THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is distancing itself from an article which appeared in the Tuesday April 22, 2014 edition of the Guyana Times newspaper under the caption ‘Essay competition on taxation matters launched’.While the article is mainly factual, as the majority of the information contained therein seemed like a regurgitation of GRA’s COTA Essay Competition advertisement, statements in the article were falsely attributed to a staff of the GRA who was labelled as GRA’s representative on this matter.
The GRA views such false attributions as unethical as the staff was not authorised to speak on the GRA’s behalf and denies ever speaking with the Guyana Times reporter.
From all appearances, the female reporter took advantage of her friendly relationship with the staff to whom the statements were attributed.
The GRA views this as unethical and an abuse of press freedom and is calling on the Guyana Times reporter to desist from such unprincipled practices which can have far reaching consequences.
KHURSHID SATTAUR
Commissioner-General, Guyana Revenue Authority