The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) on Friday issued the “Made in Guyana” mark to Banks DIH Limited to promote the company’s recognition within national, regional and international markets.
Banks DIH received this certification to use the Standard Mark on its wine products, rum products, Demico Premium Ice-Cream, Créme Select Super Premium Ice Cream, Novelty (Frostee), carbonated soft drinks, beers, shandy and Malta.
Head of the GNBS Certification Services Department, Andrea Mendoca noted that “Attaining this ‘Made in Guyana’ Standard Mark for its use on such an array of products is testimony to what [United States business investor] Elon Musk has said, that a company is a group of people organised to create a product or service and that product or service is only as good as the people in the company.”
Chairman and Board of Directors of Banks DIH pose with Director of Business John Edghill and GNBS Certification Department Head Andrea Mendonca
She added that this mark is evidence of the company’s hard work and commitment towards meeting the requirements to attain the certification.
To attain this mark, companies need to meet a list of seven requirements including the employment of Guyanese staff and use of 60 per cent of local raw materials.
Banks DIH Chairman Clifford Reis received the certificate at the company’s Thirst Park location from the Director of Business of the Tourism Ministry, John Edghill. Reis described the programme as laudable as it provides the required recognition for a large number of locally manufactured products.
Tourism Ministry Director of Business John Edghill handing over the certificate to Banks DIH Quality Control Executive Seerani Ramnuath and Banks DIH Chair Clifford Reis
Operations and Engineering Director at Banks DIH, Gavin Todd expressed that the company has always prioritised quality in its manufacturing processes, and thanked the GNBS for its recognition of the Banks brand.
In addition to promoting brands, the “Made in Guyana” Standard Mark programme also focuses on creating competitiveness for certified authentic Guyanese products and a framework for the development of quality systems within our local content.
The certificate under this programme is valid for one year during which Banks DIH will be subjected to a surveillance audit by GNBS officers to ensure the company maintains the quality for which it attained the mark.
The “Made in Guyana” Standards Mark Programme is voluntary and is available to all local manufacturers who are interested in being certified under this programme.
This is in keeping with the GNBS Act of 1984 which authorises the Bureau to use its “Made in Guyana” mark on products with set criteria that are in compliance with the terms and conditions of the programme.
