IT ALL HAPPENS HERE

Oct 24, 2014 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

If you live long enough in Guyana, you are bound to see it all, hear it all and read it all. Nothing that happens in this country should surprise anyone. Not anymore
Take for example that amazing story that was reported in yesterday’s edition of the Kaieteur News where it was claimed that someone who had benefitted from remigration concessions on the importation of a Mercedes Benz Sport Utility Vehicle, did not know that he had to live in Guyana.
What then does it mean to be a re-migrant? Does it not mean that one is making a conscious decision to make Guyana the place where one will be ordinarily domiciled? How can one be ordinary domiciled in Guyana if one does not live here?
What is even more surprising is the fact that the person claimed that he was not aware of the requirement to return to Guyana. Now this individual would have been required to be interviewed by both the Foreign Ministry as well as the Guyana Revenue Authority. I am sure that somewhere along the line, persons being interviewed for re-migrant status are going to be asked to confirm whether they intend to return to live in Guyana.
But even more astonishing is how the registration of the vehicle was renewed by the ever-vigilant Guyana Revenue Authority. Did they do any checks to confirm that the person in whose name the vehicle was registered was living in Guyana?
Yet they went after two elderly American citizens who were living in Guyana. They seized the vehicles belonging to these two individuals even though they were in Guyana at the time. These two elderly Americans have been placed under considerable stress, more so, since they are now facing charges before the Courts. The stress has taken a toll on these two persons’ health.
The more you think about this situation, the more upsetting it becomes. Here are two persons who came back to live and are now being put under great stress. On the other hand, here is another case of someone who admits to not knowing that he had to live in Guyana, not having any of the problems that these two elderly citizens have. Here is a case whereby there was someone who benefitted from a concession running into millions of dollars and the GRA did not see it fit to take any action. This is clearly wrong and someone must answer for it.
This confirms what was mentioned last week in one of these columns, that there is a need for a management audit of the Guyana Revenue Authority to determine the level of efficiency involved in policing these concessions to ensure that those who benefit from them actually reside in Guyana. In the case publicized in yesterday’s edition, the person admitted to not knowing that this was a requirement.
The Guyana Revenue Authority is not likely to undertake any management audit of its operations. This may reveal too many skeletons. But the fact that something as blatant as this could have occurred right under their noses is really a shocking indictment against the tax agency, and one that needs to be addressed.
While, however, the Guyana Revenue Authority is not likely to undertake such an audit, it is not beyond the scope of the Auditor General to undertake such an audit. It is also not beyond the authority of the Auditor General to investigate specific instances whereby persons who have not re-migrated have enjoyed such concessions.
The Auditor General should therefore broaden the scope of his investigation to include a management audit of the Guyana Revenue Authority to determine how foolproof are the systems that are employed, and whether the manner in which the Authority is managed on a day to day basis, has in any way contributed to cases like the one mentioned in yesterday’s newspapers falling through the cracks.
More interesting, of course, is what does the Guyana Revenue Authority intend to do about the man who claimed that he did not know that he had to live in Guyana?
Are they going to deal with him the way they dealt with Glenn Lall? And are they going to go after his high-ranking relative whose address he used when applying for the concession?
It is because of the revelations like yesterday’s story that Kaieteur News has been placed in the firing line. It is for bringing out what is taking place in Guyana that the government wants to jail Glenn Lall and close down his newspaper. They must not succeed, or wrongdoing and cronyism will take over Guyana.

Latest News

IT ALL HAPPENS HERE

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | February, 3rd, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

BCA, GCB to attend CWI meeting on February 9

Bolstered Harpy Eagles eyeing perfect home record...

Hockey PAHF Junior Challenge schedule released

Mash Street Football Super-16 Showdown in Mocha...

Govt’s unified approach will see significant...

Camille’s Academy unites with GGA Nexgen...

Features/Columnists

Democracy is a long-term commitment

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Renegotiation-speaking only for me

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

IT ALL HAPPENS HERE

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | February, 3rd, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]