Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Importers will have hassle-free Christmas
Customs and Trade Administration Commissioner, retired Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup
Commissioner of the Customs and Trade Administration of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), retired Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup, yesterday said that there should be no problems during the Christmas season with respect to the clearing of goods, once there is no further problem with the Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (TRIPS).
A problem arose about a week and a half ago when this system crashed, and there was some panic among various stakeholders over the repercussions.
Colonel Ramsarup said that when the system crashed, some vital information was lost and had to be re-inputted into the system.
However, he added, the GRA has managed to resolve the problem, and is working assiduously to get rid of the backlog, which should be out of the way by tomorrow.
“We didn’t anticipate any problems until the TRIPS system crashed about a week and a half ago, but the system is back up and running smoothly.”
Last week, when contacted, Commissioner General of the GRA, Khurshid Sattaur, had said that his staff was working expeditiously to ensure that the backlog that ensued during the period the TRIPS was down was being adequately dealt with.
Customs brokers were at the time fuming that, ever since the system went down, they were not able to do any work, given that shipments could not be cleared from the wharves.
Sattaur, however, vehemently denied that this could have happened, since there were two systems in place that would have avoided such an occurrence.
He noted that there was one that was responsible for any backlog, and another for the current transactions.
Mr Sattaur, in a statement, had acknowledged that “the GRA’s computerised systems have been experiencing difficulties”.
According to Colonel Ramsarup, the non-commercial process, which includes mainly barrels and boxes, should not be a problem at all.
He noted that those are cleared directly at the wharves, and the clearing process for a barrel takes about 30 minutes.
He contended that the biggest problem is with the shipping companies in getting the goods in for their clients in a timely manner, and not so much with Customs.
Notably, in relation to Customs, Colonel Ramsarup said that the C-73 form is very simple to fill out and persons do not require a broker. “The person can just full up the forms themselves, and they pay right at the wharves.”
In relation to the commercial operations, that is, persons bringing in stuff to sell for the Christmas season, he said that there are no anticipated problems. There is another issue. “The only problem that we might probably get is false declarations.”
He noted that when this happens there is a query, then a check, and then there may be need to re-enter the forms, and that is where the problems may come. “Once we have honest transactions, there should be no problems.”
Colonel Ramsarup added that in the past this issue has posed a serious problem in creating delays and backlogs. He is also urging persons to get their goods in early.
“I don’t anticipate any problems, but problems may arise when some persons’ goods will arrive the day before Christmas and they will want it the same day.”
Colonel Ramsarup also stated that the TRIPS system has been clearing the commercial operations very quickly through the risk analysis or the risk management programme.
“It is running very smoothly now, and I hope we don’t have any more problems with the system…that is the only thing that would slow up the whole operation.”
Colonel Ramsarup believes that TRIPS system is working well, especially after several meetings with the brokers, the Shipping Association, the Private Sector Association, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, and other stakeholders.
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