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‘Customs is King’
Dear Editor
It’s amazing what a hassle our business people and port operators have to go through in this country. While I am totally in support of regulation, transparency and controls, I am also an advocate for efficiency, customer service and velocity.
The hassle I see my brothers and sisters go through daily makes me wonder how they are prepared to go through this.
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has also made some changes but I don’t believe they are aligned to growth and volume of business taking place in our developing country. They seem to have everything laid out in theory but in practice it’s not working as effectively.
I will attempt to highlight a few areas of disgust of which I spoke to a few people about and if the GRA finds it necessary it can give it some attention.
1. There are two departments set up by the GRA, Drugs Enforcement Unit (DEU) and Goods Enforcement Unit (GEU). These departments have approximately five staff each to man the ports, post office, airports, witness containers examination, seal containers, prepare reports, etc. In most cases these two officers are required together to carry out these functions. My understanding is that you have to basically bid for these Officers to get something done.
2. Container sealing is an important function but it needs to be done expeditiously and not have shippers waiting at the convenience of Officers for this to happen. Even empty containers are faced with the same regulation so the Officers can be tied down at one port for hours.
3. In most Custom offices there is one officer with authority to decide whether something happens. During an interaction with a friend he told me that if a WGO doesn’t sign off a document the vessel cannot sail. Only one Officer is there and he has to do vessel clearances and other duties. If he is not around they will miss the tide. I had customers waiting for my produce in the port of destination and I stand the chance of losing the client if I didn’t make the shipment. By the way I didn’t.
It’s sad because we talk about development, growth and GDP but do not have a clue of how to plan and prepare for it. I urge the respective bodies to aligned yourself and facilitate trade because it is the only way out of this economic situation.
Guyanese Businessman
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