GRA installs baggage scanner at Cheddi Jagan Int’l Airport

– to boost drug fight, improve declaration of goods

By Samuel Sukhnandan

GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur (second from left) shares a word with CJIA Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir (right) as they observe the baggage scanner at work

In an effort to boost the drug fight and introduce a more effective declaration system at Guyana’s main port of entry, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has installed a new scanner at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
The GRA with the assistance of the National Competitiveness Strategy Unit and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) was able to acquire the new scanner from overseas to the tune of Gy$1.8 million.
GRA’s Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur said on Tuesday that the new scanner will serve to intercept goods in commercial quantities, weapons and drugs. According to Sattaur, the scanner is for small packages, mainly for suitcase traders.
“Our main focus is to ensure that we collect what is due from persons who are in the habit of using the suitcases to engage in carrying out commercial quantities of goods.”
He explained that the GRA is in no way trying to target ordinary travellers. “It is for those persons who misuse the system of us not having adequate mechanisms and controls in place, to detect when you arrive in the country that you make the kind of declaration we expect, especially for commercially imported goods that are subject to duty.”
He reiterated that the new scanning system is not put in place to deter visitors from travelling to Guyana, but specifically for the reasons mentioned.
The GRA boss noted that there are persons who bring large quantities of items such as watches, cellular phones, jewellery, clothing and even cigarettes in their suitcases. He referred to this as a “vibrant business”. He also stated that the new scanner should serve to denounce negative comments that the revenue body is not doing its job.

Penalties
Sattaur also pointed to the fact that there are severe penalties that come with one making a false declaration. “We will give you an opportunity to make your declaration and if you fail to do so in the appropriate manner, we would ensure that the full penalties of law are brought to bear.”
According to him, if persons are found culpable of not abiding by this law, they could face three years imprisonment and a Gy$25,000 fine. This decision will be made by the courts, based on the report from the GRA.
Signs have been placed at strategic points in the airport, giving travellers a warning of the penalties they could face if they fail to declare commercial quantities of goods they might possess. According to the GRA, the new scanner system installed at the airport has so far proven effective, given the increased number of persons now declaring their goods. This has therefore seen an increase in revenue collection. The scanner was acquired through the National Competitiveness Strategy Unit.
CJIA Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir expressed satisfaction with the management of GRA for installing the useful equipment. This, he said is another way of helping to modernise the airport, adding new technologies and creating a better system of avoiding tax evasion.
“This new scanner is part of the modernisation. The airport is now comparable with many others in terms of technologies and equipment,” he stated. Last year, the GRA commissioned a US$1 million container scanner located in the compound of the Guyana National Shipping Company. This too has proven effective.
The installation of these scanner systems are aimed at avoiding tax evasion in Guyana and countering the increased number of illegal items being exported and imported here.