THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Tuesday held its graduation ceremony which saw 102 Custom Officers I and II being promoted after a period of training.

The objective of having employees undergo customs, trade and excise training is to strengthen their skills so as they may improve on their on-the-job performance.

The graduation was held at the Guyana Police Force Officers Training Centre on Camp Street, and saw many senior staffers and other officials in attendance.

In his feature address, Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, who celebrated his first anniversary with GRA on Tuesday, told the large gathering that when he joined the company he recognised the need for training.

He said that having learnt that since 2012, there’s been no formal training for employees, he immediately began organising a two-phased training programme for Custom Officers I and II.

Those officers who excelled were promoted, while those whose grades fell below par will be given a chance to redeem themselves, he said.

He urged that the 102 graduands, having come this far, will take their role as custom officers seriously, and understand where they are headed since half the time when things go wrong, it is they who are often made out to be the villains.

Turning his attention to other matters, Statia said that one of the agency’s goals under his watch, besides having ongoing training programmes, is to minimise the use of paper and to have a fully electronic system in place by yearend.

The GRA boss explained that the private sector wanted less time for the clearance of goods and less paperwork, and with the advent of oil and gas in Guyana, they wish to move in that direction of eliminating the long paperwork process.

Statia added that regardless of what is being said out there, Guyana is ranked the second best to Panama, and they are constantly improving in terms of efficiency.

He told the gathering that since they are in the business of collecting taxes, they have had a better collection this year and he was in talks with the Finance Minister Winston Jordan to put in place an incentive scheme for employees to benefit.

Statia admonished employees to walk proud in their uniform since they will ensure that all custom officers are well-rounded in all sections to be elevated.

Top performers were presented plaques and bars of promotion, as well as certificates.

Also making remarks was Head of Human Resource Management Department (HRMD), Glendon Harris, while Deputy Commissioner, Lancelot Wills and Chairman of the Board, Rawle Lucas also spoke.