The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Monday opened its first regional tax office at Mabaruma, in Region One.
According to the GRA, the office, which was opened at the Regional Democratic Council’s headquarters in the township, has been one of the projects pursued by Commissioner-General Godfrey Statia since he joined the agency in 2016.
“I came up in January last year and I spoke with all the members of the regional council at that point in time and explained to them the need for the office and what the office would do for one, the economy of the town and two the type of services that it would entail that persons wouldn’t have to go to Georgetown anymore,” Statia said according to an audio recording released by the GRA.
Statia noted that taxes are an investment into the
country’s progress and the establishment of the office is proof of the citizens’ tax dollars at work.
Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley, in an address at the opening of the office, stated that it will not only serve residents of Mabaruma but the entire region. “We at the RDC would have heard over the years the many constraints that residents across this region would have been facing as it relates to travelling to Georgetown or to the closest GRA Regional office to transact their business in having business registration, in having TIN Certificates,” Ashley said. “The RDC would have made available the office to temporarily commence operations but the RDC would have identified and agreed with GRA where the permanent office will be established,” he added.
According to the chairman, he believes that residents were previously exploited and with the establishment of the office in Mabaruma that will be reduced. Present at the ceremony were officials of the GRA, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan and representatives of other government ministries.
Mayor of Mabaruma Chris Phang, in his address at the ceremony, expressed his gratitude and implored residents of the town and region at large to take advantage of the services that will be offered at the GRA office. “Today is a historic day for me as Mayor of the town and for the people of Region One in general as we can now breathe a sigh of relief for the many services the Guyana Revenue Authority is bringing to the town and region at large,” Phang said.
