Finance Minister has sole responsibility for revenue agency – President

In light of recent allegations that State Minister Joseph Harmon attempted to interfere with an operation spearheaded by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), President David Granger has stated that Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan is the government minister solely and directly responsible for the operations and management of the revenue body.

It is being alleged that Minister Harmon recently interfered in the GRA’s operation involving Chinese company, Bai Shan Lin, where he instructed that efforts to seize two luxury vehicles owned by Bai Shan Lin over taxes owed, be halted.

However, on his weekly “Public Interest” programme, although President Granger did not confirm that his State Minister interfered in the work of the revenue agency, he said that he spoke with his Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, who is responsible for GRA, hence he is of the belief that ‘corrective’ action is being taken.

According to President Granger, there are occasions when “errors of judgement” are made.

“I am not saying there was an error of judgement, but when complaints are made, they are investigated”, he said.

INews understands that it was the Finance Minister who brought up the issue of the responsibility of GRA during a recent meeting with the President.

It was then that he raised the topic of the alleged intrusion by Minister Harmon to stop the GRA from seizing the two luxury vehicles from Bai Shan Lin.

Meanwhile, Minister Harmon has promised to release a statement pertaining to this matter, however, even though several days have passed he is yet to do so.