Frightening developments at the GRA
The opposition party has to be an opposition. There are times when it will agree with the government, but generally it will be expected to be critical and condemnatory of the government.
There are times, however, when one has to agree with some of the positions taken by the opposition party. The opposition has an interest in criticizing the government, but the government opens itself to criticism by some of its confusing rhetoric.
Two weeks ago, it was announced that there was mini-shakeup at the Guyana Revenue Authority. Two senior officials were sacked. One of the persons sacked was the head of the customs operations. The other person was the Human Resources Manager. The reasons given for the dismissals were revenue collection and poor facilities.
The Guyana Public Service Union, the union which represents workers in the Guyana Revenue Authority, has said nothing so far about these two dismissals. But the opposition has commented on the issue, and what the opposition said makes a great deal of sense.
Firstly, if the Board of Directors is concerned about the revenue collection at the Guyana Revenue Authority, then it has to hold the Commissioner General (ag) accountable. That person in turn may indicate the reasons for the shortfall, and point out which one of his or her staff is culpable.
There has been no indication that the recommendation for the dismissals of the two persons came from the Commissioner General (ag). In fact, the Commissioner General (ag) was said to be assuming different responsibilities after returning from leave.
It is hard to see how the Human Resources Manager could have been sent home for the poor facilities at GRA. The Human Resources Department of any company is not usually concerned with the management of facilities.
The truth be told is that the facilities were in a deplorable condition before the new government took office. The Minister of Finance in a tour of the GRA lamented the conditions at the Head Office. Anyone who has been to that office knows that the solution to that problem is to get another building. There is no renovation or rearranging that is going to improve the working conditions. The head office is too crammed for space and it presents a safety problem for all the staff there.
This past week, there was an interesting twist to the saga at the Guyana Revenue Authority. The Minister of Finance was reported to have said that revenues increased by three billion dollars. What was interesting is that it was reported that international taxes (which includes customs taxes) had increased, but VAT was down. So if international taxes had increased, how come the GRA sent home the head of its Customs Department? Something is wrong here!
The Minister further said that the increased collection was due in part to stringent measures at the ports. This means stringent customs measures. So how come the head of Customs is dismissed and not the head of the Value Added Tax Section, whoever is that person?
It can also be asked, why is it that the Head of the Human Resources Department has been dismissed and not the Head of the Facilities Management Section, whoever that person is?
Were these removals recommended by the Commissioner General (ag)?
If they were not, then on what basis were these persons removed from the jobs. The Guyana Public Service Union has said nothing, as yet, about these matters. Why?
The government cannot continue to treat people this way. This is the same type of behaviour that ostracized the PNCR from the wider Guyanese people from 1968 onwards. The actions of the GRA are a throwback to that era. These are frightening developments.
Not all of the criticisms of the opposition should be dismissed. There are some of them which have considerable merit. The dismissals at the GRA are a case in point.