Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr. Khurshid Sattaur, whose services with the agency was terminated this morning following a unanimous decision taken by members of GRA’s governing board, has issued a response in which he admitted that while he is not surprised by the decision to “discard” him, he looks forward now to a “peaceful retirement” and the payment of all his benefits and severance package.
Sattaur, in a response to INews this afternoon, pointed out that from the very inception, especially the many public pronouncements made by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, served as an indication “that it would be uncomfortable for me to continue as the Head of the GRA under the new Administration”.
“It does concern me that I gave long and dedicated service to my beloved country for which I have received a national award (the CCH), for my outstanding performance and I am now being discarded and attempts are being made to have me ridiculed and publicly embarrassed by the very Agency that I gave long and dedicated service to,” Sattaur stated in his response.
He said these incidents, sad to say, would appear to have been orchestrated to make it very uncomfortable for him to continue serving with the same dedication and sincerity with which he approached his work.
Following is a full response from Mr Khurshid Sattaur, to INews, around 18:00hrs today:
“At the very inception, the many public pronouncements made by the Prime Minister indicated that it would be uncomfortable for me to continue as the Head of the GRA under the new Administration. I held office at the pleasure of the Minister, President and the Board and they are entitled to adopt the course of action they have taken.
Immediately after the new Government was installed I made a request to the President of this country for my services to be continued as the Head of GRA and I offered my continued commitment and dedication to the Revenue Administration of Guyana.
I received a response through a letter sometime in September that was backdated in July acknowledging my offer but indicating to me that His Excellency’s Ministers will take a decision. In the meanwhile, I was given all assurances from both the Minister of the Presidency and the Minister of Public Security that there was nothing to be worried about concerning continuing my services with the GRA.
However, within the GRA there were many strange developments that belied or contradicted what was communicated to me by the politicians aforementioned. Professional ethics precludes me from disclosing any of these matters. Suffice it to say, however, I was extremely taken aback by the decision taken by the Board on 2nd December 2015 to have me proceed immediately on leave. According to the reasons offered, this was to facilitate an impending forensic audit of the Agency.
As the public is well aware since proceeding on leave certain incidents have occurred including a press conference conducted by the Chairman that have targeted me and would appeared to suggest that my days were numbered at the GRA.
It does concern me that I gave long and dedicated service to my beloved country for which I have received a national award (the CCH), for my outstanding performance and I am now being discarded and attempts are being made to have me ridiculed and publicly embarrassed by the very Agency that I gave long and dedicated service to.
These incidents, sad to say, would appear to have been orchestrated to make it very uncomfortable for me to continue serving with the same dedication and sincerity with which I approach my work. It is apparent that if I were to resume duties at the end of my leave period I would have been unable to execute my mandate in an effective manner.
I am therefore very much relieved that the Board, probably sensing my discomfort, has compassionately chosen to terminate my services after giving me the necessary notice and most optimistically would be providing me with my hard-earned benefits including my pension benefits up to my legal age of retirement on 31st October, 2017 among other entitlement that applies to termination, such as severance pay and my full leave passage entitlement.
I now look forward for a peaceful retirement and to engage in less strenuous activities that would allow me to enjoy the benefits of my long and dedicated service to this country. I am very proud and feel most honoured to have served my country with dedication, commitment and distinction.”
KHURSHID SATTAUR
I am sure which race will get to be the next head gra…. look at the trend.
corruption? where ? you too gullible . wait you will see corruption with the new govt.
Jack, the man shared information with the govt not the ppp.
It is so clear how he was a damn sucker , he leaking sensitive information to PPP then Govt change he expressing desire to serve, Real hypocrite you are. who do you expect to trust you? Wow!
Mr, Sattaur you ought to be ashamed to speak about embarassment. it was you and your backers Baksh, Jagdeo, etal. who sought to embarass scores of customs officers including the six you tried to feed to Jagdeo in the famous case with Liquor when under a cloud of getting back at Mr Marks you ignored the DPP advice and suspended/ terminated them. now this is Karma
FIRED SATTAUR RESPONDS – says not surprised at decision to ‘discard’ and ‘embarrass’ him, but looks forward to peaceful retirement with full benefits
If you Sattaur and others had any sense from the time Us installed PNC to rule all of you should have resigned.
PNC will now put shadow over all the remaining Indians so as to make life miserable so they will have no other choice but to quit their jobs.
The PNC woman that took over from you will be asking Oswald how to spell hundred like the one that worked at lands n mines office asking Oswald how to spell hundred agai,,1989..
GUYANA WILL BE THE NEXT HAITI . IT IS A HELL HOLE I LEFT MORE THAN 25 YEARS AGO AND NOW IT WILL BE RETURNING TO THE SAME HELL I REMEMBER.
ITS ABOUT TIME. YOU HAD TO GO, TOO CORRUPT TO CONTINUE THE JOB.GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH
Thank you Mr, Sattaur, Indeed you served with distinction.
The PPP did the same thing to so many ppl in the sugar industry.
What their henchmen and women did to Subby Rampertabh, Aaron Dukhia,Visnhu Panday, Dwarka Bahadur, and Daniels from Skeldon is an indication that theuy would have stopped at nothing.
Now Sattuar you crying fowl and crocodile tears for the years of service and how they dumped you. What would you say to the sugar ppl.
Sattuar they didnt do a fraction of the stuff u did, six vehicles, golf cart,all your children working at GRA.
Karma is a bitch,