Exxon, Ramps deny GRA charge of false declaration
ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) and Ramps Logistics Guyana INC (RLGI) yesterday denied in court a charge by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) that they had made false declarations in relation to oil well equipment.
Representatives of the two companies appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly in Court Two at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Steve Gentry a manager of ExxonMobil represented by attorneys, Nigel Hughes, Edward Luckhoo SC, Narissa Nengiah and Shawn Shewram, appeared to answer to the charge.
It was alleged that on November 16, 2023 at Lot 200201 Camp Street, Georgetown, ExxonMobil caused to be made and subscribed a false declaration to the GRA, a quantity of oil well equipment and supplies to be valued at US$12,192,103,923.91.
He pled not guilty. GRA prosecutor Jason Moore asked for 3-4 weeks for a return date to court as investigations are still ongoing.
Representative of Ramps Logistics, Mariska Jordan who was represented by attorney Sofia Jones appeared to answer to the charge of making a false declaration. It was alleged that on November 16 2022 at Lot 200-201 Camp Street, Georgetown she made an untrue declaration to the Guyana Revenue Authority she declared the sum of US$12,192,103,923.91 for a quantity of oil well equipment and supplies. She pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on her own recognizance. Her next scheduled court appearance will be on June 28 2024. The Magistrate informed her that she is allowed to leave the jurisdiction but must appear for her court dates.
Moore made an application for both of the matters to be joined together. Magistrate Daly recommended that the application be made on June 28 2024 when the investigations are completed and the matter is ready for trial.
Last week, ExxonMobil distanced itself from the huge inflation of an invoice detected by the GRA and pointed to its former broker.
In a brief statement, the company said: “ExxonMobil Guyana (EMGL) became aware of a clerical error in a Customs declaration filed by our former broker in 2023 from an investigation initiated by the GRA. EMGL did not compose the erroneous declaration, nor were we aware of this clerical error when the declaration was filed. EMGL is cooperating fully with the GRA in its investigation of this matter”.
ExxonMobil has written to the GRA to put itself in the clear. Its controller, William A Thompson wrote to Deputy Commissioner, Moore on April 16 stating that EMGL was not the declarant and had not made any false declaration.
In the correspondence seen by Stabroek News, Thompson said the declaration was made by RLGI “as borne out by the information in column 14 of the prescribed customs declaration form” provided by the GRA.
He added that EMGL has not made or caused to be made any false declaration.
“Any error made by RLGI was a typographical error which did not inure to the detriment of or cause any loss” to the GRA.
Ramps in its defence has said that the declaration was prepared based on information provided by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited through its KABAL System.
Addressing that contention, Thompson “To the best of EMGL’s knowledge, all information that was available to RLGI from the KABAL platform was accurate and any error was not caused by EMGL”.
Under its contract with EMGL, Thompson said that RLGI had an obligation to review and verify all inbound shipping documentation such as bills of lading and packing lists etc and ensure that all such documentation was accurate and correct and met the country’s customs requirements.
“In these circumstances there are no apparent circumstances why proceedings ought to be instituted against EMGL as a matter of fact or law. EMGL is ready to engage with the Guyana Revenue Authority in the spirit of (dialogue) and cooperation to address any remaining concerns that the Authority may have on this matter”, he added.