Mr Darboe made this statement yesterday at Ocean Bay Hotel in Bakau while addressing participants at a two-day tax seminar organised by the Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce (GYCC) and funded by Project Support to strengthen capacities of national institutions for economic manaagement and evidence-based policy planning and budgeting in order to achieve inclusive growth and poverty reduction in The Gambia.
Considering the fact that The Gambia is a tax-based economy with a youthful population of 60%, CG Darboe said the GRA were delighted to involve GYCC in their drive to enhance understanding on the country’s revenue laws and the need for tax payment.
He also said that considering the number of staff at GRA , “it is very difficult to adequately cover the entire country” in collecting revenues from one location to another.
CG Darboe calls for all hands on deck to collect the much needed revenue for government.
He also made it clear that the GRA or the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs could not do it all alone. “We as Gambians must come together as a people and as institutions and complement each other’s roles and mandates to better achieve our desired goals,” he said.
The development of the country lies on all and sundry, particularly on the youth, he said, adding: “We must put hands together and work extra miles in order to effectively develop this country for our children.”
Going forward in realising the much needed revenue for government depends on collective efforts and responsibility from all patriotic citizens, he added.
CG Darboe further praised the media for playing their parts in complementing the efforts of GRA in the collection of revenue for government.
The media, he said, are playing a pivotal role in information dessemination across the country.
“Both the print and electronic media are doing their utmost best to create awareness about the importance of paying taxes for national development,” he stated, saying GRA thus wants GYCC to emulate the media through information sharing among their members about the relevance of tax payment, revenue laws and the implications in default to pay or honour tax obligation when in meaneful business.
He also told the particiants that the more people understand the roles and mandates of GRA, the easier they comply with tax payment and the more develloppment the country would realise.
Thus CG Darboe urged the participants to actively participate in the discussion to enhance their understanding on tax issues and knowledge-sharing.
He advised the participants to learn well about the laws and to share the knowledge gained from the seminar with others that could not benefit from the occasion.
“We want the GYCC participants to become the ambassadors of GRA while we give the much needed support to enhance their knowledge on tax and tax-related matters,” he stated.
Making it clear that GRA has an open door policy, CG Darboe said: “You can always contact our officers on the ground for any clarifications about taxation. They are there for you as taxpayers. You are our priority; without taxpayers, GRA cannot be functional. Therefore, we at the level of GRA value you and recongise the importance of taxpayers in national development.”
He added: “I want us to develop a lifetime relationship - GRA is our revenue collection institution; so it is our responsibility to make sure that we collect the needed revenue for the government.”
