GRA welcomes Finance Minister’s enhanced capacity vision

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Minister of Finance Winston Jordan on his inaugural Budget presentation and looks forward with optimism to the realisation of the Government’s vision for a new and improved tax Agency that promises quality service delivery and efficient revenue collection.

Note was made of the plans outlined by the Minister for strengthening of the GRA’s mandate in the near future and more particularly the important role the Authority plays as a revenue earner for the state.

In his 2015 budget presentation, on Monday, August 10, Minister Jordan said “The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) contributes the bulk of revenues intended for the Consolidated Fund. As a result of declining external inflows to Guyana, due in part to debt relief given under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI), the GRA has assumed added importance over the last decade in generating resources to meet Government expenditure programmes. This role will expand, in the medium term, as the Government accelerates its programmes and projects to enable Guyanese to experience the good life,”

Unfortunately the GRA noted certain sections of the media taking Minister’s remarks out of context with speculations about retention at the Authority’s top brass, perhaps seeking to besmirch the image of the GRA.

The Authority noted that the Minister elaborated on the need to strengthen and enhance the organisational and managerial capacity of the GRA with a focus on reviewing its current operational standards so that they are in line with international best practices; a move that is welcomed by the management of the GRA.

Each year the GRA is entrusted with the task of collecting a large portion of the revenue and save for a few shortfalls, it has been adequately prepared to meet the targets set out. The record achievements in revenue collection by the GRA over successive years stand testimony.

In anticipation this year, officers of the GRA’s Planning and Analysis Department and the Ministry of Finance were educated on revenue forecasting by the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre CARTAC).

Sincerely,

Public Relations Unit

Guyana Revenue

Authority