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GRA rebuilds burnt-out Linden office
The new GRA building in Linden.
A delegation from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) headquarters in Georgetown visited Linden on Wednesday for a tour of the new Integrated Regional Tax Office (IRTO) at Casaurina Drive, Mackenzie. The facility was rebuilt at a cost of $35M.
The visiting team included Deputy Commissioner of Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID), Karen Chapman, Head of Operational Support Services Ingrid Griffith and Assistant Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Lavina Walrond.
They met Branch Manager, Desiree Parkinson, and staff of the Linden IRTO as well as a few residents for a chat.
Fire destroyed the building three years ago following protests by residents over a proposed plan by Government to hike electricity rates.
That fire significantly affected GRA operations in the region. However, temporary accommodation at Republic Avenue allowed GRA to resume services while reconstruction at Casuarina Drive was in progress.
“We struggled against the odds, overcame the challenges, including funding, and have been able to erect this brand new structure to the tune in excess of $35M, almost two years later,” Chapman said.
Chapman who also spoke on behalf of Commissioner-General of the GRA, Khurshid Sattaur, said, “While Linden is not one of our main areas of revenue collection it has a significant target set annually, as the revenue from all tax types is in excess of $2B,”.
Chapman, who holds responsibility for integrated regional offices, implored staff at the location to take good care of the facility as the GRA continues to work towards meeting higher revenue targets.
Dr. Joseph Haynes, who made temporary accommodation possible for the displaced staff after the fire, was also in attendance. Dr. Haynes that said he was happy to know that the building was re-established for the benefit of taxpayers in the Region.
Congratulations were also extended by a representative of the business community in Linden who expressed the hope that the resumption of services will be advantageous to businesses in the town and that there will be little or no need for travel to Georgetown.
Duties at the new location commenced on December 30, 2014 allowing a number of incorporated tax related services to resume. Among them are the submission of the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Certificates, Income, Property and Value Added Tax (VAT) Returns, Tax Compliance, Liability and Estate Duty Certificates and letters and the application for Motor Vehicle Trade and Miscellaneous licences and temporary drivers’ licences.
The office operated separately until 2008 when it merged as a branch office of the GRA primarily focusing on customs and income tax. It was later converted into an IRTO, joining others at Parika in Region Three, New Amsterdam and Corriverton in Region Six, Bartica in Region Seven and Lethem in Region Nine that were also converted.
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