The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has refuted allegations of improper and secretive disposal of documents from its Camp Street, Georgetown headquarters and insists that whatever was observed was normal and above board.
In a release yesterday, the management of the GRA appealed to those who have been “maliciously” spreading inaccurate and unfounded information to the public through electronic and other media, to desist from doing so in this current political climate.
The GRA referred to recent posts on Facebook alleging that several private garbage disposal vehicles were seen at the GRA’s headquarters loading and carting off ‘documents’ while being observ-ed by its Law Enforcement arm. “This is nothing but a reckless and deliberate attempt to peddle misleading information and propaganda about the Authority for self-serving purposes,” the Authority retorted.
According to GRA, these statements are “abso-lutely” untrue. It assured the general public that it did not dispose of any confidential documents and that all its records are intact and can withstand any scrutiny to attest to this fact. In addition there was no escort of the garbage trucks to the dump-site by Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) staff.
The Authority said that its disposal receptacles are permanently placed at the GRA Head office location, which houses a staff of over 600 persons, and receives over 1,000 taxpayer visits per day. The garbage trucks, it says, are called in when the receptacles are full or overflowing with trash or builders waste. This is a weekly occurrence with Cevon’s Waste Disposal Services contracted to carry out this service, and owing to the recent construction work at the Authority, more waste material was being produced than usual.
The GRA further explained that it has no say in the time of arrival of the garbage trucks as this is entirely within the discretion of the garbage company.
The Authority assured that the disposal of confidential documents, once they become statute-barred as well as other assets of value, is done in accordance with the financial regulations, laws administered by the GRA, and the Auditor General. The standard procedure, it says, is for the Commissioner-General to notify the Office of the Auditor General for an audit of the disposal exercise and in all cases, the Auditor-General would then witness the disposal.
The Authority says it is not surprised at this level of “mischievousness” since numerous attempts have been made to do so in the past and it is therefore no surprise that the disposal of garbage, a common bi-weekly practice has suddenly gained notoriety.
The GRA cautions the general public “…not be manipulated by these undesirable elements without factual evidence or based on hearsay. They use the guise of anonymity to attempt to besmirch the reputation of the GRA and the integrity of its staff for their own nefarious reasons,” the release added.
Most disappointing, the GRA said, is the attempt to tarnish the good image of one of the Authority’s senior officers who had served the Authority with distinction.
“The GRA is asking such persons to cease and desist from making further factually untrue statements that play on people’s emotions to the detriment of Guyana. Ours is an Agency that prides itself in its integrity and our officers will not be distracted from its mandate to administer the country’s tax laws and regulations in a fair and consistent manner regardless of political persuasions”, the statement added.
