STATEMENT BY HON. MINISTER OF FINANCE, MR. SAISNARINE KOWLESSAR, MP
Guyana Chronicle
October 29, 2003
The Customs Duties (Amendment) (No.2) order was advertised in the Official Gazette on the 1st September, 2003, and transmitted to the Clerk to the National Assembly on the 5th September, 2003, along with a Motion in compliance with section 9 of the Customs Act.
The Motion came up for debate in the National Assembly on 24th October, 2003.
During the debate Mr. Winston Murray of the PNC/R claimed that the procedures provided for under Section 9 of the Customs Act were not complied with in that the Order and Motion were not transmitted to the Clerk within ten days after publication in the gazette, that is not, on or before the 11th September, 2003. Knowing that I had signed the note to the Clerk on 5th September and expecting that the Clerk would have received it on the same date, I did not accept Mr. Murray's claims.
It was only after the conclusion of the debate in the National Assembly that I learnt that the Order and Motion I sent to the Clerk on the 5th September, 2003 were apparently delayed in transmission and not received by him until the 10th October, 2003.
I regret the circumstances which have arisen in connection with this issue and will take necessary steps to address this situation, shortly.
October 26, 2003