Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)Bill No. 10 of 2015 called the Financial Institution (Amendment) Bill wishes to advance the position that the GRA, can make “lawful requests” for customer information from licensed financial institutions (mainly banks).Reacting to this Bill, the Russian-trained, Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo has declared that such a law can “spell economic doom” and can have “serious repercussions in the economy”.? Is Jagdeo now admitting that under the PPP the economy was propped up by the narco-traffickers who never paid taxes?? Is Jagdeo now admitting that under his watch there was political interference in the work of the GRA?There is enough empirical evidence to support the position that underground economic activities occupied a fairly large share of the economy under the PPP. This situation continues to undermine the work of the GRA today.? This new amendment to the law was designed to cause these players who operate outside of the official economy to shape up or ship out.The teachers and nurses have no choices but to pay taxes on their small wages before they can access their paychecks. It is only fair that this burden be shared more equitably across the society by all eligible taxpayers.Sase SinghI was advised that this proposed amendment in the law was designed to ensure that additional streams of economic activities are taxed more fairly.? I was further advised that the vision was that bank information will be request on a case-by-case basis driven by “red-flagged” tax audits. Thus it is imperative that the Board of the GRA clearly explain itself to the public so that all can be assured of the intent of the law, especially the small business houses.In Guyana,China Jerseys Cheap, a TIN (tax identification number) is not a mandatory prerequisite in opening a bank account and this is a big gap in the law.? In more mature taxation societies like the United States, unless you have a TIN or a Social Security Number,Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys, you cannot open a bank account.? Everyone has a number in the United States, so everyone is on the radar and has no choice but to contribute to the Treasury. The law should be further amended to ensure that all banks declare interest payments quantified above $10,000 on deposits.? This information should then be cross referenced to the tax records to ensure that the “well-off” are making accurate tax declarations.? But there should be an ironclad process around how information is obtained from the banks, how it is stored and how it is utilized. It is time we take the GRA to the next level.Mr. Khurshid Sattaur may be a good human being but it does not negate the fact that under his watch, many of the basic codes of ethics required by a tax collection agency were grossly violated.It is absolutely clear that under Sattaur’s watch the public trust in the GRA has reached an all time low, yet the Coalition Government seems to be at a loss on how to reform this agency.This is not how a Revenue Agency ought to operate.? With Mr. Sattaur at the top of the GRA,Cheap Jerseys Outlet, people will always be second guessing the revenue collection strategy of the coalition government since there is a breakdown of trust between the public and the GRA because the people who committed the past misdeed against the victims are still calling the shots.? So why then did we advocate for change in May 2015, when it is more of the same at the GRA?? What confidence does the public have today that such practices will not continue?I suspect once Mr. Sattaur remains at the helm of the GRA,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, even many law-abiding citizens may consider taking their money to countries like Trinidad as a result of the GRA having access to their bank information. The earlier the Minister of Finance acts and reforms the leadership of the GRA, the better for Guyana since implementing this amendment in the law under the leadership of Mr. Sattaur presents a clear and present danger to depositors.In June 2015, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had cause to publicly reprimand Mr. Sattaur for the release of private tax information but it is most surprising that to date the Minister of Finance have not yet taken corrective remedial action.? Who really is in charge of domestic affairs as prescribed in the Cummingburg Accord? Holding on to Mr. Sattaur is a most sub-optimal decision and it is hoped that President Granger will use his executive powers and bring sanity to this situation at the GRA.The common taxpayer expects that the GRA will help them to understand and meet their tax obligations in an environment of fairness and integrity.? That relationship has to be crafted in an environment of mutual respect; not fear. The empirical evidence to date has illustrated that t

Mere minutes? before 73-year-old Kenrick Boyce was due to arrive at his Onderneeming? home,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, the retired Government Electrical Inspector? was killed instantly after he was struck down on the Onderneeming Public Road.Boyce had? attended a meeting at the Neighbourhood Democratic Council? (NDC) office at Suddie.Abiola Boyce, the daugther-in-law of the deceased,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, said that she was at home the entire morning, when she overheard a truck driver mentioning something about her father-in-law.The shaken woman said that after she heard the driver mention Boyce’s name,NFL Jerseys China, from where she and the now dead Boycle lived,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Outlet, she noticed some papers flying.“I saw papers flying on the road and I know my father-in-law left with his book.”The young woman explained that her worst fears were later confirmed after she learnt that her father-in-law was involved in an accident on the Onderneeming Public Road.She recalled last seeing him at around eight o’clock on Tuesday morning. She said her father-in-law,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, had earlier left to attend to his farm before he returned to his Onderneeming home, and then left to attend a meeting at the Suddie NDC office.Boyce said that her father-in-law was on his bicycle heading south when he was hit by a car which was heading in the opposite direction. Boyce died on the spot. He sustained severe injuries to his head, hand,Wholesale Jerseys, feet and back.His mangled bicycle was thrown into a nearby trench by the impact.The driver, a former Neighbourhood police officer , of Maria’s Delight, on the Essequibo Coast, abandoned his vehicle not too far from the scene. He has since been apprehended.

Turtle conservationists have noticed that the peak of the nesting season for the turtle population seems to be not as significant as in the past three years, according to the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society (GMTCS).The Marine Turtle project had been monitoring the nesting site of Almond Beach for the past four months and there has been a decline of the Greens for this season. The leatherbacks are also small in numbers; with an average of seven turtles per night in comparison to 15 in 2010 nesting season. However,China Jerseys Cheap, the conservation society is receiving turtles that were tagged in 2007 and 2009 nesting season; all turtles returning are in healthy conditions with tags still attached to their flippers.“We had also attached to three turtles, two leatherbacks and one Green,Cheap China Jerseys, satellite tracking devices. This programme was funded by WWF and for the first time we are able to follow or track the turtles from Guyana.“By logging onto the website: www.conserveturtles.org? you can journey with our turtles ABBE,Cheap Jerseys From China, CARA and LUISE, as they travel along the coastal waters of the Guiana’s,Authentic Jerseys China,” Country Coordinator of Marines Turtle Project,Cheap MLB Jerseys China, Romeo De Freitas said.Within the past week three leatherbacks entangled in a net in the sea were rescued. They were trapped in gillnets. During this period of the season which is regarded as the peak of nesting,China Jersyes Cheap, many turtles are close to the shore — within 15 miles of their nesting sites.According to De Freitas, because of heavy fishing off the north western coast many turtles are accidentally caught by long gill nets fishing boats. However, some turtles may have survived while others suffered by drowning or at the hands of the fishermen. Many turtles drift ashore with severe chops and missing limbs.The Rangers of the GMTCS are reminding the public that Sea turtles are all critically endangered species under CITIES and need to be protected.The GMTCS noted that ocean patrols are conducted by the Rangers during this period to advise and occasionally guide fishermen away from the nesting sites.It was further noted that fuel for ocean patrols and off shore monitoring is an ongoing contribution from Simpson Oil Limited (SOL) as has been the case over the past decade.