I wish to recognise the great accomplishments of the man most love to hate.  The man for whom it was recently announced would be awarded a national award by His Excellency, President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Indeed, he has to be recognised for filling the treasury of Guyana. Yes, many would say he took it off Guyanese people, but that is the system in the world. Citizens are expected to pay their share in various forms of taxes to aid national development. How is a country to operate?  Left to manage themselves citizens would live worse than the creatures in the jungles, which also follow a social order. But with Man it would be total anarchy. We must have a government, and an opposition paid to keep it in check. We must have teachers, auditors, doctors, nurses, the military and police. We must have health centres, pension schemes, schools and universities, etc.      These institutions and facilities are only possible through taxes. Then a nation needs some reserves to be successful.

The system established in the PAYE tax network is amazing, and while it is cumbersome for us at times, it was necessary to generate the maximum tax payable to enhance the treasury of the country. It is similar with the corporate taxes and those governing sole proprietorship entities. Look at the Customs Department.  At one time it was virtually haemorrhaging, now it is like a money machine with importers paying what should be paid. Yet, some beat it, and costly machines and systems have to be imported to garner more into the tax net.

If one is to study the methodologies involved in the various schemes established by the commissioner-general, it sometimes astounds the human mind. Find a technique and people try and beat it, and he finds another, always ahead of the tax-dodgers. Yet at times the system is beaten by dodgers, and some are known to boast of this.

This writer is against the amount/percentage paid as VAT, and believes an 8% is the way to go to help people. Yet I would comply fully despite disagreeing. Mr. Sattaur is not the person responsible for taxes or VAT. He is the collector of the people and enforcer of the laws.

If there is a Guyanese who truly deserve a national award, it is Mr. Kurshid Sattaur. Despite the boycotts, the ill-talk, the threats, he works to fulfil his mandate with honour and excellent decorum. I heard that at times he has to face political pressure, but will not budge, always standing for what is law and what is just and right.

Mr. Kurshid Sattaur, congratulations on a truly deserved honour.  Enjoy it, and may your family also enjoy and appreciate it, as with this kind of work one cannot help but go home with the pressures on one’s shoulder and in one’s head.

The selectors did well in selecting this gentleman for the award. Fair- minded Guyanese let us recognize this man’s talents and be happy that he has been granted this award.