The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is set to meet with operators of boat services running the backtrack route from Corriverton to Suriname this week. The meeting comes after the Golden Gloves Backtrack Service, along with Eno Bharat Boat Service and K.N.S. Boat Service, were ordered to cease operations on Saturday morning while transporting passengers to Suriname.
By Sunday afternoon, both Golden Gloves and Eno Bharat received approval from GRA officer Winston Manifold to resume their services, allowing operations to continue.
Mohamed Mursaline, owner of Golden Gloves Backtrack Service, expressed optimism about the upcoming meeting with GRA officials scheduled for Wednesday in Georgetown. “I expect that we get full rights to operate. We have to be respected too because we have been doing this work for many years, and we employ a lot of people who are hoping for a positive outcome,” Mursaline stated.
The suspension was initiated after the GRA determined that the locations used by these services are not recognized as approved ports of entry or sufferance wharves. Consequently, vessels are prohibited from loading or offloading goods without customs authorization at those sites.
Mursaline, who took over the family-owned business that has been operating for 75 years, highlighted the significant investments made to enhance the service. Improvements included the addition of washroom facilities, checkpoints, walkways, and regular maintenance of the boats.
He also mentioned that although the business is registered in Suriname, efforts to obtain registration in Guyana have been repeatedly unsuccessful. Local residents and businesses have come to rely heavily on these backtrack boat services for essential transportation between Guyana and Suriname.
