Kaieteur News being used as a weapon against me

…says GRA Commissioner General Kurshid Sattaur

THE Kaieteur News is being used as a weapon to prevent the Commissioner General from preforming his statutory duties and functions which include investigating the evasion of taxes and ensuring that persons pay their rightful amount of taxes to enable the state to deliver goods and services to the people of Guyana.This is according to the Kurshid Sattaur, Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), who, in a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle, highlighted his frustration with what he describes as libelous and vitriolic

Mr Glenn Lall

information that the Kaieteur News in spewing about his character because he is investigating “without bias or prejudice” the publisher of Kaieteur News, Mr. Glenn Lall, on two separate instances of tax evasions.
Something which he alluded, may have caused much embarrassment to Lall when it was uncovered by the Guyana Chronicle. Ever since those revelations, Sattaur said that Lall has been using his paper to malign his character under the guise of his satirical column “Dem boys seh.”
According to Sattaur,Lall’s most recent escapade in “Dem boys seh” which “disrespectfully” refers to him as “Cow Shit,” libels his name and reputation, saying he was arrested in Trinidad, “a complete and absolute fabrication,” said Mr. Sattaur.
He highlighted that such unwarranted attacks were hurled at him on previous occasions.
The GRA head however exclaimed that he will not be subjected to such slander and disrepute any longer, since he will be taking the matter to the court for redress, since the attacks on him are: “Unwarranted and unlawful, intended to prevent me from executing my mandate. This character assassination which the Kaieteur News, under the direct guidance of its publisher Glen Lall, has inflicted on me, has to stop.”
The Commissioner General calls upon the government to protect him, “So that I can continue my work without being harassed, or in fear … I have my work to do and if I don’t do it fairly I will be accused of having double standards.”
He said further he “intends to go full out with the law in dealing with these kinds of opposing forces; very soon you will be seeing references being made to charges of the perpetrators carrying offences of intimidating me.”
Sattaur bemoaned the “double standards” which he said Kaieteur News seems to be exhibiting. “I find it strange that this newspaper, which is attacking me, that preaches about accountability and fighting corruption, is now engaging in the very conduct contrary to its claims.”
He outlined that it is appalling that there is no word from the human rights and labour organisations speaking out or championing the cause of a public officer who is being oppressed, attacked and victimised for doing his duties without fear or favour.
Nevertheless, Sattaur said that he has to remain resolute since the Guyanese people are looking to see what he will be doing in this matter. “Kaieteur News will not be a deterrent to me fulfilling my duties and obligations as the Commissioner General of the GRA, a position I have served for over ten years without fear or prejudice.”
“I am happy that this is a test case, just to show that I am not a weak person, I am a strong character and will not be intimidated by persons who feel that they are above the law,” said Sattaur.
In recent times, the GRA has been conducting two major investigations, one involving two Toyota Lexus SUV luxury vehicles that have been impounded because it is alleged that Glenn Lall and his wife, who were in possession of the vehicles, benefited illegally by evading over $100M in taxes by allegedly allowing his remigrant family friends to import the vehicles, thereby benefiting from the duty free concessions entitled to them as remigrants.
The second investigation related to the importation of printing ink packaged as a CARICOM (Caribbean Community) product enjoying duty free concessions under the revised treaty of Chaguramas; however, under closer inspection, it was allegedly found that the origin of the inks were from overseas, thereby in breach of the treaty.

excerpts from the Guyana Chronicle