“To achieve competitiveness,Jerseys Cheap China, the Region must address its constraints head on.”This opinion was expressed on Friday, last, by the CARICOM Secretariat’s Private Sector Facilitation Specialist, Ms. Leela Ramoutar, during the opening of a regional consultation coordinated by the Caribbean Centre for Competitiveness (CCfC).The Consultation was hosted at the Georgetown headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat to share information on the Centre’s mandate.The mandate advises; (1) conduct research and case study analysis in order to understand regional firm-based competitiveness and the competitiveness of ecosystems; (2) build technical capacity in competitiveness; business climate reform; clustering and Small Medium Enterprise (SME) development; (3) deliver training programs for the public and private sectors; and (4) provide an independent platform for public private dialogue and collaboration.Ms. Ramoutar told stakeholders that the Region’s constraints have been with us for decades. “…and I say with deep conviction, no matter what we do, unless we address the financing constraint, the deep rooted constraint of moving goods and people, and reducing the cost of production, other initiatives to achieve competitiveness may not yield the desired benefits.”Against that backdrop, the Private Sector Specialist said that the Region had “great expectations” of the CCfC; and that the Secretariat acknowledged the contribution of this initiative toward building stronger regional integration and creating synergies necessary for ensuring the sustainable competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises.The collaboration between the CARICOM Secretariat and the CCfC, she pointed out,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, would strengthen linkages among regional universities,Wholesale Jerseys Online, institutions, and agencies to develop and maintain a strong network of strategic partners to enhance regional competitiveness.Friday’s consultation represented one of several that the CCfC will be hosting across the Caribbean with the purpose of developing a market-driven work programme for the Centre.Executive Director of the CCfC, Indera Sagewan-Alli during her remarks, provided details of the work that the Centre had already started in research and analysis,NBA Jerseys China, and in developing a train the trainers programme designed to provide a platform for public private sector dialogue on competitiveness.She said that the Centre was also involved in developing a market-driven business plan that would produce “cutting edge” services. The CCfC Executive Director noted that it was important to harness its expertise in competitiveness and innovation,Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping, as the Region sought to enhance its comparative advantage.The CCfC is a relatively new organization, established in September 2010 and operationalised in 2011 through a Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the University of the West Indies.Another part of the focus of the consultation in Georgetown was to determine whether the oversight and the scope of the Centre were adequate to the needs which exist within the area of competitiveness in the Region.

Recording concern over allegations of a Berbice man that was duped by an off-duty Customs Officer andGRA Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaurclaims that persons are engaging in various nefarious activities whilst impersonating officers of the agency, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is calling on the public to report any person or staff who might be engaging in illegal activities.The tax agency stated that it is concerned about a report which appeared in the newspaper headlined “Others claim to be duped by phone fraudsters”, and reported claims by one of the victims that he was duped by an off duty Customs Officer.The body,Cheap Jerseys, by way of public missive, said it is equally concerned about allegations being made that persons are engaging in various nefarious activities, whilst impersonating officers of the agency, since this practice tarnishes the image of the agency and its officers.“While it is unfortunate that honest hardworking individuals have fallen prey to this scam,Cheap Jerseys USA, the GRA condemns in the strongest possible terms, such criminal activities by elements in our society whose aim is to defraud unsuspecting individuals of their hard earned money,” the agency noted.A resident from #2 Village, East Canje Berbice had told this newspaper that he was tricked out of $205,000 from an off duty Customs officer.He said he was lured through a telephone call by an overseas-based “cousin” who had requested that money be taken to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to clear and uplift some items from an air freight organization.On his way, he was stopped by a purported customs officer, who was dressed casually, on the Public Road at Herstelling. The “agent” collected the money before urging the man to continue on his way to the CJIA.The tax body has highlighted the procedures in place for the payment of duties and taxes to the agency.It said “Monetary transactions are not conducted outside the official premises of the GRA or during unofficial working hours. All monies must be paid to the cashier of the GRA, where an official receipt will be issued to the taxpayer.”The body explained that with regard to the clearing of personal effects, it has implemented a system which is free of human intervention.“As such,China Jerseys Free Shipping, examinations of personal effects are based on risk profiling and intelligence gathering in the presence of the consignee. Further, only the consignees are authorized to uplift their personal effects from the shipping agents upon presentation of valid forms of identification, and payment of relevant duties,Authentic China Jerseys, taxes and fees,” GRA clarified.The tax agency went on to say that all its staffers are required to wear their badges of identification when performing official duties on behalf of the agency, and must identify themselves to taxpayers.The general public was advised not to make any payment to persons claiming to be a part of the agency, or to conduct any monetary transaction with GRA staff, unless such payments are being made to GRA’s cashiers at the official business office of the agency.“The general public is also encouraged to report any person or staff who might be engaging in illegal activities which can compromise the integrity of the agency and its officers, by calling the agency’s Law Enforcement and Investigation Division on 227 6060 extensions 3201-3208,Cheap NFL Jerseys,” the statement ended.