The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) yesterday formally commissioned a new state-of-the-art mobile container scanner and Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh said it is another high value addition to Guyana’s port security hardware to ensure the country is compliant with international laws.
Speaking at a demonstration of the scanner, Singh said that some of the major trading capitals of the world and nations such as the United States now require universal scanning of incoming containers. According to a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), the Minister said that the scanner “now enables us to be in compliance with those international obligations.”
According to GINA, the scanner will ensure the accuracy of declarations with respect to imports and exports, along with the integrity of trade and enhancement of revenue collection revenue efforts.
It said that the US$4.3 million scanner is the third acquired through a grant from the Chinese Government, and represents the “latest manifestation of the highly valued relationship that exists between Guyana and the Peoples’ Republic of China.”
The release said that the Minister called on the private sector to bring itself into compliance with the trade and tax laws and avoid undue delays in processing shipments by ensuring that declarations are “full, complete and accurate.”
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Limin, in brief remarks at the commissioning, said the new scanner will enhance the economic development of Guyana and further strengthen ties between Guyana and China.
Chairman of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Clinton Williams highlighted the importance of Guyana’s ability to meet its obligations in terms of complying with a host of regulations governing port security through internationally sanctioned treaties and regulations.
According to GINA, the mobile container is the world’s first mobile container inspection unit using an electronic linear accelerator as its X-ray source. “It can be operational within 30 minutes of arriving at a new site or port. The equipment is operational in over 20 countries and is able to scan a 40 foot container in 60 seconds and can inspect 15 to 20 units of 40 foot container trucks in an hour,” GINA said.
