COMMISSIONER General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Kurshid Sattaur says most of those fingered in the re-migrants vehicle scam have fled the country and have been blacklisted, while some of the vehicles have been seized.

He explained that most of the persons involved in the scam were not actually granted duty-free concessions to bring in vehicles, but they could be charged for issuing a false document which they obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sattaur reported that since the unearthing of the scam in August 2003, “a lot of loose arrangements and weaknesses” have been rectified and stringent measures implemented both at the GRA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In addition, there was a continuous auditing and verification process for those re-migrants who have remained in the country, he said.

Police said they were continuing investigations into the racket involving several persons who illegally got duty-free concessions to bring vehicles into the country under the re-migrant scheme which allows the concession.

Police Public Relations Officer John Sauers said several persons have been charged but the process of investigations was not yet complete.

Crime Chief Henry Greene declined comment on the matter when contacted by the Chronicle.

As a result of the new measures, Sattaur said there has been a drastic reduction in the number of duty-free concessions granted for vehicles.

However, the Commissioner General said another worrisome problem has developed with an influx of vehicles entering Guyana illegally from Suriname and to a lesser extent from Cayenne.

This problem has increased with the advent of the Guyana/Suriname ferry service, he observed, adding that one of the deceptive methods being used is replacing Surinamese licence plates with local licences.

However, he said the police have been doing a commendable job in tracking down the illegal vehicles.

Several public officers, including Secretary to the Treasury Nirmal Rekha, are still on leave pending investigations into the scam.

A two-pronged approach to the probe into the racket was launched, with the police focusing on identifying the basis for irregular provisions of duty free concessions such as bribery and forgery, while the GRA is probing instances where concessions were unlawfully granted.

Sattaur has handed over a report of investigations ordered by President Bharrat Jagdeo into irregularities discovered in the administration of the granting of duty-free concessions under the re-migrant vehicle scheme.

The report found that 86 persons were granted duty free concessions in August 2003 with 31 satisfying the qualifying criteria.

The President consequently ordered that the other 55 vehicles be seized.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon has noted that the terms and conditions for granting duty free concessions are clearly spelt out in the laws of the country.

Prior to the Fiscal Amendment Act of 2003, duty-free concessions to re-migrants were granted by the Ministry of Finance in accordance with Section 12 of the Customs Act Chapter 82:01 and Section 18 of the Consumption Tax Act, Chapter 80:02.

Under the new Act which came into being in September 2003, the GRA is tasked with the granting of duty-free letters.

The Ministry of Finance is now responsible for issuing an advisory letter to the GRA stating that the applicant for duty-free concession is qualified.

In addition, the ministry issues six original advisory letters signed by the Secretary to the Treasury, one each of which is sent to the Commissioner General of the GRA, the Auditor General, and the Licence Revenue Department.
One is retained by the ministry for its records.