A Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) source has told Stabroek Business that corrupt practices are a reality in the administration of procedures associated with the levying and payment of customs duties and taxes but insists that there are many Customs Officers who are honest and conscientious workers and who resist the temptation to become involved in corrupt practices.
Speaking with this newspaper on condition of anonymity the official took the position that while public concern over irregularities was justifiable it was unfortunate many people make a blanket judgement of the Customs and Trade Administration.
The official who sought several assurances of anonymity before agreeing to speak with this newspaper said he believed that some people involved with the Customs/Fidelity fraud will be punished he was unsure as to whether others might not escape punishment.
And according to the source while it would be absurd to suggest that the current system of Customs administration was perfect, there was evidence of initiatives being taken to improve the operational efficiency of the organization. In this regard he drew attention to discussions held between the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Customs and Trade Administration (CTA) late last year designed to speed up the processing of imports during the Christmas period. Subsequent reports from GCCI officials indicate that while there are delays in expediting customs clearance, the system of processing documents ahead of the arrival of cargo in Georgetown has helped to clear the logjam at wharves.
More recently, CTA Head Chabilall Ramsarup used the occasion of a forum for Customs officials to call on businessmen to stop offering bribes to Customs Officers. Asked to comment on Ramsarup’s call the source said that such practices were unlikely to be stopped by virtue of the ‘say so’ of an official. Given the fact that importation is a regular exercise for most businessmen many of them appear to prefer to recruit someone connected to the CTA with whom they can develop a long-term relationship and who can be relied upon to expedite all of their business,” the source said.
Despite his conviction that the system “is replete with corrupt practices” the official was adamant “that there are a number of honest and dedicated officers serving the CTA and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) at all levels. “It really is a pity that all Customs officials are, more-or-less, tarred with the same brush. Despite the temptation to increase one’s earnings by resorting to corrupt practices, there are Customs Officers who resist that temptation and remain clean.”
