Dear Editor,

Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr. Khurshid Sattaur and the Revenue Authority are alarmed at the malicious, baseless and irresponsible statements made by prominent public figures regarding the granting of tax exemptions.

Mr. Sattaur alluded to statements made by the host of the television programme “Walter Rodney Groundings” and guests during the Sunday October 11, 2009 broadcast of the programme on HBTV Ch. 9, which alleged that the GRA grants duty-free concessions for the purchase of motor vehicles on the basis of race.

He said that it is the view of the GRA that the statements made by these mischievous public figures are intended to tarnish the image of the organisation, and more particularly to bring into disrepute the Tax Exemption Processing and Verification Division.

Mr. Sattaur said the Tax Exemption Division process is transparent and impartial in the execution of their duties. He noted that there are standard procedures to follow and once persons meet the stipulated legal requirements, the tax exemption will be granted.

The GRA has published its general application procedure and category-specific requirements for the granting of tax exemptions on its website, www.revenuegy.org for the benefit of the public. Judgment requires a yardstick of measurement and the criteria as published are the yardsticks by which the granting of exemptions is to be judged, he said.

In addition, every year the Tax Exemption Processing and Verification Division is required to publish a statement of the taxes exempted for various categories of application granted. In addition, the Division has been audited by the Auditor General’s office.

The Division also has adequate systems in place to address issues arising from transactions with eligible persons. Over the years, many persons who would have encountered difficulties would have visited the office to have their matters resolved.

Further, the Division engages in post evaluation and approval exercises which include visits to the business and personal premises of persons who benefit from tax and duty exemptions to ensure that the items are used for their intended purposes.

Moreover, to facilitate the speedy processing, the GRA in March 2008 removed the requirement of a driver’s licence for head teachers qualifying for tax exemption to purchase a motor vehicle which resulted from negotiations between the Govern-ment and the Guyana Teachers Union.

The GRA has always discharged and will continue to discharge its mandate with integrity, fearlessness and unimpeded by racial or political influences. The Authority is encouraging media operatives to desist from engaging in such hasty and irresponsible statements.

Mr. Sattaur noted, that while there have not been any direct attacks on the Officers attached to the Tax Exemption Processing and Verification Division, the statements made during the October 11, 2009 broadcast of “Walter Rodney Grounding” has left these Officers fearful of attacks by rogue members of the public who may be influenced negatively by these statements.

Yours faithfully,
Peter Fraser
PRO GRA