Arrangements in place for quicker Christmas goods clearance
SYSTEMS have been put in place to ensure there are no unnecessary delays in the clearing of imported goods during this Christmas season, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad assured Monday.

He gave the assurance during a visit to John Fernandes Wharf in Georgetown, in company with Executive Director of Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), Dr Chatterpaul Ramcharran; Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Manager of Wharves, Mr. David Josiah and others.

Prashad disclosed that a few concerns were raised by some consumers and the consumer public about the clearance of goods, particularly at this time.

He said his ministry wants to make sure that merchandise is cleared promptly and one of the complaints is that GNBS is causing unnecessary delays because it has to certify certain goods after the Customs procedure.

Prashad said GNBS has to ascertain proper packaging and labelling for the safety element.

According to him, so far, all the wharves, including John Fernandes and Laparkan, have been very efficient and effective in the clearing process and it is very well organised.

For barrels, the charge is between $3,500 and $5,000 and those are cleared in 45 minutes at most, promptly, so there should be no delay, for personal effects either, providing there are no items of commercial value.

“We are asking consumers to take note of this and come down early and clear your stuff,” Prashad encouraged.

As a result of the complaints about the GNBS, he announced that, with immediate effect, officers from that agency will be moved around from John Fernandes Wharf and other places where they operate.

“I have instructed Dr Ramcharran to keep them moving, transfer some of them or move them around. We are doing that because we want to make sure that we have efficiency and people don’t stay one place long enough to get caught up in any system that is not legal,” Prashad explained.

He said, immediately, the hotline at GNBS will be removed and a new one will be placed at his ministry’s Consumer Affairs Division, with the number 225-5858.

Investigated
Prashad said consumers can call that number to report any problem on the wharf as it relates to GNBS and the matter will be investigated right away.

He said he does not want people complaining about its officers to GNBS.

Prashad said, right now, with the Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (TRIPS), goods, sometimes, go straight to the Customs Warehouse.

“We want to make sure that all importers, from the time you request the service of GNBS to inspect your goods, that must be done within 24 hours,” he said.

Minister Prashad said, if this is not done within 24 hours, complainants would call the hotline at his ministry and the matter will be dealt with immediately.

He said GNBS and Customs are working very efficiently.
“But, when you have people complaining, you have to get down to the bottom of it. When you have complaints, you have to listen to the complaints and take preventative measures. So, whilst we have not been able to verify some of these complaints, I am taking preventative measures, because the Christmas season is on us and I want to make sure that the system is so geared that people’s goods are cleared immediately.”

He said his ministry wants a very efficient system, with no delays, as there many goods on the market for this Christmas.

“You have more goods coming into the country and different wholesalers and retailers are selling the same commodity, so the prices are coming down unlike some previous years,” Prashad observed.

He said he was informed that John Fernandes and Laparkan facilitate late clearances for customers and he is happy that arrangements are in place for any last minute rush.

At the same time, the objective is to make sure everything is arranged and there are no hiccups, Prashad reiterated.

He said GNBS does not have to certify all items and the whole idea is to have simultaneous examination.

In other words, when Customs is examining, GNBS should be there, too, in the ideal situation.

Regarding toys, Prashad said he has spoken to Ramcharran, telling him that, not because the United States has restrictions on them, Guyana must automatically put pressure on people bringing them in.

“We want to make sure that toys come into Guyana at affordable prices and, so far, we have not had any defective ones coming into the country. So that is good news and all those imported toys will be cleared easily within 24 hours,” he reassured.