| – had six GRA vehicles at Pradoville One home The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) defended last week’s visit to the home of tax chief, Khurshid Sattaur, yesterday saying that it was done to retrieve sensitive data and other properties belonging to that state-owned tax collection entity.GRA’s Commissioner-General, Khurshid SattaurSattaur was sent on leave by the governing Board of Directors on December 17 as GRA prepares for a forensic audit that will be conducted by an international company.GRA officially reportedly went on December 31, and collected a laptop, Ipad and even a gun belonging to the official.The visit, reported by Kaieteur News over the last weekend, was criticized in many quarters with some of the critics contending that Sattaur is still the Commissioner-General.However, during a press conference yesterday at GRA’s Headquarters on Camp Street, Chairman of the Board, Rawle Lucas, made it clear that GRA regulations are clear when it comes to protecting taxpayers’ confidential information.Lucas insisted that Sattaur was not cooperative with the GRA officials when he was notified that the GRA needed to recover some property from the Pradoville One home, at Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara.It was disclosed yesterday that Sattaur had possession of six vehicles belonging to GRA, including a golf cart. Acting Commissioner General, Ingrid Griffith, said that her office decided to leave one vehicle then on second thoughts opted to leave the golf cart also for the use of the Commissioner-General.The Chairman explained that based on a directive of the Board, on December 17, Sattaur proceeded on leave. It was agreed that he would return certain properties pertaining to taxpayers.The Board, Lucas revealed, also asked Sattaur to help identify persons in possession of GRA property.Lucas stressed that the entire exercise was to ensure the protection of confidential tax data as required by regulations.“We were not interested in anything else but the taxpayers’ properties and data,” Lucas said.He added that initially Sattaur had been asked about the return of the properties and data he had in his possession. When he did not comply, a decision was taken to visit his home.GRA’s Chairman, Rawle Lucas and Commissioner-General (Ag) Ingrid GriffithThe visitors were staffers from GRA’s information and technology division. Sattaur also had remote access, from home, to GRA’s information. GRA had since severed the link too, Lucas said.Commissioner-General (Ag), Ingrid Griffith, said that when on leave, GRA staffers for obvious reasons are not allowed access to internal data, to ensure its protection.No DisrespectThe Chairman also said that at no time, at Sattaur’s home, did the GRA staffers display discourtesy and disrespect to the Commissioner-General.In case of the gun, Sattaur himself voluntarily handed it over– it was never demanded by GRA.Sattaur is not on contract with GRA. For a number of years now, he has been on permanent employ with the entity, Lucas said.Meanwhile, the Chairman who was accompanied at the press conference by senior officials, spoke extensively on the need for taxpayers’ information to remain confidential.He said that on an initial review of the policies of GRA, there were gaps found that needed addressing with little assurance that the information could remain confidential especially when it concerns staffers who are on leave for a long time from the authority.He said that the information available at GRA could be a powerful weapon in the wrong hands.It was never the intention that the confidential data should ever be used for anything but revenue collection-—and definitely not to embarrass, ridicule, frustrate or torment taxpayers.The only way that the information at GRA could be released is in pursuit of the public interest, he said.Already, GRA has moved to close the loopholes and tighten its procedures to better protect the taxpayers’ data.According to Lucas, the new systems are awaiting final approval.“No one should believe that law does not apply to him or her, more so those entrusted with setting the example.”Tough PenaltiesLucas warned that the Board intends to be tough on implementation and anyone found with confidential taxpayers’ information when they are not authorized, will be investigated and dealt with.Sattaur came under fire in 2014 when a number of leaked emails alleged that he released confidential tax information on Kaieteur News to ex-President, Bharrat Jagdeo, and former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall.Yesterday, the Private Sector Commission joined a number of other institutions in criticizing the visit to Sattaur’s home.“The Commission is both perturbed and concerned at this treatment of a very senior official who has not been formally accused of any wrongdoing. To the best of our knowledge, Mr. Sattaur is on leave from the entity pending the results of an inquiry. He has not been asked to resign and as such remains both the de jure and de facto Head of the GRA.”In the circumstances, if his electronic communication devices were required for purposes of the investigation, then the proper procedure would have entailed a request to Sattaur to hand these over to the Board, PSC said in its statement.The truth is that this was the procedure adopted.“We understand that the invasion of Mr. Sattaur’s home was not conducted by the National Police armed with a warrant for search and seizure of items from his home. This is a violation of his human rights. It was reported that the officers who went to Mr. Sattaur’s home were officers of the Guyana Revenue Authority and we do not believe that they are or were legally authorized to do so.”PSC said that the searching of homes of officials of entities under investigation seems to have become common practice and, “We call upon President Granger to rein in what appears, from all accounts in the public domain, to be a show of excessive enthusiasm on the part of some persons.”In recent days also, commentator Chris Ram and David Hinds also raised questions about GRA’s visit, insisting that Sattaur for all purposes is still the Commissioner-General and a member of the Board of Directors.Today the GRA Board set the record straight. |
