At its 171st meeting held today, the Governing Board of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) took a unanimous decision to terminate the relationship between Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur and the Revenue Authority.
A release from the GRA said that this decision will take effect on March 1, 2016. A press conference has been scheduled for tomorrow at 10am in the Agency’s Training Room to further discuss this development.
Acting Commissioner-General, Ingrid Griffith will continue to function in the position of Commissioner General until further notice.
On December 17, the GRA took a unanimous decision to send Sattaur on vacation leave with immediate effect to facilitate an upcoming comprehensive audit of the agency by a reputable international firm.
Khurshid Sattaur issued the following statement last night in response to the GRA statement:
At the very inception the many public pronouncements made by the Prime Minister indicated that it would be uncomfortable for me to continue as the head of the GRA under the new Administration. I held office at the pleasure of the Minister, President and the Board and they are entitled to adopt the course of action they have taken.
Immediately after the new Government was installed I made a request to the President of this country for my services to be continued as the head of GRA and I offered my continued commitment and dedication to the Revenue Administration of Guyana. I received a response through a letter some time in September that was backdated in July acknowledging my offer but indicating to me that His Excellency’s Ministers will take a decision. In the meanwhile I was given all assurances from both the Minister of the Presidency and the Minister of Public Security that there was nothing to be worried about concerning continuing my services with the GRA.
However, within the GRA there were many strange developments that belied or contradicted what was communicated to me by the politicians aforementioned. Professional ethics precludes me from disclosing any of these matters. Suffice it to say, however, I was extremely taken aback by the decision taken by the Board on 2nd December 2015 to have me proceed immediately on leave. According to the reasons offered this was to facilitate an impending forensic audit of the Agency.
As the public is well aware since proceeding on leave certain incidents have occurred including a press conference conducted by the chairman that have targeted me and would appeared to suggest that my days were numbered at the GRA. It does concern me that I gave long and dedicated service to my beloved country for which I have received a national award (the CCH), for my outstanding performance and I am now being discarded and attempts are being made to have me ridiculed and publicly embarrassed by the very agency that I gave long and dedicated service. These incidents sad to say would appear to have been orchestrated to make it very uncomfortable for me to continue serving with the same dedication and sincerity with which I approach my work. It is apparent that if I were to resume duties at the end of my leave period I would have been unable to execute my mandate in an effective manner.
I am therefore very much relieved that the Board probably sensing my discomfort has compassionately chosen to terminate my services after giving me the necessary notice and most optimistically would be providing me with my hard earned benefits including my pension benefits up to my legal age of retirement on 31st October 2017 among other entitlement that applies to termination such as severance pay and my full leave passage entitlement.
I now look forward for a peaceful retirement and to engage in less strenuous activities that would allow me to enjoy the benefits of my long and dedicated service to this country. I am very proud and feel most honoured to have served my country with dedication, commitment and distinction.
Khurshid Sattaur
21st January 2016
