GRA clears the air on driver’s licence renewals in outlying areas

Mar 13, 2019 News

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) says it has noted reports in the press about drivers on the Essequibo Coast experiencing delays in licence renewals. The drivers are forced to travel to Georgetown to access GRA services.
For renewals in outlying areas, the respective region’s integrated offices will be handling applications, the GRA explained.
According to the authority, it has recognised that persons in the outlying regions sometimes are inconvenienced when there is a need to conduct business with the GRA.

An applicant for the plastic card licence being processed at the Skeldon Integrated Regional Tax Office

According to GRA, starting this year, it collaborated with the police force to standardise the Driver’s Licence system – the authority was the single agency responsible for the sale and issuance.
The Integrated Regional Tax Offices (IRTOs) at Parika, Anna Regina, New Amsterdam, Corriverton, Bartica, Linden and Lethem have all been upgraded to process applications for the Plastic Card/ID-type Drivers Licences.
“Therefore, applicants living in the vicinity of Anna Regina, Leonora, Cove and John, Fort Wellington, New Amsterdam, Whim/Corriverton, Bartica, Lethem and Linden will no longer be required to apply to the Guyana Police Force Certifying Offices,” the authority disclosed.
Prior to implementation, numerous discussions were held between officials of the GRA’s Licence Revenue Office and the Traffic Department of the GPF for a smooth rollout of the system.
The authority said that drivers whose licences are due for renewal are not required to travel to GRA’s headquarters in Georgetown to access the service.
Under the new system, persons who were successful at the practical driving test at the Police Certifying Offices – Anna Regina, Leonora, Cove and John, Fort Wellington, New Amsterdam, Whim/Corriverton, Bartica, Lethem and Linden – would have their Provisional Driver’s Licence endorsed with the Competence number or issued with a certification slip by the respective Certifying Officers.
The Certifying Officers would then refer the persons to the nearest GRA/IRTO.
At the GRA offices, the applicants will be required to submit a completed Driver’s Licence Application form, copy of valid identification (ID Card or Passport), one passport sized photograph and their Provisional Driver’s Licence endorsed with the Competence number or certification slip issued by the Certifying Officer.

The Integrated Regional Tax Office at Skeldon one of several locations processing the plastic card driver’s licence.

The GRA officer in the lodgment area would verify and process the application, in which the applicant will have his/her photograph taken and issued with a lodgment slip.
“The applicant will then be directed to the cashier to make payment. The cashier will accept the lodgment slip along with the required fee of $5,000 and issue a receipt with a date to return (same two weeks previously given by the Police Certifying Offices) and uplift the Driver’s Licence.”
During the two weeks, the Traffic Officer at Headquarters would receive the Competencies from the various Certifying Offices verify/approve same and submit to the GRA Headquarters within three working days.
The GRA Headquarters, on receipt of the Competencies, would verify, approve and batch print the licences.
The printed licences would then be dispatched to the IRTOs for issuance.
“This process will take approximately three days.”
According to GRA, drivers who have the ‘Cardboard Cover’/ ‘Red Book’ licences in their possession and are seeking renewals in the form of the plastic card licence will also be able to do any of the IRTOs.
The Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act of 2019 provides for an extension of the duration of the Driver’s Licence from three years to five years and an increase in fees from $4,000 to $5,000.

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