Quantity raises eyebrows, can amount to tax evasion – source

Baby milk denial claims

The Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) Director Marlon Cole on Monday rejected allegations that he has personally denied a businessman from importing 100 cases of infant milk for his babies.

The Director stated that the Department received a letter from the businessman, requesting a waiver for the infant formula for his newborn twins, who would be coming into the country in two weeks. Cole said because the businessman suggested that the milk was for personal use, the Department responded by referring him to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to seek its intervention as it relates to classification of the items.

He stated that it was GRA’s responsibility to classify items as commercial quantities or personal use. According to Cole, the GA-FDD only deals with commercial quantities and as such, if products were for personal use, they would not be referred to the Department.

Speaking with Guyana Times businessman Frank Sanichara said, “I’m not trying to run away from paying my taxes.”

But even as Sanichara denies intention to evade taxes, a private sector observer, who has been following the issue, told this publication that the quantity of baby milk the businessman is attempting raises eyebrows. According to the private sector observer, 100 cases of milk (equivalent to 2400 tins) is excessive for two infants to drink in two weeks. It was also noted that this suggests that something is amidst as this can amount to an attempt to evade taxes.