GNBS leading review for wooden craft items

Stabroek News, Guyana
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is spearheading the revision of the draft Caricom Standard-Code of Practice for the manufacturing of wooden craft items.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad on Friday told participants at a preparatory seminar for the upcoming Caribbean Gift and Craft Show that implementing the Code will assist them in producing high quality items at affordable prices. The meeting was held under the theme ‘Celebrating Handmade Designs and Caribbean Traditions’ and sought to groom local art and craft producers for participation in the 15th event. Prashad emphasized that good quality products, effective marketing and advertisements are essential to selling items. The show will be held in Barbados.
GINA said too against the backdrop of demands of the growing tourism sector, the Guyana Arts and Craft Producers Association will be better able to organize the craft industry to be more effective and to produce unique pieces for tourists. According to GINA Prashad has been lobbying for Guyana to host the Show and believes that one of the reasons why it has not been held here may be the lack of facilities. However, he said Guyana is becoming a ‘conference destination’ with a series of regional conferences being held since the establishment of the Guyana International Conference Centre.
“I would like to implore the craft producers… for us to start planning from now to get the Caribbean Gift and Craft show to come to Guyana. It is long overdue, we need this show to come to Guyana, we are ready, willing, able and capable,” he said. Prashad also noted that the Caribbean Gift and Craft Show benefits craft producers through business networking opportunities, business expansion and exciting shows and programmes as it provides a forum to showcase locally made products and introduce new ideas and designs.
Meanwhile Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Geoffrey Da Silva said “Go-Invest is working with the Ministry and the GNBS because we see the handicraft sector as one with the greatest potential to the growth of small businesses in this country.” Da Silva explained that the sector has to be heavily export-oriented because the market here is too small. He said Go-Invest is collaborating with the ministry to look at some new markets, some beyond the Caribbean.