Crashing customs computers delay shipments
-say businessmen
Stabroek News
May 14, 2004
The computer system at customs keeps crashing, causing long delays in shipments being cleared, say businessmen.
After waiting one week with no luck for his air cargo to be cleared, one businessman called Stabroek Busin-ess to complain.
He said he has millions of dollars worth of goods waiting to be cleared and millions of dollars of debts to settle. He noted that not all businessmen would buy their goods abroad with cash, but work for a commission, so it is imperative that their goods reach the market in a timely manner. One publishing company noted that electrical parts for a press, which arrived in the country on March 23 by air, were only received on May 7, even though much of the paper work was done before the cargo arrived.
"The process is too long," complains the company.
Air cargo normally takes three days to process.
Brokers who are handling the customs process told this company that customs officials often explain that the system has crashed.
An official from broker, Larparkan Group Ltd., agrees that the customs process is slow and the usual excuse is that there is a problem with the computers. This broker also states that clearing goods from customs now takes seven to ten working days.
Derrick Cummings an official of the Guyana Manufacturers Association says the association has not received any formal complains in regards to the delays at customs with air or sea cargo.
The GMA is focussing efforts on the remission process and says an improved system is set to be in place by month-end.