GRA slams false social media reports
—states “Garbage disposal is not secretive or unusual”
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, June 18, 2020
The management of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has called on persons to desist from spreading inaccurate and unfounded information about the agency through electronic and other media.
In a press release issued to today, the GRA stated “Reference can be made to recent posts on the social media platform Facebook alleging 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.”
The GRA categorically denied these reports describing them as a “reckless and deliberate attempt to peddle misleading information and propaganda about the Authority for self-serving purposes,”
The agency assured 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. Additionally, there was no escort of the garbage trucks to the dump-site by LEID staff.
It was pointed out that disposal receptacles are placed permanently at the GRA Head office, which houses a staff of over 600 persons and handles over 1,000 taxpayer visits per day.
“The garbage trucks are called in to remove the receptacles when filled or overflowing with trash or builders waste. This is a weekly occurrence and Cevon’s Waste Disposal Services are contracted to carry out this service. With the recent construction work at the Authority more waste material was being produced than usual.,” the release further stated.
It also noted that the time of the arrival of the garbage trucks is in entirely within the discretion of the garbage company.
The GRA also advised that the “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.”
The release noted that the agency “prides itself in its integrity and will not be distracted from its mandate to administer the country’s tax laws and regulations in a fair and consistent manner.”