The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has taken note of a press report that attempts to disrepute the Authority’s efforts at curtailing the intolerable congestion in the vicinity of its Camp Street Headquarters.The article which appeared in the February 18 Edition of Stabroek News put the spotlight on a near empty parking lot along the Lamaha embankment which was prepared to accommodate parking for staff.

As was mentioned in a previous press release, the issue of parking continues to be one engaging the GRA’s attention and will be subject to ongoing review by management in an effort to derive a convenient solution for staff and the tax-paying public.

It is with the interest of the tax-paying public at heart that the GRA displaced its staff from the lot adjacent to St Margaret’s Primary School in an effort to create convenient parking facilities for the large numbers of persons who are required to be physically present at the Agency’s Headquarters. However, this parking lot also faces its fair share of challenges since many tax-payers are reluctant to pay for parking. On this note, the GRA wishes to make it clear that the Agency does not own this lot and therefore is not associated with any fees charged for its use.

Admittedly, like with every new venture or undertaking, there will be teething problems. However, the Authority remains optimistic that it has made the best decision at this time. The GRA holds the firm belief that media reports should focus attention on the challenging parking situation faced by GRA and tax-payers in its vicinity rather than continuous sensationalism about the parking issues and the private developer which has assisted the Agency with parking alternatives for staff.

The GRA is fully aware of ongoing criticisms of the Bai Shanlin’s decision to assist with the car park as well as concerns that this should not be done, since the developers are tax-payers and the agreement could be conceived as being unhealthy. However, there were no criticisms about other tax-payers/entities that have assisted the GRA with parking alternatives for its staff; namely the owner of the lot at Quamina & Camp and the owner of the lot opposite GRA.

In the last three years, since the Authority moved to Camp Street, there have been notable increases in the number of commercial businesses springing up within a two-block radius. This in itself can be seen as a major contributor to the current congestion, as the largest employer and customer service-oriented business within this area (the GRA) continues to address the issue of parking with the hope of providing feasible alternatives.

Regrettably, the GRA continues to bear the brunt of the criticisms as it relates to parking and congestion in the area, despite all of its efforts within the last three years.

The new parking lot is a mere three blocks away from the GRA Headquarters. The distance is however a far cry from other more developed countries’ Parking lots for large companies where car parks are situated some distance away, leaving persons with little choice but to walk.

The GRA is disappointed that the press continues to criticise the assistance provided and the moves being made to alleviate the parking situation, in the midst of an ongoing parking disaster which results in staff only making matters worse by using up all spaces near the avenues and streets close to GRA.

PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT
Guyana Revenue Authority