Critics of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government continue to make a huge hullabaloo regarding the President’s intervention at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to address a complaint made by a US-sanctioned businessman.
To this end, critics are questioning, I suppose, the legality of whether the President can intervene in such matters, given that the GRA is an “independent” body.
But from my reading and interpretation of the relevant governing legislation of the GRA, the Revenue Authority Act, Chapter 79:04, and the Constitution of Guyana in respect of the authority of the executive, I found nothing unlawful or unconstitutional with such intervention by His Excellency.
In fact, the GRA falls under the purview of the Minister of Finance, who is a senior minister responsible for finance in the Office of the President. Accordingly, Section 12 (2) of the Revenue Authority Act states:
“The Minister may give to the Governing Board such general directives with respect to carrying out of its functions under this Act as he considers necessary or expedient, and the Board shall give effect to those directives…”.
Clearly, there was/is nothing unlawful or unconstitutional as regards the President’s intervention at the GRA.
Yours sincerely,
Joel Bhagwandin
