“BITTER” was the word used by Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Khurshid Sattaur to describe Youth candidate of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, James Bond, following the latter’s call for Sattaur’s resignation. Bond, who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for the APNU in the Tenth Parliament said in a radio interview yesterday, “Sattaur should do the right thing and resign.”

Asked why he made such call, Bond’s replied: “He is a failure; he has done injustice to the public and should go immediately.”
Revealing what measures would have been employed by him should he have been in a position to make the call, Bond then told listeners that, “Were I the President and were I the Minister of State, I would fire him immediately…The very minute I was sworn in, I would have said, ‘You, sir, should go.’”
But responding to this call by Bond, the GRA head in an interview with this publication yesterday expressed the view that the young attorney is entitled to his views.
Sattaur noted however that he “feels very sorry” for Bond, as a common feature of his is a constant expression of “bitterness” and “disdain” for his fellow Guyanese.
“I happen to encounter this every day at the GRA; a few, very few among my staff but more among  members of the public who seem disgruntled over not witnessing a massive ‘exchange’ occurring at certain State and Government Agencies, and not having their expectations realised,” the GRA Commissioner said.
He noted, however, that he has “the greatest of confidence” in President Granger to act in the best interest of the State, and to fulfill his promise to the nation that he is the President of all the people of this country.
Just last year, the AFC made a call for Sattaur’s immediate resignation, following the disclosure that he was allegedly involved in sending tax information on several independent media entities to former president, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo.
Sattaur subsequently responded by labelling the resignation call by the AFC as “malicious”, while adding that it borders on intimidation.
Additionally, Bond also made a call for Registrar of Lands, Juliet Sattaur to be fired since he believes there was “incompetence” on the part of the Lands Registry.
“We need to improve our deliverables in terms of efficiency. That place is a complete mess. She is another one that needs to go because of incompetence. I think were I the President, I would examine the sloth in which the Registry operates,” Bond said.

By Ravin Singh