VAT 'talk tents' under way
Guyana Chronicle
February 1, 2007
THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is continuing its outreach in communities across the country to educate businesses and consumers on the Value Added Tax (VAT) that went into effect at the start of the year, and is employing talk tents to spread the message.
It said Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) is the current focus for outreaches on VAT and on Tuesday, its advisory and compliance teams visited several businesses on the West Demerara, ensuring they are honouring their obligations under VAT and advising on corrective measures.
The authority said a public meeting `talk tent’ was held at the Patentia Primary School, West Bank Demerara where consumers raised several issues affecting them under VAT.
The `talk tents’ are intended to bring consumers and businesses together to help them understand the concerns by both sides, it explained.
Commissioner-General of the GRA, Mr. Khurshid Sattaur at a workshop Tuesday at the Regency Suites Hotel in Georgetown, said the implementation of VAT has not gone as well as it was intended.
The GRA said he urged that businesses and consumers bear with the situation as he is confident and hopeful that the system will work and in a few months Guyanese will start receiving the benefits of VAT.
He noted that several businesses have already begun to lower their prices from which consumers are benefiting, the authority said.
It added that VAT visits and public meetings will continue in Region Three until tomorrow and the `talk tents’ will move to other regions next week.