KINDLY permit me a few column inches to express appreciation to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for the kind gesture of donating the 15 televisions to schools across the country and commend the Commissioner-General, Mr. Khurshid Sattaur for supporting the initiative. I believe it was momentous since it came at a time when the Ministry of Education is seeking to introduce taxation in schools from the primary level.
Apart from enhancing learning, this gesture will create a channel through which the GRA can further promote compliance with its tax laws. School children will have the opportunity to view the organisation’s tax awareness and education programmes, which may not be viewed in their homes due to other distractions such as the video games.
It is certainly a strategic move that will allow the younger population to be educated and inculcate from an early age a sense of what their civic responsibility will be as they grow older and enter the world of work, whether as an employee or a self-employed person owning their business.
The donation of the televisions shows that the GRA is not just hoping but is ensuring that its messages reach not only the current but also the future taxpayers. It shows vision on the part of the Commissioner-General and team, and commitment to the organisation’s mandate to collect taxes.
Further evidence of the GRA honouring its obligation to educate and provide the public with timely information can also be seen in its sponsorship of national sporting events where it uses the opportunity to give reminders on tax obligations and due dates for various forms of compliance.
However, this should not be the end. The GRA should be encouraged to make similar donations, not only of television sets but other items. For example, the GRA usually makes seizures of smuggled goods ranging from food stuff to vehicles. Apart from holding auctions, the organisation can make donations to schools, Non-Governmental, and other Charitable Organisations at no cost to the entity.
Further, rather than having items rotting at private wharves because the wealthy would not honour their obligation, let the GRA dispose of them (particularly some of the cars) in a similar manner to organisations that can benefit from their use, while at the same time help to enhance the image of the GRA as an entity that plans strategically to enhance public acceptance of its mandate.
The GRA has been condemned on many occasions. I think they should be commended on this one.