Dear Editor,
The GRA wishes to respond to a letter published in the letter column of the October 14, 2015 edition of the Stabroek News with the caption `Why can’t the public get access to GRA’s data?’ by M. Maxwell.
The GRA appreciates Mr. Maxwell’s concerns and is happy that such a healthy interest is being given to the operations of the Agency. However, we do believe that M. Maxwell may already know the answer to the query (via letter) that he is making. Most citizens, however may take the question at face value and not be in the know as to why the public is not privy to GRA’s data.
In responding to Mr. Maxwell’s query, one would first need to consider why, in the first instance, the GRA is seeking such information from Commercial Banks on citizens. Mr. Maxwell, has, interestingly, answered the question himself partly when he made reference to “this could be a good move to combat tax evasion, money-laundering and other illicit activities”. This is, in fact, why the GRA has been required to take such action as the Agency only carries out actions mandated by Law. As it stands, the GRA being required to seek access to taxpayer information via commercial banks is what now pertains in accordance with the requirements of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
This brings us to the actual query he made on why the public cannot get access to GRA’s data. Mr. Maxwell should know that GRA’s information on its daily activities can be found on its website and could be followed via its television and other Public Relations programmes which record the daily activities of the Agency. There is also the yearly Budget which provides pronouncements to the public on the revenue collection performance of the GRA. If Mr. Maxwell is referring to the investigative activities of the Agency (such as tip offs for drug busts, investigations into illegal activities such as smuggling etc, the Agency’s financial accounts etc) then he has to be unreasonable to suggest that such law enforcement and accounting investigative activities could be paraded in the public domain. It should be noted that the Agency has never been shy about publicising the various activities of its Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) and the revenue recouped as a result of its enforcement actions.
Again, Mr. Maxwell needs to understand the way Laws are administered and there is no bargaining chip for such. The GRA does not simply decide to take advantage of the general public through its actions. It only administers whichever Law is put in place and requires administering by the Agency.
We hope this provides some clarity to Mr. Maxwell’s query.
Yours faithfully,
Khurshid Sattaur
Commissioner-General
GRA