A Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) team yesterday visited the Uitvlugt Estate where workers complained about high prices.
GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur and Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud who accompanied him, heard from workers that even the prices of zero-rated items have increased in the region.
Sattaur, according to a GRA release, pointed out that the introduction of VAT was not intended to bring hardship on consumers and noted that the indiscriminate prices by some businesses are, “clearly intended to exploit consumers by taking advantage of this period to make greater profits.”
The consumers also complained that many businesses on the West Coast are not issuing receipts for purchases.
“Persons complained that they were often given the option of a receipt and paying VAT or no receipt and not paying VAT. They said too that many times when they asked too many questions the shopkeepers refused to sell them,” the release said.
Persaud, responding to reports about increased prices by small businesses on zero-rated items, said that from this weekend trucks from the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC) will visit the region with essential food items.
The minister said he expected businesses would be forced to lower their prices since they could not take all of their goods for personal use.
The GRA said it was advising businesses that are involved in such unscrupulous acts to take the necessary corrective actions within the earliest possible time.
The GRA also reiterated that it “will enforce the law to its fullest capacity since it believes that this is the only way to ensure justice is meted out to consumers.”
Sattaur commended those businesses that have begun to make the change to those items that were previously taxed at 30% and are now taxed at 16%.
In addition, the GRA encouraged other businesses to emulate such practices so that consumers will begin to benefit from VAT shortly. The GRA is also continuing its training for VAT registrants, and is scheduled to target businesses on the Essequibo Coast today. There will also be discussions with the general public during the three-day outreach to the region.
