A Metrication Committee has been established by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) to monitor the implementation of the metric system which came into operation when we changed from the imperial system on January 1, 2002.
It is embarrassing to say that consumers are the persons who resist the change. They still call for pounds when purchasing fruits and vegetables although all scales of vendors have been changed to metric weights.
As a consequence, consumers are being short-changed.
It is time for all of us to think metric and buy in metric. Do not show that you are growing old by resisting the change. After a time, is another time.
Lloyd David, Public relations Officer of GNBS has prepared an article entitled ‘Guyanese need to convert fully to the metric system.’ I prefer the shorter heading: ‘Why metrication?’ Here it is:
“Order No. 4 under the Weights and Measures act gave legal effect to the implementation of the metric system on January 01, 2002. The metric pints and yards that had been in use.
“Many persons when confronted with learning to use the metric system have expressed reservations since Guyana’s first few attempts at changing over to the metric system failed. However, now that the Order has been passed by the government, Guyanese need to learn and use the metric system without much delay.
“Some of the reasons given as to why the metric change over is necessary include the fact that we are now living in a metric world. Over 96% of the world’s population uses or is converting to the metric system.
Even the United States of America made the decision to go metric and work has already started.
“In Guyana, over 95% of the weighing and measuring devices, which include scales, masses and measures used in shops and markets, industrial scales, fuel pumps and bulk meters, storage tanks and scales and masses used in the rice and sugar industries, are already converted to metric.
“In the fields of trade and commerce, most of the world’s trade is conducted in the metric system hence this change-over to the metric system is inevitable as the world is rapidly becoming a closely knot society and Guyana cannot afford to remain in isolation. Besides, our industries will benefit tremendously from improved trading abilities and opportunities in world markets.
“The change may also provide an excellent opportunity for industries to re-tool and re-examine and streamline their methods of operation, leading to simplification and improvement in the production area.
“The metric system is simple, easy to use and is the most universally used measurement system in today’s world especially in the areas of science and commerce. It is superior to the imperial system because it can provide greater accuracy due to its decimal nature. It also exhibits the characteristic of coherence and there is inter-relation between the units.
“Many sectors in Guyana are already using the metric system, including the education and health systems.
“The manufacturing sector has also fully embraced the metric system due mainly to the fact that they need to fulfil requirements from trading partners overseas and honour franchised agreements. However, the retail sector on the other hand has shown mixed results with a number of supermarkets being fully metric due to the strategy of pre-packaging and pricing in metric quantities. On the other hand, vendors of the municipal markets continue to facilitate ordinary consumers with the system of either supplying equivalents to the nearest metric unit or selling in pounds, pints and gallons.
“Switching Guyana to metric is a national issue and all Guyanese, including the policy makers, the Public and Private Sectors and even the housewife must become involved and try to understand and practice using the metric system.
“The metrication dmmartment at the GNBS conducts training sessions for all organizations, agencies, businesses, vendors, schools and others that request training and are desirous of understanding the metric system.
“If you or your organization needs training or clarification on the metric system, call the GNBS hotline on 219-0069.”
