THERE will be increased scanning and monitoring of containers being loaded and off-loaded at city wharves with the acquisition of a new container scanner.Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, on Friday told reporters that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) would now have additional apparatus to thoroughly check containers that arrive and depart from city wharves.

Cabinet has approved a $34.2M contract, which has been awarded to Massey Technologies Limited, a subsidiary of the Massy Group of Companies to provide the new scanner, as well as to train persons to operate it.

“Now this is a company that (has) already provided, in fact they are the company that provided the scanner, they provided the training and this is an ongoing contract so it is not a new contract,” said Harmon in response to questions posed on the contract.

He noted that government continues to work assiduously to ensure that steps are taken to minimize Guyana as a drug transshipment point. He said the container scanner will “not only cover just one port, but all of the ports-of-entry and exits in the country, so this is a part of a process of ensuring that we can cover these major activities that’s taking place,” Harmon added. He noted that with the container scanner, the GRA would be in a better position to maintain control of situations and thereby having more oversight of what enters and leaves the country.