Dear Editor,
I am writing to warn my fellow overseas-based Guyanese who may be considering returning to Guyana under the Government of Guyana’s Remigration Program.me
For those unfamiliar with it, the Guyana Remigrant Scheme is marketed as an initiative to encourage Guyanese citizens living abroad to return home by offering tax exemptions on vehicles and personal effects, as well as assistance with reintegration.
To participate in this programme, the Foreign Affairs Ministry issues a letter that qualifies you as a remigrant. While the application form is available online, all processes must be conducted in person. Despite already residing in Guyana, this step does not require you to fully relinquish your life in the United States for qualification. However, your next stop is at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), where you will face an extensive questioning process. They will inquire about your living situation, family status, and employment. At this point, the GRA expects you to have officially relocated to Guyana, awaiting your tax-exempt status for your vehicle and possessions.
Here lies the trap: according to their front desk, the wait for tax exemption is INDEFINITE. Yes, they do not provide timelines. I have heard anecdotes of individuals waiting over three years. During this time, your vehicle accumulates exorbitant storage fees—hardly a laughable situation. With no recourse available, the broken court system offers no enforcement, and the GRA maintains a dismissive attitude, leaving you to navigate this mess alone. By this stage, you may have already also purchased new household possessions, as the processing of your letter is intertwined with that of the vehicle.
Here is some key information to know:
Vehicles over 2500cc are not completely tax-exempt; you must still pay 20% of the taxes.
You will be required to appear with your vehicle at the GRA Criminal Investigation Unit every six months for the next 3-5 years.
Be prepared for unscheduled checks on your vehicle, potentially as early as 3:00 AM, to verify its presence at the address on your Tax Identification Number (TIN) certificate. If it’s not there, you will be summoned to the Criminal Investigation Unit.
Do not be misled—this is not a programme designed to facilitate your smooth transition back to Guyana with assured benefits. Instead, the GRA will monitor your compliance with their stipulations regarding these benefits. This intrusive oversight is disheartening, as the GRA’s concern should centre solely on confirming that you have genuinely relocated—not on your personal usage of the benefits.
If you fulfill your obligations, there should be no additional restrictions imposed on you. They seem intent on frustrating you into relinquishing your advantages, fully aware that once you give up your life in the U.S. and return to Guyana, your options become limited.
In light of my experience, the statement about the Guyana Remigrant Scheme should be revised to read: “The Guyana Remigrant Scheme is a government initiative designed to attract Guyanese citizens living abroad back to the country to capitalize on their foreign currency savings, investments, and professional skills, while promising them tax benefits that will be rendered nearly impossible to access, ultimately frustrating them into relinquishing these benefits.”