– significant boost to revenue collection drive, compliance with tax & trade laws

THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) yesterday launched its state-of-the-art mobile container scanner, which will significantly boost its operations.

Speaking at the official launching of the brand new US$4.3M scanner at the National Park in Georgetown, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh said, “This scanner and inspection system represents an extremely important addition to the hardware of our Government, and in particular of the GRA, in ensuring compliance with our laws, in particular our tax and trade laws; and protection of our revenue”.
He said acquisition of the scanner brings Guyana into compliance with international standards, and he pointed out that some of the country’s major trading partners, including the United States, now require universal scanning of incoming containers.
“The acquisition and implementation of this scanner enables us to be in compliance with those international obligations; therefore, prepare and equip Guyana to play its expected and intended role in the international trading system,” he added.
Dr. Singh, moreover, said the scanner represents an important part of “our artillery in ensuring completeness and accuracy of declarations” with respect to exports and imports.
“This is an extremely important part of ensuring the integrity of inward and outward trade, and ensuring the integrity of our revenue; ensuring the accuracy and completeness of declarations, and by extension, therefore, the accuracy and completeness of enhancing our revenue collection efforts,” he insisted.
The Finance Minister declared: “The mobilising of this scanning system represents an important part of the strengthening of the GRA’s capability to discharge its important statutory responsibilities.
“The acquisition and deployment of this scanner at the very substantial value of US$4.3M represents the latest manifestation of the highly valued relationship that exists between Guyana and the People’s Republic of China,” he posited.
The minister reminded that the scanner was acquired through a grant provided by the Government of China to the Government of Guyana, which is perhaps the most recent example of the longstanding relationship.
On behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, the Minister of Finance expressed gratitude to the Government and people of China for this gesture.
“Whilst I have no doubt that the GRA will continue to make its best efforts to ensure compliance with our trade laws and timely processing of trade transactions, the achievement of full compliance is not an objective that will be met only by efforts on the part of the GRA,” he underscored.
To this end, Dr. Singh reminded the private sector partners of their obligation to “bring themselves constantly in compliance with the laws of our country”, in particular with trade and tax laws.
He said the GRA’s efforts at mobilising revenue for the country have been most commendable, but there is still much more work to be done.
Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Zhang Limin, through a translator also recalled that, only a month ago, Guyana and the People’s Republic of China signed a certificate of acceptance for the mobile scanner.
He said the two countries have enjoyed a long history of friendship, which has seen cooperation in different fields of development.
Deputy Commissioner-General of the GRA, Mr Clement Sealey, in brief remarks, also pointed out that the acquisition of the scanner is an important event in developing and building the GRA’s operational capacity to deal with imported and exported goods, and in safeguarding the revenues for the Government of Guyana.
“On behalf of the GRA, I am very pleased for this opportunity to thank the Government of the People’s Republic of China for providing this state-of-the-art mobile container scanner to the GRA,” he also expressed.
Sealey said the scanner would allow for easier detection of unauthorised imported goods in fully loaded containers which come into Guyana, as well as containers which are leaving Guyana; and would greatly enhance GRA’s information technology capacity.
“We have no doubt that this scanner will play a very major role in the capacity GRA will have to deal with imported goods, to ensure that all the revenues that are due to the Government of Guyana are collected, and in dealing in also scanning goods for export, in ensuring that illicit drugs and contraband items are not exported from Guyana,” he explained.
“I am confident that GRA will meet the challenges to implement and operationalise this very important scanner very effectively and successfully,” Sealey stated.
Chairman of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association — the Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana National Industrial Corporation — Mr. Clinton Williams, who is the local representative for NUCTECH, the company that supplies the equipment, in his remarks, also pointed to the reduction of trade transaction cost and time, and significant improvement to international competitiveness as a result of the acquisition of the scanner.
He addressed the importance of international maritime security and safety, noting the need for effective and efficient security of ports and harbours, which can no longer be a question of an option, but “a necessity if we are to continue to be engaged in international trade”.
This is the third scanner to be acquired by the GRA, and the equipment launched yesterday is the first mobile scanner that will serve to boost the efforts of the GRA.
The operational demonstration of the mobile scanner was done by Senior Manager of the Container Scanner Unit of the GRA, Ms. Simone Beckles. Also present was Commissioner-General of the GRA, Mr Khurshid Sattaur.
The mobile container/vehicle inspection system is the world’s first mobile container/vehicles inspection system using an electronic linear accelerator (LINAC) as its X-ray source. The system is equipped with high performance X-ray imaging system and a comfortable operation cabin. When the boom is folded and stowed,
the system can be driven as an ordinary truck. The bodywork dimension is designed to follow the rules of the roads from different countries; and after arriving at a new site, the working preparation time of the system is less than thirty minutes.
The systems manufactured by NUCTECH are being utilized in more than twenty countries and districts.

(By Priya Ali)