‘It is crazy’ – Ramjattan concerned over photocopying of tax information

The apparent photocopying of his tax information within the walls of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is of concern to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan who yesterday questioned the timing of the release of this information by outgoing Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur.

“It is crazy. I can’t believe what is being told here,” Ramjattan told Stabroek News yesterday.

Khemraj Ramjattan
Khemraj Ramjattan

In a four-page response to recent “allegations” made by GRA Chairman Rawle Lucas during a press conference last week, Sattaur admitted knowledge of the photocopying of Ramjattan’s tax information and of the person who did it. He said that he was asked to “turn a blind eye to taxpayers’ files—including Minister Ramjattan’s—being photocopied and taken out of the agency by a known person.” Sattaur stopped short of saying who asked him to look the other way.

He indicated too that a list of the names of persons whose files were photocopied would be revealed later.

Ramjattan told this newspaper that he is very concerned that Sattaur had permitted the photocopying of persons’ tax information, including his.

He said he was not sure if Sattaur was “angry” with him because he was axed from the helm of the GRA by the agency’s Board subsequent to a conversation they had.

Ramjattan recalled that during the conversation Sattaur had asked him whether he would be terminated. He said he had responded that he was unaware of that and had not heard that such action was likely to be taken. Sattaur’s service was later terminated.

According to Ramjattan, Sattaur continues be a “close friend of mine,” but he stressed his surprise at the disclosures.

It would appear that the minister’s first course of action would be to gather more information on what Sattaur said before any further moves are decided on.

Last December, Sattaur was sent on vacation with immediate effect to facilitate an upcoming comprehensive audit of the agency by a reputable international firm.

Sattaur who has been Commissioner General for the past 12 years had accumulated leave of more than 200 days.

Last Thursday, a statement from the GRA Board stated that a unanimous decision was taken by the members to sever ties with Sattaur effective March 1.

Lucas subsequently explained that Sattaur was let go after he admitted to having breached his oath of office by releasing private taxpayer data; one of several discoveries that had been made.

In a statement hours after Lucas spoke at a press conference, Sattuar rejected the allegation outright, but did acknowledge that he told the GRA Board that he gave information to a Diplomatic Head of Mission. It was information pertaining to a diplomat and not a taxpayer, he said. This would have occurred one month prior to the May 2015 general elections.

Sattaur said he had taken a very senior GRA staffer to the meeting with the diplomat to serve as a witness and that person may have reported the interaction either to the Board or Minister of Finance Winston Jordan.

Sattaur has not taken his termination of service or the many allegations now being levelled against him, well.

He had said that he been “taken aback” by the Board’s decision to severe ties with him.