Former Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Khurshid Sattaur passed away yesterday having battled illness over the past year.
He was 63 years old.
Tributes poured in for Sattaur who served this country for over 25 years, first as head of the Inland Revenue Department until its merger with the Customs and Excise Department in 2000. His services were terminated in 2016 by the current government.
“The news of the passing of Mr. Khurshid Sattaur, Former Commissioner- General of the Guyana Revenue Authority has come as a great shock to us all. Mr. Sattaur was certainly a leader who made an impact on those that met him. His many contributions to this agency will forever be remembered. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time,” a tribute on the GRA’s website from its Governing Board, Commissioner- General, Godfrey Statia and Management & Staff stated.
Former President Donald Ramotar remembered a public servant who he said would not accept mediocrity from his staff and was sometimes stern but always meant well for both his agency and its employees.
“Khurshid Sattaur was an outstanding public servant in Guyana. He instituted many initiatives and measures and was pivotal in transforming the GRA into an autonomous agency. He led the agency with distinction even though he had an unorthodox style of management. He was unique,” Ramotar told Stabroek News.
“If there is one thing that anyone can say about him was that he led with integrity. As I extend deepest sympathies to his family, I hope that they can take some comfort that this country is thankful because a lot of his life was in service to his country and people and he has made a big difference in Guyana,” Ramotar added.
He said that during interactions with Sattaur while he was president, he found that he was exceptionally knowledgeable on a wide number of issues and knew the country’s income tax laws inside out. “When it came to matters of work, you could depend on him,” Ramotar said.
Sattaur’s friend and current Governor of the Bank of Guyana Gobind Ganga also reflected on Sattaur’s work ethic. “He was one of the first Commissioners General of GRA and he served both GRA and the country very well in his capacity, I can only say with distinction. Khurshid was a Recipient of a CCH (Cacique Crown of Honour) award and it was most fitting and well deserved. That man always had a critical and independent mind. You could not tell him anything and he would not first fact check and analyze it. This country has lost a good person and anyone who would have worked with him at GRA would feel the impact of the loss,” he said.
Current Deputy Commissioner General, Customs, Excise and Trade Administration, Lancelot Wills also paid tribute to Sattaur as he expressed sympathy, “He was a dedicated public officer,” Wills said.
Following his termination, the Bel Air Village-born Sattaur, established a tax advisory and accounting business near to the place of his birth. He would leave his Ogle, East Coast Demerara home every day and worked up to the time he left for the United States last year for medical treatment.
A devout Muslim, his funeral will be according to those beliefs. “The burial of our departed colleague will take place tomorrow, May 27, 2020. Viewing will commence at 12:30pm until 1:45pm at the Muslim Youth Organisation Complex, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown. Janaza will thereafter be observed at 2 pm and thence to the Bel Air Cemetery for burial,” a notice from the Old Students’ Association of his Alma Mater, Queen’s College stated.
