-deadline could be extended
Tempers flared yesterday morning among the scores of persons who gathered at the Licence Revenue Office (LRO) where operations were halted for several hours due to a power outage.
Lengthy lines have now become an almost daily feature at the Smyth Street Office as persons seek to acquire their Road Service Licences before the June 22 deadline. However, yesterday morning persons were upset when they were made to wait for hours since the personnel could not complete their tasks without any electricity supply. The GRA had announced earlier this year that it had computerised its operations at the LRO as it implemented the first phase of the new Licence Revenue Office Management Information System (LRO/MIS).
Stabroek News was reliably informed that although the office has a generator, it had developed some problems over the weekend. Efforts were being made yesterday to fix this problem this newspaper was told. However, power was later restored before the generator was fixed.
Meanwhile, the scores of persons gathered in the office and in the compound were far from impressed. “This is nonsense” one man said. He had in fact gone to renew his driver’s licence but was told that the section dealing with this would only be opened at 1 pm.
The section of the office that deals with Road and Liquor licences was closed yesterday morning.
Another man said he left his home at Nootenzuil since 3 am in the hope of completing the process to acquire his Road Service Licence quickly. He, however, was left fuming as up to minutes before midday he was still waiting to begin the process.
While many remained in the hope that the power would come back on, Stabroek News understands that many left the compound in frustration.
When contacted for comment Commis-sioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Khurshid Sattaur said that the staff at the LRO was working very hard in less than perfect circumstances. He emphasised that the office was making every effort to meet the needs of the customers and pointed out that the office was opened seven days a week for the first time in the country’s history. Sattaur stated that there were a few teething problems with the new system but he emphasised that this was a “learning experience for all”. He said that people ought to view this new system as one in the best national interest. He pointed out that this new system would counteract some of the unscrupulous acts that people have been successfully engaging in for years. This new system, he said, is an attempt to curtail some of these illegal acts. He opined that people were being far too negative about the entire process.
When asked about the possibility of the June 22 deadline being extended, Sattaur said this would be done if necessary. Meanwhile, the commissioner said that plans are also on board to have all operations take place at a more central location but said that this would take some time to come into operation.