CHINESE investment company Bai Shan Lin has written the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), requesting the release of two luxury vehicles that were seized in April.The company, through its lawyer, has also written Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the matter, saying that the seizure of the vehicles — Nissan minivan PRR 3888 and brand new Lexus SUV PRR 2888 — is causing the company severe losses.

Correspondence was also copied to President David Granger.

The documents, seen by this newspaper, were penned by the company’s attorney C.V. Satram, who informed the GRA that the seizure of the vehicles on the grounds of non-payment of tax liability is a disregard of Guyana’s international obligations to China, as agreed by the two countries. Satram, through the letter dated May 16, 2016, called on the GRA to release the two vehicles within seven days of receipt of correspondence.

This particular letter was copied to Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, as well as China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Zhang Limin.

In another lengthy letter, also addressed to Minister Greenidge, Satram notes that since the change in government, “the new administration has embarked upon a course of activities designed to cause forfeiture of the company and to cripple its investment in Guyana.” He said the new government started by imposing tax liabilities regarding duty free concessions which were granted to Bai Shan Lin under the previous administration, and that what it is doing in essence is seeking “to dismantle the concessionary structure, and has commenced to seize property which is under the ownership, management and control of the company.”

Bai Shan Lin, through its lawyer, has noted that the investment agreement under which the concessions were granted has not expired; and that the matter is of grave concern to all other investors.

This letter, too, has been copied to President Granger.

In the third letter, which has been addressed to the UN Secretary-General, the company, again through its lawyer, is calling on the official to remind the Guyana Government of its treaty obligations to China.
It said Chinese investments in Guyana are being threatened by the situation.

This newspaper reported that the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has been investigating the Chinese company for tax evasion. The matter is also being looked at by the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU).

On April 6, this newspaper reported that GRA officers had, on the previous day, confiscated the two vehicles at the revenue body’s storage bond at Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara. It was reported that as much as $60M was owed by the Chinese company on duty for one of the vehicles in question.