Citizens have a role to play in preventing the importation and sale of firecrackers, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has said.

According to a GRA press release, Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur said that in the light of the fiasco that took place in Alexander village on Diwali night, Guyanese should be more vigilant and provide the GRA with information on smuggling and sale of the prohibited items.

The release said that if there is a constant flow of information to the revenue body then it would be better able to crack down on the sale of the illegal items.

Stating that the enforcement arm of the GRA has an ongoing exercise directed at monitoring activities at ports and borders, the release said that persons found smuggling goods will be prosecuted. It added further that persons found selling or buying firecrackers will also be prosecuted.

The release also stated that the Guyana Defence Force is the only entity allowed to bring firecrackers into the country and even so, it has to seek permission form the Commissioner of Police before doing so.