Dear Editor,
I read of the deaths of 6 unfortunate persons because a boat that was plying the ‘backtrack’ route to Suriname, capsized. This is the second incident in recent times where persons have died from a boating accident in the Corentyne River. On the first occasion two persons died and I wrote a letter asking the Minister why he was allowing the illegal crossing to flourish. Two deaths it appears, were not enough to cause the Minister of Home Affairs to act on this illegal crossing. Now that it is 6 he may look more carefully.
Why do the authorities allow illegal businesses to flourish?
It was as recently as October 2, 2008 that two persons were fined for leaving Guyana illegally at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court. While the learned magistrate dealt with the matter before his court as it should have been dealt with, one still has to wonder why these persons were brought before the court. Why is the ‘Roy Ramdass landing,’ as it is termed, deemed illegal when the Minister has officers at that and the other landings checking documents and charging duty for goods brought into the country?
I have spoken to two officers at the Roy Ramdass landing on two separate occasions, and both were on duty, checking bags and charging people duty on goods. The presence of GRA and immigration officers is enough to be deemed ratification on the part of the Minister of Home Affairs, of the act of leaving and entering Guyana at that landing. Yet people are arrested and brought to court for illegally leaving the country.
One may say that by having officers there the government collects revenue. If that is so I wish to ask why did the people of Guyana, the taxpayers, spend all that money to build the ferry stelling at Moleson Creek? One lady who does trade regularly told me that she brought 11 boxes over from Suriname and she just paid duty on 4 boxes and “gave dem boys a tap up,” and the other 7 were not looked at. There is more but these are two cases where revenue is being lost.
I do not believe that the Minister is blind and neither do I think that he is deaf, so how come he does not know of this illegal activity that is depriving the government of much needed revenue? Wake up minister and wake the Commissioner of GRA! If you are both awake, gentlemen, to what has been going on at the illegal crossings in Guyana, then do something about them and do it now! I say stop the illegal crossings because they benefit just one or two families. Look at the detriment to the country and act now.
Let me close by saying that this matter was discussed with a member of parliament (before this recent accident) and a few other very prominent Guyanese and I was told that it would not be stopped. I do not believe that, and I also do not believe that Guyana has become a country of law-breakers. All we have to do is enforce the laws. Laws, like the ban on fireworks, are blatantly abused and people get away with it. People enter and leave Guyana through illegal means and are allowed to do so. Is it not a joke that people can leave and enter Guyana ‘backtrack’ with the tacit permission of the authorities and yet such acts are deemed illegal.
Stop the illegal activities now!
Yours faithfully,
CharrandassPersaud