Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Khurshid Sattaur says the statements that the main opposition PNCR-1G made regarding the implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) are careless and ill-informed.
Speaking at a press briefing held yesterday at the studios of the National Communications Network (NCN), Sattaur said that as head of the GRA, he is troubled by the statements – carried in the press yesterday – noting that there were ample opportunities for these during the Parliamentary debates prior to the passage of legislation and order.
He said that the statements seem to send conflicting signals regarding the level of support and cooperation. He said that VAT would require a strong will on the part of all stakeholders to be successfully implemented.
“We make a whole-hearted appeal to the leadership of all political parties to educate themselves of the relevant issues affecting the smooth transition. We call on these parties to weigh all the facts relating to the issues and to exercise good judgement in determining their merit,” Sattaur said.
The party at its weekly press briefing on Thursday said the experience of businessmen and consumers over the last week have negated the assurances of President Bharrat Jagdeo that VAT would result in a reduction of the cost of living for Guyanese. The party said that on the contrary, there has been a draconian increase in the prices of certain items. It lamented that while Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and GRA head Khurshid Sattaur threaten and harass businessmen, the state media are being used to pedal half-truths and misleading information to the people. At the same time, the party noted that consumers are faced with the increased costs of almost every item essential to their existence, while businessmen with stocks accumulated before December 2006 are left to determine how to recoup their expenses when the GRA has only made provisions for stocks acquired in December 2006.
Sattaur said that “intemperate statements made by the Leader of the Opposition (Robert Corbin) would only serve to endanger the lives of the staff of the GRA”.
He appealed to the leadership of all political parties to educate themselves on the relevant issues impinging upon the smooth transition and exercise prudent judgement in ascertaining their merit.
“If unscrupulous businesses succeed in their campaign to hoodwink the political directorate of this country the ultimate result will be further exploitation and deception of the consuming public
