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People have assumed Lethem is duty-free port

Dear Editor
Kaieteur News of 9/10/08 reported an issue in Lethem regarding the presence of vehicles with Venezuelan number plates. It also included a comment made by the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority, Khurshid Sattaur that “Lethem is no free port and all goods entering Guyana through that area, are subject to duty and taxes”.

This situation has raised an issue which should have been clarified a long time ago.
When Mr. Manzoor Nadir, then minister of Trade and Tourism, visited Lethem a few years ago he intimated that Lethem would have been made a free trade zone so as to facilitate business with Brazil. Since then most people in Lethem have been assuming that that is the case and Brazilian goods are sold in Lethem without any duty being paid on them.

Now that this issue is once again in the limelight, could the government/relevant authorities update the people of Lethem as to their intentions regarding Lethem being a duty free port?

Also, now that the GRA is clamping down on illegal vehicles would similar action be taken against trade in groceries, meat etc, between Lethem and Brazil? If that is the case, then residents of the Rupununi are in for some very difficult times as most household items are purchased from Brazil.
Yours faithfully,
M. Emile

Editor’s note:

A copy of this letter is being sent to the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce for any comment he may wish to make.

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3 Responses to “People have assumed Lethem is duty-free port”

Caesar
on October 10th, 2008 4:58 pm

It is. I was there in the seventies .A free for all from Bomfin ,across the Takatu,to Jardine shop. Good fo Guyana. Less government more people where economics is concerned. Guyanese should sing the song,”Let’s keep it that way.”

[Reply to this]
Guy Marco
on October 11th, 2008 2:13 am

I am a law abiding citizen but If there is no system in place what do you expect the people to do? Wait until the government set up border/immigration system? It is the port of Lethem (not to mention the open border zones), among others, that kept Guyana with sulpplies of banned flour and other banned food stuff during the tough time of the 80’s.
As matter of fact when the government air transportation stopped - the residents of the entire Rupununi was cut off and they solely depended on the ‘free trade’ with Brazil for basic food items that government was not able to supply.
Following this cut off era, persons with trucks ventured through rough jungle, swamps and monkey bridges to take goods to Lethem and bring foods from Brazil.
Businessmen/women and students attending high schools/technical institutes/tecahers college/UG risked their lives on those trucks.
What are they going to do now - build a wall along the Brazilian border so that we can go and come through ‘the golden bridge’ at Lethem?
What about the Venezulians and the Surinamese borders?
In the mean time let’s ( Lethemians and Bon Fimians) continue to enjoy the ‘free trade’ .

[Reply to this]
Caesar
In reply to the above comment on October 11th, 2008 3:39 pm:
Gov’t involvement will only ensure the monies generated slide into a corrupt official’s pockets.Don’t need these bureaucratic hangers on there.

[Reply to this]