Some twenty-two retired and long serving Licensed Brokers and Clerks were awarded for their dedication to the brokers’ profession when the Guyana Customs House Brokers and Clerks Association held their inaugural dinner and awards ceremony on Saturday January 7, 2023.
Amongst those receiving awards were Ronald Ramcharran, who was the first Licensed Broker, Past Presidents of the Association, Andrew Thorne and Morris Bart. Ingrid Bristol and Loretta Desir-John were also honoured as the first female Licensed Brokers in Guyana and have elevated the industry with the successful operations of businesses such as DHL Guyana Limited and D&J Shipping respectively.
In his address to the proceedings, President of the Brokers Association, Colin Moore reiterated the importance of professionalism and integrity being the cornerstone for all brokers. He posited that the Brokers Association had benefitted tremendously since joining the Shipping Association of Guyana, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC), all of whom are key stakeholders in the development of trade and industry in our fast-growing economy. Comptroller of Customs, Rohan Beekhoo, stressed the importance of a professional relationship among the main stakeholders including customs brokers, the PSC, GCCI, GMSA, and GRA-Customs. He alluded to the rapid increase in imports/exports due to the oil discovery in Guyana, and increase/expansion in traditional sectors such as agriculture, mining, forestry, construction and manufacturing and the role that customs brokers play in all these developments. He reminded of the measures taken by the government in the tough post-pandemic atmosphere to keep trade at optimal levels, especially during the Christmas season.
