The Republic of Guyana is in mourning following the passing of Edgar Heyligar, the inaugural Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), who died on March 7, 2026, at the age of 86. The GRA confirmed the news through an official statement released by current Commissioner-General Godfrey Statia.
Heyligar’s distinguished career in public service spanned decades, marked by his foundational role in shaping Guyana’s fiscal administration. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in the United Kingdom, he returned to his homeland in the early 1970s and dedicated his professional life to strengthening the nation’s financial institutions.
His significant contributions began well before the establishment of the GRA. In 1978, Heyligar was appointed Commissioner of Inland Revenue, where he pioneered systems and professional standards that would later form the blueprint for the modern revenue authority. When the GRA was formally established in 2000 as a milestone in modernizing Guyana’s revenue administration, Heyligar was appointed as its first Commissioner-General, serving until 2003.
Under his leadership, the Authority initiated critical reforms in tax and customs administration, enhanced accountability measures, and established a professional institutional culture that continues to guide the organization today. His tenure laid the groundwork for effective revenue collection mechanisms that support national development.
The GRA statement highlighted Heyligar’s widely respected professionalism, integrity, and commitment to public service. Many current officers within the Authority have benefited from the institutional framework established during his formative leadership years.
The Governing Board, Commissioner-General, and staff of the GRA have extended their deepest condolences to his family, friends, and former colleagues. The nation recognizes his enduring legacy in building Guyana’s revenue administration system, which will remain an integral part of the organization’s institutional memory.