Remigrants face unpleasant attitudes from pubic servants

Sep 25, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor,
In heeding the President’s call to overseas Guyanese to return home to help rebuild the nation, I visited Guyana twice since May 2016. My purpose was/is to identify areas where the application of my expertise would be more effective. I have worked in corporate America moving from the bottom to become Vice President, Operations and Management for one of the largest food manufacturers in the Midwest, USA. Trust me there is a lot that needs fixing and some are easy fixes.
One of most critical areas is within the public service. The private sector also needs to pull up its socks. I had to visit GRA and at the entrance you are required to go through a detector. The guard sitting there shouts “keys, cellphones, bags over heh”. A gentleman in front of me probably didn’t hear the instructions and proceeded to enter. The guard said ‘ is wah wrang wid yuh, yuh def or wah”. The man went and followed the instructions. When it was my turn I had a backpack with my laptop, camera and other papers. The guard said,”tek da bag an leh da guard check it” So I took my bag to be checked. The guard who was supposed to check was busy in conversation with another person so I stood waiting. After 3 minutes I asked who is going to check my back. The guard then said, “ bai open de bag quick yeah” which I did and in 2 seconds the check was over and she went back to her conversation.
Inside GRA I was trying to get a Statement of Liability. After waiting for 14 minutes and having to shout for someone to assist, a guy comes to the counter. I told him what I needed. He gave me a form to fill up and said I needed a copy of my ID card. I filled the form, went outside got a photocopy of my driver’s license that I only got the day before from the GRA. I went back, waited 22 minutes and I handed him the form along with the photocopy. He plugged something into the computer then turns to me, asking why I haven’t paid taxes since 2008. I answered that I wasn’t required to because I was living overseas. He then informed me that I had to pay taxes and that I won’t be able to get the document. He further said that I couldn’t use the photo copy of the driver’s license because GRA does not accept that. I was shocked. How could an authority that issues a document not accept the very document? I can only assume that that GRA knows that they cannot trust the people that work there.
The banks in Guyana follow some rules that are absolutely not pro business. To open a business account, I went to 3 banks. All 3 gave me a one-page list of things that I must have in order to open the account. My biggest problem was the proof of address. Even though I have an active account at that bank they still asked for proof of address. While I was there, a lady was sitting there complaining that she wanted to open an account and had $2M to deposit, but the bank won’t allow her because she was using her driver’s license as ID. Nonsense! In this day and age some banks in Guyana do not have online banking. If I need to know my balance on a business transaction, I either have to rely on a statement or join the line. No business debit cards are issued. If I go to a business lunch I cannot simply use a business debit card because the bank issues none.
Last Thursday I heard some Ministry of Communities’ enforcement officers laughing and talking about a building inspection they went on. The property owner had already built without prior approval and did not follow the established building codes. When they told the owner, he quickly got his cutlass and ran the inspectors up the road. It should be Ministers of Communities (plural because they are like 3 Ministers in that Ministry; how can this be?) How can errant builders not be heavily penalized for (1) – threatening the lives of government employees and (2) – showing total disregard for the law? When I was in charge of inspectors, nobody got a second chance to disrespect my inspectors and I was not a minister.
To President Granger, I understand that change is not easy but you have to keep your word. You asked us to come back and I personally know over 20 overseas Guyanese with not only the skill set Guyana needs, but also real money to invest. The question to you Mr. President what are you doing to facilitate our return? Yesterday I met a man at the Land and Surveys office. Since 2008 he is trying to regularize some land that he wants for his business. This man is also trying to remigrate. He brought in 2 trucks and 4 portable sawmills and tons of equipment, ready to work and offer work but yet he is getting the royal run around. Mr Granger why can’t you authorize the set up of a department (not GOINVEST) that deals only with remigrants – a one stop shop? We are heeding your call, but are you looking out for us?
Doc Jay

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