GRA HEAD TAKES HARSH STANCE ON CORRUPTION

Jan 16, 2019 Editorial

Shortly after taking office in 2016, the Commissioner General (CG) of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Godfrey Statia, stated that if he failed to achieve certain benchmarks, he will step down as head of the agency.
In a highly dramatic manner, Mr. Godfrey Statia, who is a certified accountant, and an Attorney-at-law, had vowed to stamp out corruption at the nation’s principal tax collection agency and restore its confidence among the people.
He also promised to establish team-work among senior management officials, boost morale among all staff members and re-train the staff to meet the requirements of the country’s tax and border laws and regulations.
Two years into his tenure, there are some major changes to the structure, operations and functions of the GRA. Corruption, bribery and other illegal acts have reduced significantly at the agency compared to two years ago. Its tax collection base has been expanded and the process of filing tax returns has been simplified for individuals and corporations.
The CG has also improved the agency’s operations at its customs and investigative divisions to enforce the tax laws. The GRA has had an active two years in relation to seizure of contraband goods, high-end vehicles and large quantities of smuggled fuel into the country.
These changes are in line with Statia’s declared state men that “from 2016 onwards, there would be no more sacred cows and that the tax-dragnet network would be considerably widened to reign in individual and corporate tax cheaters and end corruption and bribery from top to bottom at the agency.”
The CG has also implemented a series of new practices and policies to reduce corruption and bribery and close the tax and the duty free concessions loopholes that had existed for decades. Internally, the CG has also transferred or rerouted senior staff members to other departments.
It is clear that the CG has been attacking the problems at GRA from their roots, which according to public policy experts, is the most practical solution.
It seems that the CG is also very serious about ending the breaches of tax collection and concessions in the country. In fact, he has drawn 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.”
According to the CG, it is no longer business as usual at the GRA. There shall be no evasion of taxes by the public, including businesses and the smuggling and sale of contraband goods, which have become part of the country’s underground economy.
Bribery, corruption and the creation of spurious businesses will not be tolerated by the GRA. In that past two decades alone, it is estimated that the country has lost almost one trillion 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, especially the poor of much-needed benefits such as improved healthcare and education, construction and repair of proper roads and infrastructure and the supply of adequate potable water.
Although the GRA appears to be more people-friendly and efficient and has increased revenue collection and reduced smuggling and the sale of contraband goods, corruption is still rampant at the agency.
Last week reports surfaced that the agency has dismissed some twelve custom officers who have in excess of 20 years of service for alleged corruption and another dozen is under investigation.
True to his word, the CG’s harsh stance on corruption has proved that he has indeed drawn a line in the sand, not only against the public, but also against GRA staffers.

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