The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has called in the police to assist with investigations regarding the leakage of confidential information to certain sections of society, particularly to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). This was confirmed recently by GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia during an interview with radio announcer Stan Gouveia on the programme called the Hot Seat.
There, Statia reminded of the fact that the confidential tax information for individuals such as Finance Minister Winston Jordan has made its way into the public domain. In light of this, Statia said he shares the concern and pain of those who now worry about the safety of their tax data reaching into the hands of certain elements.
The Commissioner General assured, that based on its investigations, GRA has been able to narrow down where all of the slippages are taking place. He said too that the probe is almost complete. The tax chief said, “It is not enough to dismiss them [GRA officials leaking the information] or suspend them, you need to make them an example so other officers can see and would not go down the same road.”
In the last few years, Statia noted that GRA has sent home over 100 staff members and it is clear that that is not enough. He said that the time has come for GRA to pursue prosecution.
Statia said it is in light of the dangers of information leakage that he was attempting to impose a ban on smartphones at the authority. But there was staunch opposition to this.
Based on all the investigations conducted, Statia said there was a smartphone involved in every step of the way. Be that as it may, the Commissioner General said that the police are involved and the culprits will be made to face the music.
