Copyright stabroeknews
Dear Editor, Ah feel good. And I am not James Brown, that great American soul singer. Some people at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) are due the honours for making me feel this good about Guyana. A wonderful experience, it was; emphasized what professionalism and care could get done. I commend Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, for having the place running on the right track, some troubling tax and smuggling issues, notwithstanding. The main Camp Street office was visited last week, and these were the circumstances, as experienced. I was missing a document, one that could be retrieved from my phone, but which I was unable to do. Patient directions followed on where to go to remedy, and on the way, I almost collided with a senior officer of the GRA. He arranged for a manager to guide me through the process. She was the epitome of patient professional consideration, and took care of matters from Step A to Step Zee. It was as good, if not better, as an experience in a government office (anywhere) that anyone could hope for, even dare to expect. I was told that mentioning names are not necessary, as serving is part of the GRA mandate that is taken seriously. Having lived with it last week, and grown better for it, I am going to have to think twice to speak unwell of the GRA. Given the people that I have encountered at the GRA recently and before, I think that they will expect me to speak my mind. That is, call the good (as I am doing now) and do the same with the bad, should such occur. No friends. It is not the distancing and disowning of friends who were once in the bosom, as is the rage today, and substituting others to take up the vacancy. It is of walking a straight line and when a wrong has been done, taking ownership of it. No hiding, no seeking to plaster it on others. Separately, I came out of the GRA, and it was another world, a bustling one. Taxi! Taxi! Touts in attendance, on the move. Then, in a whiff, all the private cars hustling a passenger were gone. A minute later a police car drove up and stopped in the same place they were occupying. Across the street, there was one of those stalls that dot the roadways that look like a food stand, but one in a different line of business. Photocopying and picture taking are part of the services offered. The many types of business that are processed inside of the GRA are the feeders for those street side vendors that make a living from those who are short of a document that is needed for GRA review. It is a whirlwind of activity with staff and members of the public coming and going in an endless stream, and at a rapid clip. While on the inside of the GRA walls I watched as Guyanese all sat or stood stiffly, as they waited their turn. Entering a government office usually introduces that kind of condition on most citizens. There were still the occasional stragglers, who tried to game the system and get ahead of the programme. All in all, it was a good and exhilarating experience, thanks to the standards now seemingly well-embedded at the GRA. Keep up the good work, folks.
