Dear Editor,
I refer to a letter penned by Mr D Deonarine regarding the right of the Commission-er-General to make public comments in relation to government policies, which appeared in the Stabroek News, dated December 14, and titled ‘The Commission-er-General of the GRA should not be commenting on government policy.’
Firstly, Mr Deonarine should realize that the Commissioner-General occupies an office that is governmental and more importantly an office that is responsible for the main revenue collection within the country; as such it is within the rights of the Commissioner-General as a government official to put forward his opinions.
This letter smacks of mischief and is grossly disrespectful to the Commissioner-General. Is Mr Deonarine insinuating that someone who holds such an important office is not knowledgeable about those very policies that ensure the efficient running of the very country Mr Deonarine calls home?
Mr Sattaur has opened my eyes to many things concerning why it is important for taxpayers to pay their taxes, and as head of the GRA he has a bounden duty to carry out the policies of the government, since he is the custodian of the taxpayers’ money. Therefore, when reference is made to government policies by the Commissioner-General, it is mainly to clarify or amplify a point raised by the taxpayers in the letter columns of the national news papers or in the media.
Instead of stressing himself out concerning what the Commissioner-General must not say, the letter writer should visit the GRA’s website to become educated in relation to what the mission statement is about.
The mission of the Guyana Revenue Authority is to promote compliance with Guyana’s tax, trade, and border laws and regulations through education, quality service and responsible enforcement programmes, thereby contributing to the economic and social well-being of the people of Guyana.
The Commissioner-General has every right to comment on government’s policies in the execution of his job.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address
provided)
