Family Affair exists at GRA…Sattaur employs two sons, daughter, nephew niece

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Parliamentarian, Joseph Harmon, is of the view that the relevant authorities which govern the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) must immediately launch an investigation into why Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur, has five close relatives working in managerial positions there.
According to reports both of Sattaur’s sons, a daughter, a niece and a nephew all work at the GRA.
This newspaper was also told that Imran Sattaur, 26, the Commissioner General’s son, works in the Audit Division as a Manager. He earns $231,451 per month, which does not include allowances.
Another son, Rayad Sattaur, who is an engineer, works in the Information Technology department and earns $321,446 per month. Like his brother, his salary doesn’t include allowances.
The Commissioner General’s daughter, Safiyyah Sattaur, works as an intern at the GRA. One source explained that she would work at the GRA during semester break from the University of Guyana. It’s unclear whether she is paid salary or stipend but the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) has her listed as an employee.
Then there are Sattaur’s niece, Anisha, and his nephew Javid. His niece Anisha Sattaur works in the Liability section, which handles clearance forms for firearm licences, gratuity etc. The nephew Javid Rasheed works within the Tax Exemption Department. Kaieteur News was told that the department deals with the granting of tax exemptions for companies and individuals, whether for mining or remigrants among other categories.
Harmon told Kaieteur News that the news of this is very worrying. He said that the information needs to be brought into the public domain to better deal with “cronyism and nepotism”. According to Harmon, people create a passage or pathway for friends and family to the top. It was said that this is no way different than how the Peoples Progressive Party PPP handles business.
“I’m sure that the administration knows what exactly is happening at GRA…they are dealing with issues of taxes, and the finances of the country which is serious business,” Harmon told Kaieteur News.
“You cannot have the father, the sons, daughter and the whole family working in the same place. Probably when they go home they say who is going to be dealt with…and it leads to nepotism,” Harmon said.
Established on January 27, 2000, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) resulted from the merger of two departments, the Inland Revenue Department and Customs and Excise Department.