICOM area.

Extensive discussions took place towards the and of the year on:

(i) Tho appointment of a Director, Bureau

of Standards and supporting staff.

Firm recommendations were submitted to

the NSRC;

(ii) the establishment of objective oriented

'systems of quality control in tha main

export industries;

(iii). the holding of a Workshop on Production

of some consumer items especially tomato

ketchup, peanut butter, jams and jellies;

(iv) the setting up of a select committee on building codes;

(v) metrication;

continued

79
Appendix C continued

(vi) Food and Drugs rsgulations;

(vii) revleuflng generally the draft Food and Drugs

Regulations of Guyana.

Immediately after the Seminar, the post of Director, Bureau of

Standards uas adv/ertised and luith the appointment pending, Council

moved to establish guidelines for the functioning of the Bureau. A select committee luas established and discussions mere initiated mith

representatives of five major organisations in Guyana mhich contributed

significantly to the country's foreign exchange earnings. The discussions

cantored on facilities mithin the respective establishments for the

determination of standards. Council records mith satisfaction and gratitm

the forthright cooperation shomn by these concerns. As a result of these

discussions the folloming functions and objectives of the Bureau of

Standards Council mere defined:-

Functions

1) To promote the formulation of standards in these areas:-

(i) for national dovolopr^ent

;

(ii) for the regulation of trade;

(lil) for the protection of the consumer.

2) To promote research in relation to the development of

standards

;

3) to collect and disseminate information on standards

for the use of Government Ministries and the private

sector

;

4 ) to encourage the training and recruitment of personnel

in Standards and Quality Control, and to advise on suitable conditions of service.

80
Appendix D

QUALITY CONTROL SURVEY AND QUESTIONNAIRE FORMS

AN OBJECTIVE-ORIENTED SYSTEM OF STANDARDS AND QUALITY CONTROL (*)

The Bureau of Standards Council of the National Science Research

Council has as one of its objectives the ensuring that there are objective-oriented systems of standards and quality control operating

in each of the major export industries viz.. Sugar, Bauxite, Rice,

Timber, and Shrimp.

You have attended a Meeting of the Sub-Committee dealing with the

above. You are now asked to reply to the attached Questionnaire which

would attempt to determine the level at which such systems are operational in your industry.

We expect that the principles of some of the systems used in one

industry would be applicable in another and we expect to point out

areas of action in standards and quality control in your industry.

You are asked to return the completed Questionnaire by 15th March

1976. Any questions relating to the Questionnaire would be gladly

handled by Dr. L. Chin, the Chairman of the Sub-Committee (Phone 63281

ext. 21).

(*) Reproduced in this Report by permission.

81
Appendix D continued

SYSTEM OF STANDASDS AND QUALITY CONTROL

OPERATIONAL IN THE INDUSTRY

1.1 \fflO sets the quality standards In your organization?

1.2 What is his/her position in the organization?

Show this position on an organization chart with the

relationship with production personnel.

2.1 WHO makes the day-to-day quality control decisions

in the vario\is sections of the organization? (In particular,

who carries the responsibility for checking that the final

product conforms to specifications as set by the organization?)

2.2 I'Jhat are their positions in the organization?

Show their positions on an organization chart.

3.1 Briefly describe the system used in determination of the

SPECIFICATIONS of each of your products. (If possible, attach

actual grades and specification)

.

1=

2 =

3=

3.3 Are the specifications reviewed regulorly to determine

whether they are optimum?

If so, what is the review procedure and how often is it carried

out?

3.4 T-Jriat is the procedure used in checking each final product

against specification?

3.5 What controls, if any, are eiaployed in 3.4 above to ensure

that the procedures theiaselves are performing according to

e;:pecta tions ?

3.2 Are the grades and/or specifications:

1 2 3 Product No

u 1—

1

!! international

of the specific

importing countries

name 1 y

specific to Guyana

82
Appendix D continued

3.6 Is there a laid-down procedure for taking action if a sample of final product does not conform to its specification?

If so, what is the procedure?

