Magistrate dismisses false declaration charges against Ramps Logistics.
The 10 charges filed against Ramps Logistics (Guyana) by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in relation to the making of false declarations were dismissed on Tuesday.
In dismissing the charges, city Magistrate Dylon Bess upheld the no-case submission made on the company’s behalf by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes, Pratesh Satram and Mahendra Satram.
Last October, Ramps Logistics (Guyana) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaun Rampersad pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Particulars of the charges stated that between 2021 and 2022, at GRA’s Camp Street, Georgetown headquarters, the company made several false declarations for consideration of a customs officer, on an application presented to him for tax exemption on items.
The charges were filed in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01.
The prosecution had contended that the company falsely declared itself to be the seller of several items including heavy-duty machines, dehydrated substances, and calcium chloride.
In commenting on the court’s ruling, Ramps Logistics (Guyana) in a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon said, “We sincerely thank our team members and other stakeholders who have stood by us throughout this unfortunate incident.”
“Ramps Logistics Guyana remains committed to working closely with the GRA and all other agencies to ensure all processes are transparent and within the realm of the law. We aim to continue to positively contribute towards Guyana’s growth and development in the energy and non-energy sectors,” the statement added.
The 10 charges were not the first run-in Ramps Logistics, a Trinidad and Tobago-based company, has had with the Guyana Revenue Authority. In fact, it has been revealed that in June of 2022, the company was fined GY$20M by GRA for violating local customs laws.
Ramps Logistics acts as the agent of motor vessel Seacor Mixteca, and, according to GRA, had failed to report the vessel departing Guyana, which violates the Customs Act. As such, the hefty fine was paid in lieu of court proceedings being instituted against the company.
Ramps Logistics is a leading provider of logistics solutions across Latin America, North America and the Caribbean. Besides Guyana, Ramps Logistics also has operations in Trinidad and Tobago; Colombia; Suriname; Mexico; and Houston, and Miami in the USA.
