Why should the ministry be handling these kinds of matter and not a branch of the justice or revenue department?
Businessman refused renewal of road licence for duty free vehicle
… residential status under investigation
Businessman, Mandricar Persaud, 60, of Lot 12 Friendship, East Bank Demerara, is seeking the renewal of his road licence for a Cherokee Jeep which he imported some time in 2013 from Miami, Florida.
Persaud said that after he decided to remigrate to Guyana, he took advantage of his rights to import a vehicle, using the duty free concession as a remigrant. Hence, he imported the Jeep. He was instructed to report every six months to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), which he claims to have done.
However, now that the road licence for the vehicle is near expiry, he went to GRA to have the licence renewed but he was informed that he would be unable to do so because his remigrant status is under investigation.
The man said that he was flabbergasted, since he has followed all the necessary procedures. He reported every six months and presented his passport as was instructed to do.
He admitted being frequently in and out of Guyana. He explained that it is difficult living here in Guyana, and because of the business he operates he has to be in and out to keep the business running.
Persaud imports used car parts to sell here in Guyana. He is peeved over the fact that he was told that after the expiration of his road service licence, which will expire May 19 he will no longer be able to operate the vehicle until the investigations have been completed.
He claimed to have also been told that his documents are no longer at GRA as they were handed over to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the investigation is being done.
Persaud said that when he went to the Ministry to make enquiries about the investigations, he was not directed to any specific department as he was told that the investigations are being done by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
He has since opined that such information which was given by an official who described himself to be “Superintendent and not Supervisor” of the investigation, to be unrealistic as he doubt the Minister would deal with matters herself.
Persaud is adamant that such a setback is just a form of corruption which is prevalent in Guyana.