The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will continue to release perishable goods and any other goods that can be delivered without jeopardising the collection of duty or other tax.

In a press release Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur said this is being done “to avoid unusual loss or inconvenience to the importer or the carrier bringing the goods to the port to utilize more effectively the Customs personnel or to eliminate or reduce congestion on wharves, or at airports or other places.”

Sattaur said prior to goods entering Guyana, the head of the Customs and Trade Administration approves and issues a Permit for Immediate Delivery (PID).

The head can refuse to allow immediate delivery of goods to an importer if he has on another occasion violated the provisions for this regulation or has failed to pay amounts due in Value-Added Tax.

The GRA said failure to “enter” goods within the required 10-day period and to comply with the regulations will result in interest being applied to any applicable taxes. Defaulting importers may also be “blacklisted” or not granted any further use of the facility until all relevant documents have been submitted.