Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 26, 2016 Letters
Dear Editor,
Mr. Sattaur has again displayed his lack of professionalism and his penchant for ingratiation in his letter “GRA will not be sidetracked by opportunistic views.”
He is right in saying that he should not be sidetracked. What he should be focusing on is what the Finance Minister said about the GRA lack of succession and lack of transparency. My letters were just pointing out weaknesses and making recommendation. I have been doing this over the years in writing and personally to Mr. Sattaur. Maybe my recent letters were motivated because of the change in administration and with it a hope for a more professional and less politicized GRA.
Mr. Sattaur claimed that the task force was political and imposed on the then Inland Revenue Department. The task force was set up because the donor countries wanted Guyana to make an effort to collect its revenue and not to only focus on debt write-off. It was funded by the Japanese.
I can say a lot more about the task force, especially Mr. Sattaur’s role, but will leave this for the future if needed (and not to prove that I am suffering from amnesia, as he claimed). But what is most laughable, is his claim of being political. Who has been more political than Mr. Sattuar? I do not need to go into details, it may need a book, and so much has been ventilated in the press in the form of Mr. Sattaur utterances, the Kaieteur news/Glen Lall matter, the DDL tax case and the Freddy Kissoon property tax issue.
I had mentioned in my letter about the slippage of tax revenues in certain sectors. I could have said all sectors but wanted to focus on foreign-owned business because of the opportunities of abuse using transfer pricing and cost allocation methodologies in non-arm’s length transactions. However, Mr. Sattaur again saw it fit to comment on a specific tax matter.
Anyway, I am shocked to hear that this matter is still in court. This matter originated since 1998 and the GRA had paid substantial amounts to prominent PPP connected lawyers for representation. Most importantly, I hoped that the CG would have taken the necessary action to protect the treasury as regards to subsequent years, taking into consideration the materiality and the statute-barred implications.
I have nothing personal against Mr. Sattaur. His job is a very difficult one. However, he has promoted himself as the face of the GRA and should be able to take criticism and to respond in a manner that’s proper or appropriate for his high office.
Dhanraj Deonarine
Toronto, Canada
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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