THE right of every Guyanese to freedom of expression should always be respected in a democratic society, but to the extent that those views are misleading or victimising, then they should be met with the strongest of condemnations.

As of recent, it has been noted that everyone seems to have an opinion on what decisions should be made in relation to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Even more surprising are the spurious allegations surfacing about what has been going on within the tax agency.

On Monday, June 8, 2015, a letter which appeared in the Kaieteur News captioned: “It’s not about witch-hunting” caught the attention of the GRA because of a rather unfounded allegation made by the writer, J. Ward.

According to Ward, “a female staff stationed in the Tax Exemption and Verification Unit of the Guyana Revenue Authority was transferred forthwith because she rightly enquired about a signature on a CG Letter, since that signature differed from the usual signature and no circular was issued to inform staff of such a change.”

The GRA wishes to categorically state that it is unaware of such a scenario and as such, unless Mr. Ward provides the evidence, then in the GRA’s view his claim which he argues to be a trend of high-handedness, bureaucracy and autocracy, is unsubstantiated.

For the benefit of Mr. Ward and the general public, transfers at the GRA are common, but in some departments such as Tax Exemption Verification and Processing, interventions are made that will seek to prevent the likelihood of collusion between the GRA and the tax-paying public.

Moreover, the GRA has in place an official Grievance Policy for staff seeking any kind of redress and implores its employees to utilise it rather than leaking confidential information or slandering the agency.

In accordance with its Standard Operating Procedures, employees of the GRA are fully aware of the chain of command they must follow when disputing any disciplinary action or intervention to which they are subjected.

GUYANA REVENUE AUTHORITY