4. The systems used for controlling the QUALITY OF MATSRIAI.S

used in production.

4.1

Who sets the specifications of

(a) raw materials?

(o) for other materials used in direct production?

4.4 ];s there a laid down procedure for taking action if a sample of raw materials or other production materials does

not conform to specifications? If so, what is the procedure?

5. Tlie systems of measurement of QUANTITIES of final product

as soJ.d

.

5.1 Describe such systeans. Are these systems evaluated or calibrated regularly? If so, how often?

5.2 Describe the system of evaluation,

5.3 I'fhat are the tolerances for m^asureiaent of quantities of

final product as sold ?

(a) The minimum acceptable by the customer.

(b) The naximum as set by policy.

(c) The maximum as occurs in practice.

5.4 Is there a laid-down procedure for taking action if there

are significant deviations found after each evaluation

(or calibration) of the systems used in measurement of quantities

of final product?

6.

CONSUMER ORIENTATION

Some of the major industries also sell their products on the

local market. (This section does not apply to the Bauxite

industry)

.

6.1 Atrach if possible the specifications of the products as sold on the local market.

83
APPENDIX E

SYSTEM or STANDARPn A QUALITY CONTRCL

DPER/*TIOr.'AL IN THE SUGAR INDUSTRY

The products of the auger industry are:

(e) Rew Sugar (DC) _ Local Sales

- U.K. Market

- U.S. Market

- Caricom M rket

- World Market

(b) Yellow Crystal (YC) - U.K. Market

(c) Oc..rk Molcsses (DM) - U.K. Market

(d) Low Grade (LG) - U.K. Market

(e) White Crystal (VS) - Local Sales

(f) High Test (HTC) - Local Sales

ig) Finrl Molacses - Export

(h) Fin.)l Molasses - Local Distilleries

(i) Final Molasses - Other smell users

Quality standards for 1.1 (a ) Local Sales

(e) Locol Seles

are set by Law. (Laws of Guyana 1953 Volume 111« Chc'pter 144 "Srle of

Pood end Drugs, page 130).

Quality stendords for all others, except 1.1 (e) ere set by the buyers

of the commodities.

However, the Sugar Production Manager of the Corporation is responsible

for ensuring that Factories' personnel are fully aware of the quality

standards required in their respective prooucts.

1.2. TECHNICAL DIRECTOR (BOA RD)

SUGAR PPnPllCTIDN t-lAfjAGER.

I INSPECTING CHEMIST

FACTORY MANAGERS

ASSISTANT FACTORY

MANAGERS (PRODUCTION)

f

'

1 LABORATORY STAFF SHIFT MANAGERS

2.1. Assistant F ctorv Man oera (Production), being located at the actual

production sites, make the day-to-day quality control decisions.

2.2. See above chart.

84
Appendix E continued

QuciUty Specificat ions;

Market Grade Parameters npr-sured

Local DC **pol, % moisture

ws pol, % moisture

HTC pol, % moisture

U.K. DC

o ^ pol, % TOisture

YC pol, 5» moisture, Reflectcnce

DM pol, % moisture, Lovioond i.int LG pol; % moisture

U.S. DC °pol, % moisture. Colour,

Filterability, Crein Size,

% Sulphoted Ash. % R.S.

Csricom DC pol, % moisture

World DC

0 - pol, % moisture

Export Final Molasses Brix, Pol Sucrose Purity

Local

Distilleries Final Molesses firix, Pol Sucrose Purity

Brief description of enalyticel methods used:

Opol

Opticcil method using normw-1 fcieight in IDD ml., clcsxific&tion with

wet lead and testing in ZU3 mm. tuoe.

o

It moistureOven-drying et 10L» - 105 C to constant weight.

Reflcct.'-ncc i Using EEL reflectance meter.

Lovibond Tint; Preparation of 5jl sugar solution, clarifying with

Kieselguhr and rsading in -j" fused glass cell in .• Lovibond Tintometer, using Scries 52 slices.

