According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release GRA Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur said the agency recently acquired two boats at the cost of US$200, 000 to aid in this process. He said too the boat builders and the trainers were invited to the training session in an effort to ensure a high level of transparency and accountability.
Sattaur said the GRA’s collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force’s Coast Guard during the sessions will allow much interaction. He said too it was a “most significant moment for [the] GRA” as the knowledge gained will be shared with and employed by the special staff of its marine arm.
The Commissioner-General commended those involved for acquiring the vessels and noted that the funding for capacity building is only one of the many programmes that resulted from a US-funded programme. The training session is a continuation of these efforts and a direct result of the funding.
Through that intervention, the agency was able to equip the marine staff for the Standard Operations Procedures to help guide its officers in dealing with danger when carrying out their duties.
The release also said Pantera Boat the company that built the vessels, was acknowledged for its work and for making its personnel available to facilitate training in the necessary skills. Jo Nunez, proprietor of Pantera Boat, pointed out that the boats manufactured for GRA are the most popular patrol boat the company makes.
Sattaur said he is confident that with special training his office will be able to stem tax evasion by persons who “employ devious skill and talent in smuggling items into the country using the porous waterways.”
He said too “the agency will spare no efforts in addressing this scourge” and persons who indulge in this practice will be brought to justice. The Commissioner-General said too he is confident that using these boats will boost the level of taxes collected and appealed to taxpayers to be the “watchdog” of the GRA.
According to GINA, Sattaur also thanked the Transport and Harbours Department for making available the infrastructure to house the boats and the facilities to accommodate the marines. Meanwhile, Commander Sean Harmon, Officer Commanding, Maritime Law Enforcement Division, noted that the Coast Guard is happy to collaborate with the GRA in the programme.
The session was hosted at the Customs and Excise Department.
