“Backtrack” operators cleared to continue operations after GRA meeting

Operations along the Corentyne backtrack have been officially allowed to continue, following a decisive meeting between operators and officials of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Wednesday, bringing an end to several days of uncertainty that disrupted livelihoods and cross-border movement in the area.
The clearance follows the abrupt shutdown of the long-standing operations, known as “backtrack”, last Saturday, when GRA issued cease-and-desist letters to all three operators: Golden Gloves Boat Services, Eno Bharat Boat Services, and KSN Boat Services, ordering an immediate halt to all incoming and outgoing vessel movements involved in the backtrack route.

The decision triggered immediate economic fallout – leaving boat crews, taxi drivers, porters, vendors, money changers, and other service providers without income, and stranding regular users of the route who depend on the crossing for business, employment, and family connections.
Operators had maintained that the closure was sudden and left them without clear guidance on compliance requirements, while workers expressed concern that the shutdown would deepen economic hardship in already struggling communities.
On Monday, officials from the GRA in Corriverton revisited the site and informed operators that they had been instructed to allow services to resume temporarily, pending a scheduled meeting on Wednesday to determine the way forward.
That temporary resumption restored limited activity at the crossing but did not remove uncertainty, as operators and workers awaited formal direction on whether operations would be allowed to continue permanently.
At Wednesday’s meeting, operators were advised that they could now continue operating as normal, while further discussions proceed on long-term regulatory and compliance arrangements.
Following the engagement, operators expressed relief at the outcome, noting that the decision restored stability and prevented further economic fallout for workers who depend on daily operations at the crossing.
They also indicated their willingness to cooperate fully with the authorities as guidelines and frameworks are finalised.
The episode has once again highlighted the fragile balance between enforcement, regulation, and economic survival in Region Six border communities, where informal and semi-formal trade routes continue to play a critical role in sustaining livelihoods.
While acknowledging the GRA’s mandate to regulate and enforce revenue laws, operators and workers have argued that any future interventions must be accompanied by clear communication, structured transition arrangements, and consultation to avoid abrupt economic disruption.
Residents in surrounding communities have also welcomed the resumption of normal operations, noting that the back-track route remains a vital artery for commerce, employment, and social interaction along the Corentyne.
As discussions continue on long-term compliance, stakeholders say they are hopeful that a permanent framework will be established that allows the operations to function legally, transparently, and sustainably, while protecting the livelihoods of those who depend on the crossing.
For now, the return to normal operations has brought much-needed relief to a community that had braced for prolonged uncertainty, marking a critical turning point in a matter that had rapidly escalated into a major regional concern.