Colour; Preparation of a stendcrd solution of f f in--. tec sugar cicrifying

with die tomc;ceous earth, adjusting pH one rcaoing in Hilcer

(or similar} Spectrophometsr at 360 r.u, cnoosing cell length so that instrument reeding is between 2U end cu> txsnsmit tency

Fllterebili t V

Prepc.rction of a standara solution of r-ffir.rted sugar,

end measuring volume of solution passing tnrough o specially-calibrcted filter memorene in 10 min. :* ?? vacuum. Grain size; W-sh-trsstreent of nffinated sug.r with methsnol and

followed by air-drying, then a standardised sieving

through Tyler 14, 2U and 2d screens, for 5 mrnutes,

collection end weighing of fraction passing through

ether

procedure

with

the Tyler

85
Appendix E continued

% < Sulph.iiRd Ash I Treatment of sug.ir with Cone. Sulphuric rcid,

Cijrbonising over flcinc, folloMcd by i.shing in a Muffle furn.3ce nt 550 C; second Sulphuric ecid,

eshing cand Muffling, then cooling snd weighing

of residue.

% R,S> Preparation of o standard sugar solution, and titration with

Fehling's solutions, using Lane and Eynon'a epp.ratus.

Brix. Pol Sucrose and Purity; Standard methods.

3.2* Table given in 3.1.

3.3. No

3.4 At production sites; Sampling and enelysia on

(n) each batch of product

(b) each production day (at time of bagging for Local Sales)

(c) each shipment day i.e. bulk lorries for e 24 hour period.

At Central Labors torv/Sugar Termin-ils/Shipping Point!

Sampling e<nd analysis on:

(s) Bulk shipments as received

(b) Bulk cargoes, os loaded on to freighters.

(c) Bagged sugar cargoes, as loaded on to freighters.

3.5. Cross-checking of|

(a) Sampling procedures

(b) Duplicate and triplicate analysis

(c) Comparison with outturn results

(d) Storegc of samples

3.6. The procedure varies with the product:

(o) Bulk C-rcops - These are usually allowed to proceed, sines a substandard parameter will attract a price penalty. Segregation and

re-treatment of bulk cargoes are generally not practicable,

(b) Braced Sugar for Local Sales: .Can be returned to producing Estate

for reprocessing.

(c) Bagged Export Sugs^rh. Can be returned to producing Estate for reprocessir or downgrading e.g. Y.C. to O.C - Such cecisions

ere usually documented.

4 . Heteriels used in producing sugar area

(a) C.-ine (b) Water

(c) Lime

(d) Triple Superphosphnte

(e) Special Chemicals

86
Appttudix £ coatlaued

4.1.

(o) C. n».'i Thozu i>r* uaur.lly ^ objective st^ncioros eet for C^ne us

f. Zow-m- terli'l , Ithough pol, % fibre. .*nd % exiruncous

mr>ttRr cr^n be rriCusureeJ.

(b) Wr ten None.

(c) ^we : Usu<:liy none, although u measurement of extraneous stone

content is possible.

(d) Triple Suof.-rphosoh. te; None,

(e) 5pfci-l Chtnic.ils; None.

(a) For Cane, the Estate Field Man: gers will try to ensure that the "best"

C:. ne is supplied to the Factory, using the means of rssessment at his

disposal. For purch sed rew m.terials, the specifications are generally

etuneJard. The r..w material "water" could easily De monitored by the

Factory K,n;gement.

(b)

4.2.

Not usually.

4.3.

For Cane, while a description i.e. p61 end % fibre is obtained at the

Factory, this is not for compr rison with any set specification, but

purely for Factory control. Other rtw materials ore physically assessed

es 8 routine management procedure.

4.4.

For purchased raw ma terials i.e. Lime, Triple Superphosph<-te end Speci :1 Chemicals, the Purch; sing ? gents of the Corpor., tion will be informed,

and they will t;-ke the matter up with the Suppliers.

S. For Sue, r

;

Bulkt B.- tch weighing on Dennison Roac/fl.- ilw? y scales

.

