Dear Editor,
I read with interest in your newspapers of 31st August of the various appointments to some very important boards, I am very happy that the Customs Tribunal has now been reconstituted as I have business colleagues who have issues with valuation of their imports and could not have their matters addressed without pursuing legal action.
I observe that the name Nizam Ali appears on two Boards, namely the VAT and Income Tax review boards. While I understand that Mr. Ali is highly regarded for his competence it boggles the mind that in a country of many other highly qualified Accounting and Tax experts as to why this gentleman should be named to two important bodies. I can think of Rameshwar Lal, Ramesh Seebarran, Anand Goolsarran and many others who are eminently qualified to serve. I understand that it is possible some of these have been approached and have refused because they are too busy or can have possible conflicts of interest but the point is that the optics of appointing one person to both of these critical boards does not look good in this situation.
It is also observed that the name Shaleeza Shaw appears on both the Income Tax Review Board as well as the Investment Committee of the Natural Resource Fund. Editor, here again is it that there is no one else competent to perform these functions that it was necessary to have this person on both Boards? Ms Shaw is also the current acting Chair of GuySuCo.
Finally, in the interest of public accountability the public should have a brief resume published for all of these personnel appointed so that one can come to some understanding as to whether or not these persons are suitably qualified for the task at hand. In my opinion this is most important given the President’s stated intention to be more transparent and accountable during his tenure in Office.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address supplied)
