ALLOW me the opportunity to respond to a well known letter writer whose letter titled “Crowds and confusion at NA office for motor vehicle licences” appeared in the May 26, 2011 edition of your newspaper’s letter writers column.

It is evident to me that the Stabroek News has first adopted a policy of not attempting to verify a report or at least obtain a comment from the agency.  For the benefit of the person who penned the letter and other frustrated motorists, I must state that the Guyana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) New Amsterdam office like other branches of the GRA only facilitates the sale of licences to persons residing in the locality of those offices. The physical records of the vehicle continue to be maintained at the Licence Revenue Office.  It means therefore, that if the information on documents produced by the motorist varies in any manner from the data contained in our database our systems will immediately generate an online query activated over our Wide Area Network.  Unfortunately, in some cases the wait is longer than usual since actual records have to be instantly located to address the query.

In an effort to guarantee the legitimacy of information relating to vehicles being issued licences, the GRA has introduced a new system that requires information to correlate; this means that documents requested must contain the same data as our Licence Revenue Processing System.  However, a number of inconsistencies such as, change of names and addresses after previous registration of motor vehicles; change of names and addresses after obtaining a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN); new application(s) for registration of motor vehicle(s); and ownership of other vehicle(s) with different addresses has resulted in occasional delays.

It must be noted that some motorists, rather than wait for the query to be dealt with, leave and return requiring the process to start all over again. While this is aggravating to the genuine motorist it can also be frustrating to our staff as well.

As Head of the GRA, I have  repeatedly made public statements decrying the fact that many vehicles are appearing on our radar as being illegally registered, eluding payment of taxes; and what would appear to be, using a network of corrupt officers and criminal elements of society to perpetrate and facilitate the issuing of illegitimate licences for these vehicles.

Let me take this opportunity as well to remind your readership that because of the last-minute rush to have their licences renewed, the grace period has been extended until June 30, 2011.  This extension, will allow all delinquent motor vehicle owners adequate time to renew or purchase their licences.  This of course is all being done both at the expense of those diligent motorists whom the GRA would like to commend for visiting the offices since April of this year to have their licences renewed and taxpayers in general who have to foot the bill for the extension.

It is unfortunate that we live in a society where persons who have an axe to grind are allowed to vent their apparent frustration at the expense of destroying the zeal, public service call, and dedication to their job of those officers who render service to many without any expectations of being commended.

The GRA has been urging persons  time and time again to report any suggestions by sending us an email at gravat@gra.gov.gy or by calling our Tax Hotline on telephone number 227-6060.  Persons can also lodge complaints using our Intelligence Hotline (225-6687).  It is  hoped that in future, such letters and complaints are forwarded to the agency before being printed.