THE Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has renewed its call for the implementation of the Single Window Automated Processing System (SWAPS).

That system involves the use of the Internet to streamline procedures for processing import and export licences and clearance of goods by the Customs Department.
The President, Mr. Mohindra Chand said the GMSA is aware that its usage will, significantly, contract the time taken to process documents for imports and exports, much to the benefit of importers and exporters and wants it to come on stream as quickly as possible.
The appeal was made last week Thursday even as Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh assured GMSA members that work is ongoing towards implementation of the proposal.
The minister gave the assurance during his speech at the GMSA’s 17th Annual Presentation Awards Dinner at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown.
In his report, Chand said that, for the year 2012, GMSA had several fruitful interactions with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and will continue to advocate strongly for modernisation of Customs procedures by implementing the SWAPS.
Disclosing information on the modernising of the Customs systems, in Parliament last year, Minister Singh had said that SWAPS will reduce the time required to process an import/export licence, from between three to five working days to within one working day.
Official sources have said that the SWAPS will electronically link licensing agencies that account for transactions associated with Guyana’s trade to the GRA’s Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (TRIPS).
This automation is expected to drastically reduce the cost and time incurred by importers, exporters, Customs brokers and even members of the public involved in the clearance of imported and exported goods.

Will simplify
SWAPS will simplify, harmonise and electronically integrate the business processes of the licensing entities responsible for local trade transactions and allow for quicker movement of produced commodities not only in Guyana but across its borders, an official explained.
From the Government point of view, SWAPS will strengthen the GRA procedure for detecting false declarations.
The official said businesses have long complained about lengthy Customs procedures for processing import and export licences, associated time-wasting and related costs.
A local private sector body, the Trade Transactions Public Private Dialogue Body (PPDB) has been serving as a forum for constructive dialogue between users of the process and the GRA.
That grouping, which includes the Customs House Brokers Association of Guyana, the private sector Commission, the Shipping Association of Guyana, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and licence agencies, has been advocating the use of such an automated practice by the Customs Department for the past three years.
The PPDB, through its National Competitive Strategy Unit (NCSU), secured funding for SWAPS from the Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund and the Government of Guyana/Inter-American Development Bank (GOG/IDB) Support for Competitiveness Programme in 2009.
Implementing it and the consequent modernisation of Customs procedures are expected to take place over a two-year period.