Latest update February 9th, 2025 1:59 PM
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- “Oil-rich Guyana is worse off from the very start”- Glenn Lall
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COMMISSIONER GENERAL TRANSFORMED GRA
For decades, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was considered one of the most corrupt public agencies in the country. Several GRA officials from the highest to the lowest ranks were accused of corruption and bribery. As a result, many turned a blind eye to the smuggling of products into the country.
Due to bribery, several businesses were exempted from paying taxes; the clearance of containers without paying taxes was commonplace. Bribery and corruption at the GRA was so massive that very few believed it could have stopped. But they were wrong. The change of government has led to the appointment of a new Commissioner General (CG) of the GRA.
As head of the GRA, Mr. Godfrey Statia, promised to rid the agency of bribery and corruption and rebuild its tarnished image. He had asked his staff to be courteous in the execution of their duty and to be the best they can be so that the GRA could become the best version of itself as the country’s principal tax collection agency.
He declared that there would be no more sacred cows and that the tax network would be considerably widened to rein in the tax cheaters, end smuggling and reduce corruption and bribery within the agency.
Many in the public and even some officials from the GRA did not believe Statia because of endemic corruption inside the agency.
Within two years, the CG has fired several GRA officials for corruption, bribery and other illegal activities. Today, it seems that the bribery and corruption, which had plagued the GRA for decades has been reduced. The agency has put a dent into the lawlessness regarding illegal license plates, evasion of taxes and smuggling.
The actions by the CG have reduced corruption, which had become imbedded at the institution.
Mr. Godfrey Statia has transformed the GRA by attacking the issues from their roots.
However, strict adherence to the policies and practices have led to growing tension among some GRA officials who feel that without bribe, their opulent lifestyle is being threatened.
It seems that Statia is very serious about ending the breaches of tax collection and concessions in the country. He has drew a line in the sand when he said: “I have no friends when it comes to the collection of taxes and no one dares call to ask me favours. This is not how a tax agency is run.” This is a rare but very powerful, authentic and heroic statement from the head of the country’s premier tax collection agency. Statia has clearly established a very high benchmark for public officials in general. Very few if any of them, including ministers of the government could make such bold statement.
According to the CG, it is no longer business as usual at the GRA because in the past, corruption and bribery within the agency, smuggling and the evasion of taxes by the public, including businesses had no limits.
The increase in smuggling has become part of Guyana’s underground trade. It has encouraged some of the filthy-rich smugglers to establish fake businesses as fronts for their illegal activities.
Over the years, Guyana has lost trillions of dollars in revenue due to the smuggling of fuel, gold, food, cigarettes, alcohol, electronic equipment and much more.
The loss in revenue has deprived citizens of much-needed benefits like improved healthcare, better education, adequate potable water, proper roads and infrastructure etc. Yet what operates now is far removed from the corruption of the past.
People no longer talk about discriminatory taxes. The situation could only get better.
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