The establishment of the Revenue Authority
WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY
On January 27, government moved with lightning speed to set up the long-awaited Revenue Authority minutes after a High Court decision cleared the way. The authority has merged the staff of the Customs and Excise Department and the Inland Revenue Department. This week the man/woman-in-the-street share their views on the establishment of the authority. Don Profitt - media worker: 'I think the government's haste in establishing the authority and in dismissing Clarence Chue and others was prejudicial. Government says that it needs qualified people to work in the administration to help in the development of the country. But when a person of Chue's qualifications and calibre is sent off the job all that government is doing is forcing people to leave the country. In essence government is on a campaign to further drain the country of its best brains. I think the current administration has a grouse with Mr Chue and will use whatever means it could to get rid of him because of politics. With Mr Chue's experience he could have been retained as a consultant.' Macsood Hoosein - University of Guyana lecturer: 'I am pleased with the court's decision. I was worried that the court might have, in the end, been an obstacle to the early establishment of the Revenue Authority. I am not sure whether or not the Revenue Authority would lead to a reduction in corruption in revenue collection mainly because I have not read the piece of legislation governing the authority and I don't know if the legislation offers any deterrent or disincentive to corruption. I also understand that many of the officers who served in the old establishment are going to be part of the authority. I don't think people change like that. I think that government might have acted with haste to set up the authority to get World Bank funding for public sector reform and also because it has also developed a certain mistrust of the main public service union. While government has an obligation to public servants it also has a larger obligation to the Guyanese people. I only hope that decisions are made with that mind. I also hope that the success of revenue collection by the revenue authority in Peru is borne in mind.' Fenessa Shung - University of Guyana student: 'I think the establishment of the authority is a good move in streamlining revenue collection in the country. More people would be brought into the tax net which would be good for the country to carry on its business of administration. Accountability should also be enhanced. I also think that any officer found guilty of accepting a bribe as well as the businessman found guilty of offering it should be penalised. In spite of the current controversy surrounding the establishment of the authority I think it should be allowed to function for the good of the country. However, I do not feel that anyone should have been laid off because of a political vendetta.' Stanley Joseph - public sector employee: 'In principle the creation of the authority is good but the manner in which government has gone about it is unethical and wrong. This government talks about transparency; how transparent was this process? The indecent haste with which government moved to establish the authority making redundant the post of Comptroller of Customs held by Clarence Chue because he dared to challenge the political administration is vindictive.' Asgar Alli - self-employed: 'I am glad that the authority has been set up so there will be no overlapping and duplication of functions of the Customs Department and the Inland Revenue Department. It should also ensure a more efficient staff especially if they are properly paid. I think that once revenue collection picks up taxation will be reduced especially among the lower income bracket. I also think that those people who have been evading the IRD will be brought into the system and will have to pay their dues.' Clairmonte Marcus - photographer: 'Government should have allowed for a transition and should not have set about it so abruptly. Government, too has not considered the welfare of the people whom it will be laying off because of the establishment of the authority. In essence what government is doing is creating unemployment instead of creating employment. How can government talk about reducing corruption, too, when basically the same set of people will remain at the helm?' Colin - private sector employee: 'The Revenue Authority is a great idea as long as it has the desired effect. This effect as I understand it should be the elimination of corruption which is a cancer eating away at the heart of the country and which was inherited from the past regime. I do hope this cancer is stopped. However, the authority will have no effect if the jackass regime is replaced by a donkey regime.' Terrence Jackson - pensioner: 'The establishment is a contravention of the Customs Act. The authority has been established to take advantage of the welfare of the customs officers who are being accused of being corrupt. But it is the businessmen who have brought about corruption. And as long as the businessmen continue paying their way through life corruption would never stop. Corruption has become cancerous. The establishment of the Revenue Authority without making a place for Chue will long be remembered as an act of vindictiveness by this government. It is robbing workers of their rights.' Jagdesh Singh - UG student: 'I think the authority is needed but the staff must be well paid as all workers in the country should be paid. This will help in reducing theft, bribery and corruption. I think it will help in broadening the country's tax base and honest tax payers such as public servants should get some ease. However, growth will take time but eventually we will see some successes in the works of the authority.'
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