Three more GRA staff let go over Polar beer shipment

By Iana Seales

As the investigation into the reported shady dealings at the Customs and Trade Adminis-tration (CTA) continue, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has fired three more employees allegedly tied to the Polar beer scandal.

These dismissals come nearly two weeks after GRA axed two employees from its Internal Affairs Division. This duo was reportedly part of separate teams, which inspected the Fidelity Investment Limited shipment of Polar beers, which arrived here late last year.
But as GRA toughens up, sources said that the “shrimp in the deal” were being cut while the key people behind the scam had thus far escaped sanctions.

Sources pointed to a GRA official, who was named by a Fidelity figure as being the individual who collected $70 million to facilitate the shipment leaving the wharf. This person, sources said, had been sent on indefinite leave. According to sources, the police were periodically questioning those sent on leave, including the official, but not applying any significant pressure on those in top circle of customs.