THERE has recently been much discussion over the right of the public to be informed about what takes place at the office of the Commissioner-General and whether in fact the public should be kept abreast with these happenings through the journalists employed by the Kaieteur News, in particular.
Allow me Mr. Editor as the Public Relations Officer of the GRA to add a few points to this debate.
It would appear that this controversy was sparked some time ago when the Kaieteur News carried an article concerning the mysterious disappearance of a boat seized by the Law Enforcement Division. The article containing detailed information on the matter was no doubt, for the public, a treat to an exposition on the disappearance.
I wish to note that it was unfortunate that the report did not provide a more balanced account of the circumstances leading to the seizure of the boat, which would have allowed the public to draw their own conclusion concerning the whereabouts or the disappearance of the boat.
You will agree with me that the Commissioner-General has a right to defend the honest diligent and hard working officers of his department who often times suffer great personal hardship and threat to their lives while protecting the revenues of the State. Had the report mentioned these valiant officers whose work were being undermined by those bent on their corrupt path of enriching themselves at the expense of the continued suffering of the Guyanese masses, then the response of the Commissioner-General would perhaps have been tempered.
It would be recalled that only a few days before the leak of the information concerning the boat, the Enforcement officers had successfully arrested the smugglers and prosecuted them in the court. To this end, it is indeed troubling that the newspaper would appear to be suggesting that these very officers having made the successful bust and prosecution would want to bring discredit to themselves by orchestrating the disappearance.
Kaieteur News is using all available means including the cartoon section to discredit the Commissioner-General because he publicly rebuked them for their callous treatment of information considered sensitive and privilege with implication for defamation of character, all in the interest of boosting the sales of the newspaper.
Instead of condemning the unethical approach taken by the Kaieteur News and its irresponsibleness in handling sensitive information, the articles and various forms used by Kaieteur News seem to be more concerned about the response of the Commissioner-General, who in obligation to his oath to secrecy, sought to treat with care the highly sensitive tax matter pertaining to the affairs of a taxpayer.
At this point, the public should be reminded about a few things that may not appear to have much significance but, nevertheless, should be borne in mind when evaluating the merits of the Kaieteur News articles concerning the GRA.
It was only recently when the Commissioner-General proceeded on his annual vacation leave that the Kaieteur News sought to speculate reasons for this occurrence leading to a public statement being issued clarifying that the Commissioner-General’s leave was as a normal entitlement.
Readers of Kaieteur News will also recall that it is this same newspaper that had suggested that the Commissioner-General is using his office to bully the Executive of the embattled Kitty Jamat.
Also recently in a very highly provocative and defamatory manner, the Kaieteur News report left the inescapable conclusion that the Commissioner-General was a party to the disappearance of the Imaam’s car from the masjid.
Finally, the readers also know that a former customs officer who was involved in the Fidelity Scam became a subject of public debate after the President was challenged by Adam Harris as to why the particular officer, who has a close relationship with Mr. Glen Lall and the other businesses of this proprietor, was interdicted from his duties when the Auditor General Report had seemingly cleared him of any direct involvement.
It is noteworthy that this officer along with the others who were interdicted from duty but not charged for any offence committed in the scam had their services terminated from the Revenue Authority recently.
I am, therefore, led to wonder whether the newspaper has a personal agenda because of this former officer’s treatment, purportedly at the hands of the Commissioner-General.
In the midst of much opposition and unwarranted criticism, the Commissioner-General continues to carry out his onerous mandate to discharge his duties as the Head of the Guyana Revenue Authority. This he continues to do with great diligence, despite what appears to be the displeasure of the staff of the Kaieteur News.
The old saying, “the dog who brings the bone is the dog who carries the bone” should be borne in mind. I caution those behind the scenes to be careful of those who feed them information because one day the table may turn.
Protecting taxpayer’s confidential information is daily becoming more challenging for the GRA but the Commissioner-General remains steadfast in safeguarding information in his trust.
Senior Manager
Public Relations Unit
Guyana Revenue Authority