Continuous weighing on Servo-Bcl-.ns scales.

Bagged: S.xk-fillers, and periodic check-weighing of filled seeks.

For Molasses: Volume: Tank calibn.tion

Weight t Pneumcrators . Servo-B.ilans scales.

5.1. Scele-checkweighlng procedures:

As convenient , for Hoari/Railway scales

Daily, for Servo-Q.lans scales.

During rctual operations, for Bagged sugar.

5.2. For Road/Railw.-y sci.lea, using known test weights.

For Serve-B 1 ns, using built-in testing mech.nism.

For sack-fillers, using iiccurate platform scelea, and known test weights.

5.3. (a) Bulk sug> r customers usually weigh the cargoes on receipt, end this

weight forms the basis for p.>yment.

Bagged sug>>r buyers will probably accept «S1(.

87
ApfMMlix iii continued

(b) Policy! Should depend on the built-in cccurucy of the weighing

Machines thcnselvuSi although in bulk-h«.ndling operctionSf losses

et transit points are inevitable.

(c) Variable (see *b')

5.4. Re-calibr.-ition of weighing mrxhincs; occasionally compensation for the

customer in some form m,jy be neceasi^ry.

6.1. For products sold on Local Mcrket

0 in C 19

22nd August,

1919.

(a) Where refined, granul<>ted or White Crvst l sugar

contains not less than 98. 5 per centum of sucrose

by polarisation.

0 in C (c) Where D.-rk Crvst Is or refinery crystals contain

not less then 94 per centum of sucrose by palrrisation .ind not more th-.n a totfl of two .'’nc helf per centum of mineral and organic matters

other than sug^r.

GUYANA SUGAR CORPORATION LIMITED,

F. ctory 0 erations Department,

JHR:cc - ?eth Mrv. 1976 .

88
IX REFERENCES

Reference to a great deal of literature related to standardization and

related activities, most of it brought to Guyana and deposited with

the NSRC by the NBS team, is made in various parts of the report.

This is particularly evident in section III parts 4.0 and 5.0. These

will not be repeated here.

A nvimber of references generally not listed elsewhere in the report

served as background and related information. These are as follows;

1. Area Handbook for Guyana, DA Pam 550-82, November,

1969, Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government

Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

2. Background notes, Guyana, -Department of State,

April 1974.

3. Foreign Economic Trends and Their Implications for

the United States, Guyana, FET 75-116, October

1975, American Embassy, Georgetown.

4. Burnham, Forbes, A Destiny to Mould, Africana

Publishing Corporation, New York, 1970.

5. Guyana Handbook 1976, Guyana Manufacturers*

Association Ltd., Georgetown.

6. Campbell, J.A., Report on the Development and

Enforcement of Standards in Guyana to NSRC, CFNI-J26-75, Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute, Kingston,

Jamaica, April 1975.

7. Report of the Meeting on Harmonization of Regional

Standards, Jamaica Bureau of Standards, 25-26 September,

1974.

8. The Establishment of A Caribbean Common Market Standards

Council, Inaugural Meeting of the Caribbean Common

Market Standards Council, Georgetown, Guyana, 20-21

May 1976, CMSC 76/1/2, 10 May 1976 and 76/1/3, 17 May 1976.

9. Lome* Dossier, The Courier , European Community - African - Caribbean - Pacific, No. 31 - Special Issue, March 1975.

10.

The Role of Standardization in Economic Development,

Proceedings of an ISO Conference, September 1973,

Mexico City.

89
11. National Science Research Council, Annual Report, 1975.

12. A Manual for the Operation of an Informatlon/Publlc

Relations Department In a Standards Organization, by

Rohn Hopper, Thai Industrial Standards Instltute/UNDP-UNIDO

Project, Bangkok, Thailand, 197A-12-24.

13. Verman, Lai C., "Standardization - A New Discipline",

Archon Book, 1973.

90
X TEAM RESUMES

For background Information resumes for the NBS team members are presented here.

