Terrible service from the GRA in New Amsterdam

May 06, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
I have refrained myself from writing in this section of your newspapers for over two months now. The reason why I desisted from doing so is because I felt that no one acts upon what is written. The ‘unacceptable things’ that happen in Guyana seem to be perpetual and never ending. I am compelled to write again. This time on the ‘inefficient service’ provided by the Guyana Revenue Authority in New Amsterdam, Berbice. I am writing this piece with much aspiration that those in authority can pay strict attention to it and be conscientious.
On Thursday afternoon, at around 15:15hrs, I visited the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in New Amsterdam to submit my Income tax returns. I presented my tax returns to a GRA official and requested a receipt for my submission. The official told me in a very polite tone, “Please have a seat. I will get it to you”. I made myself very comfortable in one of the chairs provided for taxpayers with much optimism. Thirty five minutes elapsed and I was still seated there, empty handed. I then decided to enquire about my receipt from another GRA official, since the one that received my tax returns was nowhere to be seen.
I provided the official with my ID card as was requested and was told to “sit outside and wait”. Another 15 minutes went by. Then the official returned my ID card and was going through a huge pile of papers for the receipt. I felt disgusted waiting so I left. Almost one hour of my time was wasted even though there was no other person with tax returns to be attended to. Will this country ever get better with its services? I honestly feel that the reason why I didn’t receive a receipt for the submission of my returns is because of the lackadaisical and ineffectual attitude of those officials at GRA.
Since I do not have any proof of the submission, should a situation arise whereby it is necessary for me to produce evidence that I submitted my returns for last year, would I be an unfortunate one to be told that I didn’t submit any? I hope not! I am therefore, appealing to the GRA officials to be efficient and value the time of others while delivering to the people. Why waste people’s time? Time is too precious to be frittered away.
Ashan Bacchus

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