BERBICE police swooped down in front of the New Amsterdam Market and arrested seven suspected illegal money changers along with a businessman. The individuals were taken to the Central Police Station where they remained until press time.

It was during the busy midafternoon shopping period on Friday, that plain-clothes and uniformed ranks stormed the area and nabbed the men, in whose possessions were local currencies. Those who managed the elude the officers’ dragnet, criticised the move by the lawmen by announcing that the men are agents, as they are employed by Cambio dealers and are engaging in an honest day’s work.

“Further, where can we find a job after being in this trade for over twenty to thirty years. If necessary, we can pay a tax, as a small man… maybe a $4000 or so per month…Some of us already pay taxes to the Guyana Revenue Authority…but…we can’t handle this harassment… we don’t deal with drugs. We come out here to maintain our family and pay our bills and attempt to have a good life…” reiterated a spokesman who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact Divisional Commander Lyndon Alves proved futile. However, according to the Bank of Guyana, only banks, (authorised dealers) and non-bank Cambios licensed under the dealers in Foreign Currency (Licensing )Act 1989 are authorised to conduct buying and selling of foreign exchange.

The Dealer of Foreign currency Act (Licensing) 1989 states that foreign currency can only be bought and sold from licensed authorised dealers. Further Section 17(1) of the Act states that “any person who sells to any person other than a licensee or authorised dealer any foreign currency shall be liable to a summary conviction to a fine and imprisonment of one year.”

In addition, according to Section 17(2) of the Act, “any person not being an authorised dealer, who buys or sells any foreign currency, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine and imprisonment of three years.”