The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was yesterday given an operational boost with the handing over to local authorities of a US$5 million mobile container scanner courtesy of the Government of The People’s Republic of China.
The Nuctech mobile scanner which was handed over yesterday at GRA’s scanning facility at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation compound, Lombard Street, Georgetown was lauded as another testament to the great relationship between Guyana and China over the years.
According to Commissioner General of the GRA, Godfrey Statia, the timely handing over of the mobile scanner and relocatable container scanning equipment will be able to provide 24/7 continuous non-invasive scanning operations. The installation of the equipment he said, will allow the mobile scanner to do on-site scanning for major exporters and will reduce the congestion in the area.
Statia said that the scanning facility, while providing reduced trade transactions costs, also provides for increased efficiency and collection of revenues. “Additionally many countries to which Guyana exports requires scanning at source and Guyana, were it not for these gracious gifts, would have been in danger of losing markets to the ABC countries,” he added.
Further, he said that would have been the case as Guyana would have failed to meet certain international trade guidelines.
The Commissioner-General noted that this type of scanning decreases human intervention and based on the fact that the scanning can also be done in 3D, data can be shared with local partners and local authorities.
Clinton Williams, the representative for Nuctech, pointed out the higher level of reliability and improved security and safety of the equipment, adding, “It should also be noted that the rigidity and integrity of the foundation which we stand on here, to accommodate the excessive load weight which is being distributed here when the containers are to be scanned, prevented our ability to fully operationalise the mobile scanner which was delivered to us since 2014.”
The Nuctech representative informed that the mobile scanner was finally relocated to the site at Lombard Street and only put in to use during August 2018. To date he noted that in excess of 20,000 units have been scanned. Giving a background on the company, Williams said that the company manufactures the most advanced technological products and integrated solution systems and has supplied security systems to a number of countries worldwide.
Prior to officially handing over the scanner, the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun, stated that he knows of the importance of having equipment like this as it is important and will aid in getting Guyanese products to the international market. “We know that it is very important that export oriented economy should be the priority for Guyana. I know that the regional market and international market needs Guyanese products,” the ambassador said.
During his brief remarks, he noted that the two governments are working towards the expansion to the international markets and further used the opportunity to express the view that more products should be exported to China.
Ambassador Jianchun noted that the good relationship between the two countries over the years is the reason why the Chinese government continues to invest in the country.
Further emphasising the relationship between the two countries was Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill, who also noted that the relationship is one which should be honoured and respected and one which the government hopes will “bear much more fruit” in the future.
The Public Works Minister said the donation of the equipment is one further step to enhance the country’s developmental objectives. He added that the government in its plan for development has decided to expand trade. He expressed the hope that training and the ability to locally maintain the equipment would be a priority as he appealed to the ambassador to assist in that area. “Whether it’s the container scanner here or scanners at our airports, this will have to help us to facilitate quicker and speedier transactions,” the minister said, adding that in today’s world, time is everything
During the handing-over ceremony, officials who were present were able to witness a demonstration of a container being scanned by the mobile scanner.
