Opposition may challenge government on freezing of bank accounts

While the Parliamentary Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party Civic cannot challenge the government on its intention to apply Value Added Tax on electricity and water, it plans to contest the garnishment of funds from taxpayers’ bank accounts in the court, depending on how the measure is implemented. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, informed media operatives last Friday that his party is willing to challenge in court government’s intention to empower the Guyana Revenue Authority to garnish outstanding funds from bank accounts held by defaulting taxpayers. But this depends on how the government plans to implement the system. According to Jagdeo, unless there is a court judgment which the revenue authority is seeking to enforce, only then would garnishment not be challenged. He said that this is one of the many measures he is urging the coalition government to rethink. “Maybe if you get a judgment from the court, then you can look at this as a possibility of recovering your money… but not because you feel the taxpayer owes you.” Jagdeo said that taxpayers may have a problem with how the system has since been described and many will challenge claims by GRA that they are in arrears. “At least if you get a judgment, he (the taxpayer) will know that the money in his account could be garnished but not the way they (government) are planning it.”

The politician said that this system should not be implemented as described, since it is a violation of people’s liberties and their property rights. According to Jagdeo, any withdrawal or reduction of the tax rests solely with the executive arm of government. “That’s why I’m appealing directly to the President because it’s not Winston Jordan’s budget. Winston Jordan is reflecting the will of the government through this budget.” Jagdeo urged that President David Granger should convene his cabinet to either withdraw or review the $250B budget for 2017 and the many measures which Jagdeo says he considers to be oppressive and offensive to the ordinary man. (Kaieteurnews.com)