All the bellicose chest beating and foot stomping comes to a screeching halt as the AFC/APNU operative Winston Jordan quietly raises the white flag.
Tax evasion matter against Irfaan Ali dropped
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, categorically stated yesterday that a case involving tax evasion on a sports vehicle by former Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali has been dropped.
Former Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali
He said that after “personally examining the facts” it was clear to see that, “Ali didn’t commit any wrong.”
The Finance Minister said, “I examined the matter and all the documents involved and what I can say is that someone at inland authority was just too overzealous. Ali was in no way wrong, he committed no act of impropriety and as a result of that Government has dropped the matter.”
In early September, it was reported that Ali received a letter from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to pay up to $40M in taxes for a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) he imported last year.
But the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee insisted that he had received permission for exemptions.
On August 23, he released a letter dated March 3, 2014 that he purportedly received from GRA’s Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur, approving the importation.
Under regulations, MPs, Ministers, State and other officials are entitled to tax waivers on vehicles.
They can import used vehicles every three years. For new vehicles, officials are not allowed to import one before a five-year period has passed, a senior GRA official explained.
GRA contended that while serving as a Minister in the previous administration, Ali imported two luxury Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) within the last five years when he was only entitled to one.
Ali is now a Member of Parliament (MP) for the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
Ali had taken to his Facebook page late August claiming that it was brought to his attention by a senior GRA official, that instructions have been given to institute taxes on “Motor vehicle I acquired through legal means as a Member of Parliament in the 10th Parliament.”
Ali insisted that the concession was recommended and approved by all the relevant authorities.
“I was shocked when this officer approached me… after the Parliament to inform me that I will be receiving a letter from GRA…asking me to pay taxes on this vehicle.”
Ali claimed that the issue is really about “witch hunting” and “vindictive action” aimed at members of the former Government, which “will not move me and my convictions”.
