GRA requests details of GCCI’s attitudinal survey

Mar 21, 2014 News

While the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has welcomed the recently released findings of the attitudinal survey by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) by its President Clinton Urling, it has also made a request to the Chamber to share the survey for the purpose of analysis and possible actions based on the recommendations made by the participants.
The Authority has said that it noted that the survey revealed only a few respondents who met with difficulties while conducting business with GRA. This was reflected by 12 percent of the participants who highlighted the inefficiency of Customs as a hindrance. Also three respondents identified the GRA as an entity they would like to see improved.
Through a public missive, the Authority said that while it does not negate the fact that there is room for improvement it would have appreciated if specifics could have been provided on the part of the Chamber as it relates to what improvements can be made and in what areas.
The administration expressed that it is always open to the views of all stakeholders and it continues to work towards the strengthening of its system and implementing measures that will improve efficiency and create a more transparent operation.
The GRA then sought to highlight the measures already taken to fight corruption both in terms of tax evasion by businessmen and women as well as the collusion of staff members of the GRA with business persons.
These measures include; the recent Random Selection of Imported Goods for examination which is now the ownership of the public, and which came about as a result of skepticism by the public about the GRA’s goods examination process. Another measure mentioned was that of the processing system in which all declarations are profiled at Georgetown instead of different locations.
Recently, the GRA has taken the initiative to introduce other means of paying taxes in terms of the internet and tele-banking option and the over-the-counter facility of Bill Express to limit taxpayers’ interface with staff of the organization.
“The GRA has taken and will continue to take disciplinary action against staff found guilty of corrupt practices and deal condignly with businesses that seek to evade taxes. Indeed the task of promoting transparency in the GRA has not been smooth sailing and in the process, tough actions were required, oftentimes against some officers who were entrusted to execute the GRA’s mandate in accordance with the law. Additionally, the online declaration checker is in GRA’s view, one of the most transparent measures in which the importer is privy to the various processes in which he/she can track the progress of their declaration.”
Based on the aforementioned measures adopted by the Authority to improve its systems, it then expressed that it is disturbed with the contents of a Kaieteur News editorial which it felt did not properly address the contents of the survey during its analysis.
“The GRA finds it a bit disturbing that the Kaieteur News could pen statements, as appeared in the Editorial of the aforementioned edition, to conflict with and water-down the findings of the survey and veil the strides made by the GRA in addressing the scourge of corruption. The GRA would prefer constructive criticism, which not only seeks to highlight flaws and weaknesses, but also equally highlight the successes and strengths while underling the areas for improvement.”

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