NIELS C. BECK - RESUlffi

1. USAID Industry Division - USAID/Vletnam November 1967 to April

1975:

Received Ministry of Economy’s Economic Medal (1972) for

rehabilitation of war damaged Industrial plants (Tet 1968).

Advisor for the government of the Republic of Vietnam to the national

Standards Institute (NSI) . Wrote the original survey including

staffing pattern, literature, and equipment requirements while on

leave from USAID/Korea In April, 1967, based essentially on observed

requirements In small scale industries* manufacture and measurement

services, e.g., forest products, handcrafts, leather, rubber, soap,

"artisan" sugar, salt, ceramics; building, road, and waterway

materials; Imported component assemblies (bicycles, motor bikes,

electrical appliances); food, feed, pesticide, and fertilizer testing,

and related industrial safety standards.

Pursued the recommendations of this original survey for 7 1/2 years to some significant successes in industrial support as measured in

domestic and export product volume and quality.

South Vietnam’s extensive canal system (Delta and Ca Mau Peninsula)

and hot, humid climate required early development of NSI awareness of

the need for applicable technical laformation services on the movement

and protection of commodities and maintenance of related

infrastructure.

2. Industry Division , USAID/Korea 1962-67

Industry Advisor for ROKG to National Industrial Testing Lab, in

Seoul, 1962-67. Similar to NSI (above), but oriented to small ferrous

and non-ferrous metal foundries, die casting, metal stampings,

electrical product and assembly shops, machine shops and, especially,

related promotion of industrial safety standards - 5 1/2 years.

Also, for USAID, for other labs in Korea, industrial promotion and

techno-economic counseling; specifically, on exports, in-plant trouble

91
shooting, production and quality control, industrial lab development,

inspection, testing and standardization.

Industry Advisor for USAID to Korean Institute for Science and

Technology (KIST) 1965~69, Promotion of an industrial/ scientific

community through KIST.

Member - industrial project loan committees for Korean Reconstruction

Bank and Medium Industry Bank, 1964-69.

Received - ROK Prime Minister's Citation 1967 for assistance in export

promotion. The Prime Minister's Citation was awarded to two

Americans, Mr. Amicus Most and Niels C. Beck for their successful

joint effort in the ROK export development program.

3. Armour Research Foundation (now Illinois Institute of Technology

Research Institute) 1953-62.

Program Development Manager 1953-56

Planning R&D services needed by and attractive to U.S. private

Industry, e.g., corrosion preventives, new engineering materials

(fiber metals). Industrial plant controls; rehabilitation program for

Eastern Kentucky (making do with local, low-cost labor and limited

natural resources); advisory services to Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, et

al., in techno-economic investment analysis.

Director, Union of Burma Applied Research Institute 1956-60

To build, staff, and equip a national testing and R&D lab in Rangoon,

Burma. Development of methods for upgrading rice by-products (rice

bran and rice bran oil), shrimp oil and other fish products, bamboo

pulp (especially hard board), ceramic products, foundries, mineral

beneficiation and related testing and Industrial safety standards - four years.

On way home from Burma, completed industrial survey (30 days) for Asia

Foundation in Kabul, Afghanistan, which resulted in Armour contract to

build, staff, and equip a small industrial testing laboratory attached

to the University of Kabul - later expanded as a very useful national

facility for testing minerals, ceramic products, building and road

materials, fibers, textiles, food and feed products.

Assistant Director ARF 1960-62

Promotion and development of contracts for Ps&D services to private

sector and U.S. Government and military.

92
4.

Parks College of St» Louis University

Dates employed; 1939-53

Teacher ; Mathematics and Economics 1939-45

Department Head ; 1943-45

Dean of the College - 1945-53

Men’s boarding college offering B.S, in aerospace engineering

(graduates were project leaders for major aerospace projects;

Mercury, Gemini, et al,); R&D services to McDonnell Aircraft

Corporation (now McDonnell Douglas Corporation)

5

Academic Record

B.S. (Chemistry) and A.B. 1934, Regis College, Denver, Colorado.

