GRA should aim to be world-class tax administration — Finance Minister

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, on Wednesday visited the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Headquarters and the various GRA facilities at respective wharves in Georgetown.
The visit, a release from Singh’s office said, occurred amidst the busy Christmas and year-end clearance process and enabled the Minister to inspect the operations at the respective facilities. The visit also allowed for the Minister to meet with GRA Department Heads to outline the Government’s key priorities, including increased efficiency and a high level of integrity.

During his visit to the Headquarters on Camp Street, Dr Singh, who was accompanied by newly-appointed Chairman of the GRA Board, Saisnarine Kowlessar, met with Commissioner-General Godfrey Statia and toured the offices in the compound.
After congratulating the new board members on their appointment and wishing them well in the discharge of their responsibilities, the Minister said, “GRA should aim to be a world-class tax administration,” as he addressed Senior Management gathered in the Oil and Gas Unit.

He added, “It is opportune that we are meeting in the room of the oil and gas unit, as particularly where we are as a country, we are at a critical juncture, a defining moment, the moment that our country is really going to turn the corner from a country where there were a number of fiscal challenges to one which is now an oil producer and exporter with different challenges, including the need to manage our finances carefully and sustainably.”

On this note, the minister reminded GRA that despite the importance of revenue from oil and gas, domestic revenue mobilisation was still a priority.
“The coming into existence of an oil and gas sector does not mean that revenue collection from other sectors will not matter. In fact, it will be quite the opposite,” he said as he alluded to other non-oil sectors which his Government would be prioritising as well.

Pointing to the modernisation of infrastructure taking place in the country, the Finance Minister noted that this must be accompanied by rapid modernisation in the manner in which Government services are delivered to taxpayers. He further emphasised GRA’s role in trade facilitation and the need for the rapid deployment of electronic tax-payer services, along with delivery of services in a client-friendly manner.
Turning his attention to corruption, Minister Singh then reaffirmed his Government’s zero tolerance stance on this as he cautioned that anyone found to be part of corruption would be dealt with condignly.

“We expect, as a Government, the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in revenue administration. That is the charge that President Irfaan Ali has given to his entire Cabinet. That is the charge that we are not only mandated, but required to convey to all entities within our respective sectors,” he reaffirmed.
Wrapping up his visit, the minister inspected the GRA’s operations at the various wharves, including those at the Guyana National Industrial Company’s (GNIC) wharf and the GRA’s Container Scanner Unit.