THE Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a public advisory on the transportation of passengers under the Guyana/Brazil International Road Transport Agreement (IRTA), which states that pursuant to the agreement, three established international bus service routes are now in place for transporting passengers between the two nations.

The advisory stated that these routes are fixed and are not to be changed. The routes are as follows: Route 1: Lethem, Guyana to Boa Vista, Brazil (return), which will operate twice daily; Route 2: Lethem, Guyana to Manaus, Brazil (return), which will operate once daily; and Route 3: Georgetown, Guyana to Boa Vista, Brazil (return), which will operate once daily.

It also details the requirements for buses. The advisory reads, “The buses that will be allowed to ply the above international routes shall not be older than eight years from the date of manufacture and must also possess the following: air conditioning; a seating capacity of no less than 32 seats; seatbelts for the driver and all passengers; washroom facilities; facilities to enable the transport of physically challenged persons; and a tachograph (a device fitted to a vehicle that automatically records its speed and distance).”

Moreover, it said that the buses shall undergo technical inspections by the Ministry of Public Works upon which certificates of vehicular inspection will be issued. This will be done annually.

Alongside this, the advisory explains that those persons wishing to transport passengers on the above international routes must apply to the Ministry of Home Affairs to be registered as a transporting firm with the Commissioner of Customs & Trade Administration (Commissioner General at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)).

Additionally, upon application, the following documents must be presented: Tax Identification Number (TIN) of both the transporting firm and owner of the firm; certificate of motor vehicle registration; motor vehicle license; certificate of fitness; road service license; Internationally valid third party insurance policy certificate; company registration; and public proxy instrument granting a legal representative in Brazil full powers to represent the firm in all legal and administrative acts. The text must be in English and Portuguese.

The advisory noted that only buses registered will be issued with the permission to ply the mentioned international routes.

The advisory further reads, “A Transporting Firm shall secure appropriate authorisation from the National Agency for Road Transportation in Brazil in order to ply the above international routes.

Within 120 days from issuance of the original permission by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the transporting firm has to present to the National Agency for Road Transportation in Brazil, a certification of the original permission by the Ministry of Home Affairs and a public proxy instrument granting a legal representative in Guyana full powers to represent the firm in all legal and administrative acts.”

Buses will be subject to the necessary Immigration & Customs Procedures in effect at the designated border points between Guyana and Brazil.

In addition to their Guyanese driver’s license, drivers of the buses must possess an International Driving Permit as issued by the License Revenue Office, GRA.
The fare structure to be employed will be determined by the Ministry of Home Affairs in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Works and the transporting firms.

Those businesses that wish to provide bus services for the transporting of passengers under the IRTA should submit proposals to the Permanent Secretary- Ministry of Home Affairs, Lot Six Brickdam, Georgetown, on or before December 6, 2024, and indicate which line of service they are willing to operate.