Georgetown: The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is warning importers of used vehicles that the restriction on eight-year-old vehicles is being enforced and persons who violate it will see their consignment dumped or forfeited.
In a statement GRA urged dealers and other importers to refrain from shipping vehicles to the country that are banned, since this is in violation of new regulations that became effective on May 1, 2016. The revenue agency noted that the recent legislative changes to the Customs Act restricts motor vehicles that are eight years and older, from the date of manufacture to the date of importation, from entering Guyana.
The GRA also said that importers should note that the restriction excludes heavy-duty vehicles, namely trucks, lorries, vehicles used in the agricultural and industrial sector and special purpose vehicles. The agency stated that it has already issued a number of notices to this effect in the media and therefore urges vehicle importers to desist from purchasing such vehicles and attempting to import same. Vehicles in contravention of the new regulations, GRA said, will be forfeited and disposed of, in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Laws. Other fines and penalties may also be imposed.
Ensuring Guyana moves away from being a “second-hand economy” and guaranteeing that the country is greener are the thrusts behind government’s move to ban the importation used and or re-conditioned vehicles under eight years old from the date of manufacture to the date of importation. Finance Minister Winston Jordan said it was clear that Guyana was becoming an environmentally conscious country and as such the new measures are geared at ensuring a green economy, clean environment and ensuring that safer equipment and machinery are used by citizens. “Take advantage of modern technology,” Jordan remarked.
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