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Responsible journalism was very absent in this incident

Mar 10, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
It was recently observed that a reputable newspaper for the purpose of sensationalism published the content of a draft report on the review of the tax system prepared under the Guyana Threshold Country Plan Implementation Project (GTCP/IP).
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) views such an approach as irresponsible and completely inconsistent with the practice of responsible journalism by knowledgeable professionals.
Draft reports should not be taken and published wholesale, rather they should be analysed, since there is the likelihood of errors, especially where figures may be amplified.

Further, given the date of the report it would be good to note what progress was made since it was penned.
Attempts should have been made to find out from the GRA if steps were taken to strengthen enforcement and improve compliance since the draft was submitted.
Further, since the writer was unclear of government’s response to the draft report much care should have been taken in publicising it, as it would appear that the intention is to have a field day and embarrass the Government and the GRA, and undermine revenue collection.

It gives a false impression of the GRA which can affect the organisation as well as the morale of the staff.
In conjunction with the publication of various aspects of the draft of the “Review of the Tax system” it must be noted that since the commencement of the project in January 2008 the GRA has made significant progress in moving toward a functional organisation.
Under the two-year project, which commenced on January 14, 2008, the GRA’s Governing Board and the Commissioner-General has already taken steps to improve the organisation’s efficiency in administration and tax collections.

The reforms started several years ago and was funded by several donor agencies, the latest being the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
The GRA is receiving technical assistance to implement several tax reform measures aimed at improving the organisation’s effectiveness in revenue generation.
Peter Fraser,
Senior Manager Public Relations

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