A total of 187 teachers across Guyana have been awarded duty-free concessions as part of a multi-year agreement signed between the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) on August 21, 2024. This initiative aims to provide eligible teachers with duty-free exemptions primarily for the importation of motor vehicles, a long-sought incentive by education stakeholders.
The Ministry of Education recently released the official list of teachers eligible for the duty-free concession for 2025. The breakdown by region includes:
Region One (Barima-Waini): 5 teachers
Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam): 12 teachers
Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara): 24 teachers
Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica): 21 teachers
Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice): 17 teachers
Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne): 21 teachers
Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni): 4 teachers
Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni): 2 teachers
Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo): 4 teachers
Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice): 14 teachers
Georgetown: 26 teachers
Additionally, teachers aged over 32 are also eligible, resulting in further approvals from various regions.
The concessions are applicable to vehicles with capacities up to 1800cc, outboard engines of up to 75hp for riverine residents, and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) for eligible individuals in hinterland areas. The new agreement increases the number of concessions granted to teachers by 50%, and all teachers with a substantive appointment as a senior master or mistress within three years of retirement, who haven’t received a previous duty-free concession, are entitled to apply.
Eligibility Criteria
Criterion A: Heads or principals and deputy heads of grades A and B institutions receive the concession immediately upon appointment or with three years remaining before retirement.
Criterion B: Head teachers or administrators of grades C, D, and E institutions qualify after three years in their appointment or with three years left before retirement.
Criterion C: Senior masters or mistresses, heads of departments, and lecturer IIs of CPCE, technical, or craft institutions can benefit after serving six years in their position with at least three years remaining before retirement.
In 2019, a similar initiative allowed 300 educators to receive duty-free concessions under a previous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the GTU and the Education Ministry. This new agreement, signed under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government, will see an additional 187 teachers benefiting over the next three years.
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