GRA seizes luxury cars in tax evasion probe

Jul 29, 2010 News

– auto dealer fingered

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has reportedly seized two luxury cars in what is believed to be a scam to evade millions of dollars in taxes.
The two Jaguars were said to be brought by a prominent city auto dealer operating on Croal Street, Georgetown, over two weeks ago and were already cleared when questions arose over the size of the engine which determines the taxes and duties that are charged.
Although the Jaguar cars are normally over 3000 cc (cubic capacity), the Customs entries reflected the engine size as below 1498 cc.
As a result, duties and taxes amounting to just over $2M were calculated for the two cars when an estimated $15M should have been paid to Customs, officials disclosed.
The cars, which were reportedly already sold to individuals, were immediately seized by GRA.
Customs sources yesterday disclosed that several GRA employees were reportedly called in for questioning and answers are now being sought on how the documents passed the routine checks which should have in the first instance picked up the discrepancies.
The cars were moved from the Customs compound within the last two days because of security fears and a report on the incident is being prepared to determine whether fraud charges are likely.
Yesterday, Kaieteur News attempted to speak to GRA’s Commissioner-General, Khurshid Sattaur, who told the reporter without listening to the query to write “what the %#@* yo want to write”.
It has not been the first time that the public official has been abusive to Kaieteur News’ reporters.
GRA, in the past, has been encouraging media houses to make contact with officials there when writing on any issues.

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Mike Charles launches ‘Pictures of Guyana’

…calls for early passage of copyright legislation

Pilot Mike Charles last evening launched his third video but this one contains no videos, only pictures –hundreds of them.
Charles, a pilot of over 25 years, previously produced “Guyana – Yours to Discover” and then the immensely popular “Wild Guyana.” The video was launched at the Guyana International Conference Centre and Charles used the occasion to call for the urgent enactment of copyright legislation.

Mike Charles poses with a copy of his latest DVD titled “Pictures of Guyana.”

“Pictures of Guyana” was launched in Toronto last month. Shortly after its release bootleg copies ended up in shops. Charles said that a lack of copyright legislation is harming small independent production companies like his, and said without the legislation it would be “very very difficult” to survive.
He said that producing “Pictures of Guyana” was even more difficult than producing actual videos of Guyana. Production of this latest DVD took two and a half years.
The DVD features 850 images of Guyana, and features steel pan music and narration by Michelle-Abrams Ali.
Executive Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Indranauth Haralsingh, hailed the new Mike Charles DVD an “excellent introduction to this breathtakingly beautiful country.”
Haralsingh said the DVD is the most comprehensive collection of pictures of Guyana and compliments other material designed to promote Guyana. He noted that while the video offers a look at the joys and lifestyle of the Guyanese people.
Haralsingh charged others to come up with ways to promote Guyana.