GRA says all its records are intact

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Thursday debunked claims that the agency is involved in destroying sensitive documents.

“The GRA wishes to assure the general public that it did not dispose of any confidential documents and that all its records are intact and can withstand any scrutiny to attest to this fact,” GRA said in a statement.

The agency was responding to social media posts which alleged that several private garbage disposal vehicles were seen at the GRA’s headquarters loading and carting off “documents” under the watchful eye of its Law Enforcement arm.

“…these statements are absolutely untrue,” it noted.

The Government’s tax collection agency noted that the disposal receptacles seen in the photo are permanent at the GRA Head office, Camp Street, Georgetown which houses a staff of over 600 persons, and over 1,000 taxpayers visit every day.

The receptacles belonging to Cevon’s Waste Disposal Services are removed by garbage trucks on a weekly basis but GRA said waste materials increased with the recent construction work at the Authority.

GRA said the social media posts are nothing but a “reckless and deliberate attempt to peddle misleading information and propaganda about the Authority for self-serving purposes.”

GRA explained that to dispose of confidential documents, the Commissioner-General notifies the Office of the Auditor-General for an audit of the disposal exercise and in all cases, the Auditor-General would then witness the disposal.

“…disposal of confidential documents once they become statute-barred and other assets OF VALUE are done in accordance with the financial regulations, Laws administered by the GRA and the Auditor General.

The standard procedure is for the Commissioner-General to notify the Office of the Auditor-General for an audit of the disposal exercise and in all cases, the Auditor-General would then witness the disposal,” according to the statement.

The Authority is asking persons to cease and desist from making further untrue statements.