Dear Editor
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has noted reports in the press about drivers on the Essequibo Coast experiencing “delays in licence renewals” and being forced to “travel to Georgetown to access GRA service”.

The Authority has recognised that persons in the outlying regions sometimes are inconvenienced when there is a need to conduct business with the GRA or in order to be tax compliant. Accordingly, we have been investigating ways to address this and to lessen the burden on taxpayers to voluntarily comply with the tax laws of Guyana.

This year, the GRA and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) collaborated to standardise the Driver’s Licence system by making a single Agency (the GRA) responsible for the sale and issuance. The Integrated Regional Tax Offices (IRTOs) at Parika, Anna Regina, New Amsterdam, Corriverton, Bartica, Linden and Lethem have all been upgraded to process applications for the Plastic Card/ID type Driver’s Licences. Therefore, applicants living in the vicinity of Anna Regina, Leonora, Cove and John, Fort Wellington, New Amsterdam, Whim/Corriverton, Bartica, Lethem and Linden will no longer be required to apply to the Guyana Police Force Certifying Offices.

Prior to implementation, numerous discussions were held between officials of the GRA’s Licence Revenue Office and the Traffic Department of the GPF for a smooth rollout of the system. The Authority therefore wishes to clarify that drivers whose licences are due for renewal are NOT required to travel to GRA’s headquarters in Georgetown to access the service, as was stated in the newspaper article. Sincere apologies are extended to those who were misinformed and inconvenienced as a result.

Under the new system, persons who were successful at the practical driving test at the Police Certifying Offices (Anna Regina, Leonora, Cove and John, Fort Wellington, New Amsterdam, Whim/Corriverton, Bartica, Lethem and Linden) would have their Provisional Driver’s Licence endorsed with the Competence number or issued with a certification slip by the respective Certifying Officers. The Certifying Officers would then refer the persons to the nearest GRA/IRTO.

At the GRA/IRTO, the applicants will be required to submit a completed Driver’s Licence Application form, copy of valid identification (ID Card or Passport), one passport sized photograph and their Provisional Drivers’ Licence endorsed with the Competence number or certification slip issued by the Certifying Officer.

The GRA officer in the lodgment area would verify and process the application in which, the applicant will have his/her photograph taken and issued with a lodgment slip. The applicant will then be directed to the Cashier to make payment. The Cashier will accept the lodgment slip along with the required fee of $5,000 and issue a receipt with a date to return (same two weeks previously given by the Police Certifying Offices) and uplift the Drivers’ Licence. During the two weeks, the Traffic Officer at Headquarters would receive the Competences from the various Certifying Offices verify/approve same and submit to the GRA Headquarters within three (3) working days.

The GRA Headquarters, on receipt of the Competences, would verify, approve and batch print the Licences. The printed licence would then be dispatched to the IRTOs for issuance. This process will take approximately three (3) days. Drivers who have the ‘Cardboard Cover’/ ‘Red Book’ Licences in their possession and are seeking renewals in the form of the Plastic Card Licence, will also be able to do so at any of the IRTOs. The applicants will be required to submit a completed Driver’s Licence Application form, copy of valid identification (ID Card or Passport), one passport sized photograph and their expired Driver’s Licence to the Lodgment Clerk.

The GRA officer in the lodgment area would verify and process the application in which, the applicant will have his/her photograph taken and issued with a lodgment slip. He/she will then be directed to the Cashier to make the payment of $5,000. The applicant will then be issued a receipt which indicates the date to return to uplift the Driver’s Licence. The return date is usually the same two weeks previously given by the Police Certifying Offices.

During the two weeks, the GRA Headquarters, would verify, approve and batch print the Licences before dispatching to the IRTOs for issuance. The Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act of 2019 provides for an extension of the duration of the Driver’s Licence from three (3) years to five (5) years and an increase in fees from four thousand dollars ($4,000) to five thousand dollars ($5,000).

Regards
Guyana Revenue Authority