Working on doctoral dissertation in Geophysics, St. Louis University,

St. Louis, Missouri, when appointment as dean (1945) precluded further

graduate work.

6.

Professional Activities

Sigma Xi, Society of Automotive Engineers, Am. Geophysical Union,

AAAS, Am. Society for Engineering Education, former Assoc. Editor

Industrial Research Magazine; I-Hio’s Who in America, American Men of

Science, former member Mayor's Council on Hyman Relations (St. Louis),

Burma/America Society, Korea/America Society, Vietnam/America Society,

Life Member Burma/ Science Society; former member professional

Employees Relations Committee, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation; former

consultant to Braniff Airways Technical Committee; Chairman, Chicago

YMCA Inventors' Club, Ambassador's Service Medal /Vietnam.

H. STEFFEN PEISER - BIOGPJO>HICAL SKETCH

A U.S. citizen by naturalization, was born on August 19, 1917, near

Berlin, Germany. His father was Swiss. Peiser spent much of his life

in England where he attended St. John's College Cambridge University,

1936-1941, obtaining his "honours" B.A. in 1939 and the M.A. in 1943,

having taken the Natural Sciences Tripos parts I and II with

Chemistry, Physics, Mineralogy, and (advanced) Mathematics. In 1939,

he was awarded a Hutchinson Research Studentship at Cambridge

University and worked in crystal chemistry under Professor Sir

Lawrence Bragg. In 1965-1966 he was Visiting Professor at Harvard

University, Cambridge, Mass.

93
From 1941-19A7, Peiser worked on several wartime scientific

assignments including an attachment to Dr. C, W, Bunn*s laboratory at

ICI, Winnington, working on the structure of polyethylene and texture

of nylon and polyesters, and to the Atomic Energy Research

Establishment, Harwell, under Professor Sir Francis Simon, working on

the structures of high temperature forms of uranium and its carbides

and oxides. After a brief period, 1947-1948, as senior lecturer at

Blrkbeck College, London University, under Professor J. D, Bernal, and

as deputy director of the Nuffield Cement Research Laboratory, Peiser

joined the research staff of Hadflelds Ltd. as head of metal physics

research and (later) also as principal scientist of the governm€*nt

supervised Aeronautical Inspection Directorate's Test House. In April

1957, he joined the U.S. National Bureau of Standards, originally as guest scientist under the free-radicals research program, and later as staff member and Chief of the Mass and Scales Section, 1958-1961.

Peiser became Chief of the Crystal Chemistry Section, 1962-1968,

During part of that time, he was coordinator for all crystal growth

research at NBS. He became Chief of the tIBS Office of International

Relations and, in addition, in 1970, Manager of the NBS Special

Foreign Currency Program. He has been a U.S. delegate to severfil

international meetings.

His research interests and scientific-society associations are too

numerous to list comprehensively in a brief biographical sketch.

Basically, Peiser is an x-ray crystallographer interested in aspects

of precise measurement and characterization of pure crystals. He is

editor of several major publicationu on x-ray crystallography, crystal

growth and technical development of less industrialized regions. He

is author of many original papers especially in crystal symmetry

theory. Peiser is a member of Sigma XI, the American Crystallographic

Association, and the American Chemical and Physical Societies. For

six years he was Secretary of the Commission on Atomic Weights of the

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. He has traveled

extensively and has led diverse technical missions especially to the

following countries: Bolivia, Ecuador, Japan, Korea, the Philippines,

and Thailand. From 1963-1968, he served as Secretary of the Panel

for Exchange of Information and Materials of the U.S. /Japan Program

for Scientific Cooperation.

miNETH S. STEPHENS - RESUME

Dr. Kenneth S. Stephens is a lecturer in the School of Industrial and

Systems Engineering and Research Consultant to the Engineering

Experiment Station of Georgia Institute of Technology. He holds a

B.S. in Mechanical Science from LeTourneau Technical Institute and MS

and Ph.D. degrees in Applied and Jiathematical Statistics from Rutgers

94
- The State University of New Jersey. He Is a registered professional

engineer in Pennsylvania and Texas.

