–wants GRA to explain removal of personal items

MANAGEMENT of Baishanlin International Forest Development Inc. (BIFDI) is calling on the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to explain why, during its operations at Coomacka, Region 10 on Sunday, GRA agents confiscated “personal” items from the Baishanlin premises.The seizure of Baishanlin’s property came days after the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) had announced it was moving to repossess concessions granted to BIFDI for its failure to deliver on

agreed actions to introduce investors to the GFC, and failing to address its liability despite having been given time to prove that it had an acceptable plan to clear a debt of approximately Gy$80M.

BIFDI Trade and Foreign Department Manager Eddie Wang said on Monday that several persons who identified themselves as GRA officers had entered the company’s Coomacka location and conducted what is perceived to be a raid. Those persons were reportedly armed as they conducted their operation. Wang said the officers related that they were at the location to remove specific items, but when a search was made of one of the loaded trucks, personal laptops, handbags and two cartons of cigarettes, among other items, were removed from the location.
The search, which took place at about 11:00hrs, left the Chinese nationals fearful for their lives, Wang told Guyana Chronicle.

He detailed what transpired: “In the morning, around 11, I received a call from Hongbo Chu’s watchman at Coomaca that a lot of people waiting outside, and came with heavy-duty trucks and most of them with arms — short guns and long hunting guns. Due to language barrier, he was afraid to talk to the persons.”

Wang said he asked the watchman whether the vehicles were marked, and was told they were not. “He said ‘No look like a second hand vehicle… Call Mackenzie police to report; I think some person try to rob us’.”

Wang said he immediately contacted the Mackenzie Police Station to report what was transpiring, and was told that the persons were indeed GRA officers, who were instructed to seize machinery owned by Baishanlin.

Wang said the GRA officers reportedly took away the mobile device belonging to the watchman, and switched it off so that he could not make contact with his superiors. And when senior company representatives arrived, there was a heavy-duty machine blocking the entrance, and three GRA officers introduced themselves to them as being attached to the Enforcement Department of the GRA.

“I asked if they have any paper, and they said ‘no’.” Wang said he asked why the mobile device of the watchman was taken away. “They said because Chineyman call somebody…and I said ‘Of course he is afraid and called the Police’.”

Wang said the officers were not obstructed at any time, but were questioned repeatedly as to why they were seizing equipment without any formal documentation empowering them to do so.

“They start to load construction materials in their truck — steel rods and so on…they have been imported a couple years ago and duty was paid. I told them, and they said I have to prove it. I told them I didn’t walk with documentation, and they said if cannot prove then they will take it.”

Wang said the company’s officials watched helplessly as GRA officials entered the premises and did what they said they were instructed to do. He explained that an Afro-Guyanese man who was not a GRA official “pushed us in one line. I took out my phone and record, he threatened me to take away my phone. I told him if what he is doing is legal then he should not have a problem with me recording. He keep pushing us…I told him don’t touch me…we are cooperating with you.”

Shortly after, a GRA officer came out of the company’s building with a machine gun in hand, stating that it was illegal. Wang said he told them the company was licensed to have the firearm, but the officer refused to wait to see the document, and placed the firearm into the GRA vehicle.

“We went into the room and showed them (the authorization), and they returned (the gun) to us,” he told Guyana Chronicle.

He said an examination of one of the rooms in the building revealed that a personal laptop, handbag and cigarettes were removed. “I told GRA officer, and they start to ask around and said they didn’t thief anything…as the truck was loading in the back of the yard, I told them to walk with us to check, and they agreed… There (were) steel rods in the back…

“I sent one of the Chinese nationals in the back of the truck, and (he) found the laptop, bag, two cartons of cigarette, five drums engine oil, bird cage with two parrots…then the officer start to curse the truck driver,” Wang detailed.

Wang said the GRA is responsible for the action of its agents, and accordingly needs to explain why items that do not concern the operations of Baishanlin had been confiscated.

He said calls were made to the Mackenzie Police Station for assistance, and he was informed that a patrol had been dispatched, but none arrived after two hours of waiting.

“I suggested we close the gate and wait until the police come to search. They agreed. I closed the gate, we wait around one and a half hour, still no police came… They (GRA officers) thought we were wasting time… We keep calling Mackenzie Police Station, and Mr. Smith, 18525, told us that the patrol police (are) coming, but because of the distance and road condition it may take time…”

Wang said that because the police never showed up, he contacted the Mackenzie Police Station again, and he and Baishanlin General Manager Hongbo Chu were told that “no police patrol was coming…we need to take the case to court…

“I told him that it is a simple matter and there is no need to take the case to court, and he said he received instruction from senior officer… They didn’t take any statement or recording from us,” Wang explained.

Wang said GRA left Baishanlin complex and never provided Baishanlin personnel with any documentation relating to the seizure. “It was full of disappointment; they didn’t leave any paper to us…they loaded construction vehicle with steel rods etc…and they hit the storeroom, it is damaged.”

Attempts to contact GRA officials on the matter on Monday proved futile.