THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) said its management and staff are deeply saddened by the passing of the authority’s first Commissioner-General Mr Edgar E Heyligar, CCH, on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
Mr Heyligar served the authority as Commissioner-General from 2000 to 2003.
In a press release issued on Sunday, the GRA extended its deepest condolences to his family, friends and former colleagues of the authority during this time of loss.
“Mr Heyligar’s contribution to revenue administration in Guyana began long before the establishment of the Guyana Revenue Authority. After returning to Guyana from the United Kingdom in the early 1970s as a qualified Chartered Accountant, he entered the Public Service and devoted his professional life to strengthening the country’s fiscal institutions.
“In 1978, he was appointed Commissioner of Inland Revenue, where he provided leadership to the Inland Revenue Department during an important period in the development of Guyana’s tax
administration. In that role, he helped shape systems, professional standards, and administrative practices that would later inform the creation of the Guyana Revenue Authority,” the release said.
It added that the establishment of the Guyana Revenue Authority marked a significant milestone in the modernisation of revenue administration in Guyana.
“As the inaugural Commissioner-General, Mr Heyligar played a pivotal role in guiding the early development of the authority, laying the foundation for the systems, policies and institutional culture that continue to support the organisation today.
“Under his leadership, the authority began the important work of strengthening tax and customs administration, enhancing accountability and building a professional institution dedicated to supporting national development through effective revenue collection.
“Mr Heyligar was widely respected for his professionalism, integrity, and commitment to public service. His leadership helped shape the early direction of the authority and contributed meaningfully to the advancement of revenue administration in Guyana. Many officers who now serve within the authority benefitted from the standards and institutional framework established during those formative years,” the GRA said as it reflected on his commendable and invaluable contributions during his stint at the organisation.
It added that the authority joins the nation in mourning his passing and honours the legacy of service he leaves behind.
“His role in the early history of the Guyana Revenue Authority will remain an important part of
the organisation’s institutional memory,” the release said.