Earlier international projects include (1) International Rice Research

Institute (IRRI) - Thailand cooperative project on Industrial

extension program for small scale farm machinery, Thailand and

Philippines, (2) Technical assistance to Soong Jun University and

small scale industry, Emplojrment Generation Through Stimulation of

Small Scale Industry Project, Korea, (3) US NBS/AID Survey on Standardization and Measurement Services, Philippines, (4)

SISIR/NBS/AID and SISIR/UNIDO seminars on testing and certification of

export products, and workshop on quality control and certification

marking for industrial products, Singapore, (5) UNIDO project with the

Thaiindustrial Standards Institute on standardization, certification

and quality control, Thailand, (6) Statistical quality control

seminars in Mexico City and Guadalajara, Mexico and (7) Member of

United Nations technical assistance team on statistical quality

control, India.

For twelve years. Dr. Stephens served with the Western Electric

Company at locations in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Princeton, New

Jersey as quality engineer, chief of quality control, and reliability

engineering on electronic components, chief of engineering personnel

and staff and research leader, applied mathematics and statistics

research and consultation. Additional industrial experience Includes

consultation with Texas Eastman Co., R. G. Le Tourneau Inc,, Thiokol

Chemical Co., Monroe Calculator Co, and Coca Cola Co.

Academic experience covers over nine years at Rutgers University, Le

Tourneau College and Georgia Insitutute of Technology, He has taught

special courses in industrial engineering, computer science and

statistics for Texas A & H University, Chulalomgkorn University

(Bangkok) and the Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand),

Dr. Stephens holds membership in Sigma Xi and in quality control and

statistical societies in the U.S. and abroad. He has made more than

fifty presentations at conferences and seminars in the U.S. and abroad

and has published over 30 significant papers and reports on related

topics. He has conducted original research on acceptance sampling

methodology.

95
NBS-1 14A (REV. 7-73)

U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET

1. PUBLICATION OR REPORT NO.

NBSIR 76-1180

2. Gov’t Accession

No.

3. Recipient’s Accession No.

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

STANDARDIZATION AND MEASURE21ENT SERVICES IN GUYANA

5. Publication Date

6. Performing Organization Code

7. AUTHOR(S)

C. Beck, H. Steffen Felser, Kenneth S. Stephens

8. Performing Organ. Report No. NBSIR 76-1180

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No.

11. Contract/Grant No.

12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Complete Address (Street, City, State, ZIP)

Agency for International Development

Department of State

Washington, D.C. 20523

13. Type of Report & Period Covered

Final

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most si^ificant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.) A survey of standardization and measurement services In Guyana was carried out

In July, 1976, as part of a National Bureau of Standards program sponsored by

the Office of Science and Technology of 1;he Agency for International D<!velopment.

The Survey Team Included three members, one of whom was an NBS staff miimber and

the other two, U.S. participants. The survey was conducted at the reqtiest of

Dr. Dennis Irvine, Chairman of the National Science Research Council (l^SRC) and

Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana.

The NBS team's specific objectives were:

1) to survey domestic and export oriented industries and related GOG and

private sector organizations, and

2) to advise the NSRC on optimum means for establishing a National Bureau

of Standards and related activities to assist effectively Industrial

development In Guyana.

17. KEY WORDS (six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the first letter of the first key word unless a proper name; separated by semicolons)

Cottage Industry ; developing countries; Guyana; less developed countries;

measurement services; standardization; testing facilities

18. AVAILABILITY mUnlimited

I ! For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

Order From Sup. of Doc., U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402, SD Cat. No. C 1 3

[in Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

Springfield, Virginia 22151

19. SECURITY CLASS 21. NO. OF PAGES

(THIS REPORT)

99

UNCL ASSIFIED

20. SECURITY CLASS 22. Price (THIS PAGE)

$ 5.00

UNCLASSIFIED

USCOMM-DC 29042-P74