Duty free relief supply information?

[Seay]

Does anyone know the status on supplies (relief only) that may perhaps be duty free? If so, is there a form that is required? If so, where might I obtain a downloadable copy of this form?

Thanks for your input.

[Kimberly]

The U.S. Embassy in Nassau might be able to assist you, but in the meantime, keep all of your receipts!

[Kimberly]

On Friday, Bahamas Information Services held a press conference at which it was announced that the Bahamas Government was instituting a 6-month moratorium on import duties for rebuilding supplies and replacement materials lost to Hurricane Frances. As a more specific announcement becomes available, we will post it here.

Kimberly
Briland.com

[bellavista]

Kim--
Anywhere we can go on Web to confirm this. I have some hurricane damage and am in process of getting materials from the States.
shudgins@wwhgd.com

[stagalee]

You have to apply to the ministry of finance for duty free materials to come in - specifically before you import the goods. I read the list of items they are considering for duty free this AM and noticed that generators are not on the list, mainly just building materials no tools or anything else and it only applies to existing structures = no new buildings like before in floyd. As well I don't know of anyone who has already done this so can't comment on the time it takes to get the permission approved from the ministry of finance. My roof needs repairs badly and quickly so I am not even going to waste my time fooling with the gov't and just buy locally so that I can have peace of mind if "knock on wood" anything else comes our way

[R]

I talked to the Customs guys in Marsh Harbour yesterday and was told the following:
You must submit your forms, then someone must inspect your damage and compare his assessment to the list you submit prior to the duty being waved. They are charging full duty on all else, even 70% duty on drinking water.

Regards...R

[Kimberly]

when did we ever pay 70 percent import duty on drinking water?????????

[JB]

I brought in 20 gallons of water and handed them out at the airport and didn't have to pay duty!

[peterodgers]

I talked to the Customs guys in Marsh Harbour yesterday and was told the following:
You must submit your forms, then someone must inspect your damage and compare his assessment to the list you submit prior to the duty being waved. They are charging full duty on all else, even 70% duty on drinking water.

Regards...R
Local word on island is that "duty free" will not be the same as after Floyd. following are a few of the local opinions on this subject: 1. There will be much tighter controls in that documentation of damage by custom's officers is required; 2. Duty Free policy will apply only to buildings that have actually been damaged and not to new construction as before; Customs Duty Relief, if any, will not be timely.

more as it develops....

[Kimberly]

that is true. post-floyd, thousands of two-bedroom cottages became six-room guesthouses courtesy of locals, expats, businesses taking advantage of bahamas customs' good nature back in in 1999 in letting everything, including toilet paper <g> and building materials and ceiling fans and stuff and stuff into the country without charging a dime of import duty, short of actual documentation of damage.

this time around, they will be closer in nature to their u.s. counterparts when it comes to collecting duty tax. too bad. we live and learn. but yes, if an item is available in the bahamas, and someone chooses to import its foreign equivalent, whether canned tomatoes or somesuch, the import duty will now be close to 100% until the reconstruction time has passed.

[dp]

If true, thats a shame. If we were concerned about canned tomatoes it wouldnt matter. But after Floyd, many homes were built and improvements made because of the duty-free policy, a move that was both good and smart. It cleaned things up, provided jobs and expanded the economy. This time that wont happen. The government wont collect the tax money it expects because the improvements won't be made, precisely BECAUSE of the taxes. Everybody loses.

[Kimberly]

many improvements will STILL be made, and the building boom post-frances will certainly pick up many local economies.

it's just that the too-many casual imports post-floyd that had NOTHING to do with reconstruction and everything to do with circumventing the one solid means of government revenue here taught everyone a lesson, in that a "walmart-style 'cut out the middle man, buy cheap' economic model" doesn't work well here in the long run.

the bahamas would rather support local businesses supporting local communities ** as much as possible ** supporting local hotels and villas that attract the foreign investor, visitor, guest.

as for protecting imports with high tariffs, it's not as though chiquita and dole don't exert the same pressure on the u.s. customs folks to do the same thing when it comes to importing caribbean bananas, rum, lobsters, textiles etc., either.

[Kimberly]

Duty has been lifted on these items: clothing, footwear, batteries, disposable paper and plastic goods, generators, chain saws, tools and medical supplies, and no approval is required for their importation.

These items below require an approval letter from your area commisioner that states whether or not your project is new or suffered damages from the hurricane: furniture, appliances, plumbing materials, electrical materials, building materials and emergency equipment.

[Casa Bueno]

Kimberly: Thanks so much for posting the info about duty. How did you find out about it? Is there a way for us to confirm? Thanks again!

[stagalee]

apparently they added a few more item to the list yesterday that don't need approval - I haven't seen it yet but should know by tommorow when I get the update from customs

[Kimberly]

hi, casa ... got the list from our local administrator, and confirmed the form with our customs agent at the airport. just contact your community's local administrator, and you'll get squared away in no time.

[Kimberly]

Someone from the Abacoboard PM'd me offlist with regard to importation of generators, and I inadvertently deleted their message. Please ping me back at info@briland.com, and I'll let you know as soon as I hear any definitive word with regard to the easing or not of import duty taxes on emergency supplies such as generators, mini reverse osmosis kits et al.

Kimberly

[Sally]

Vintage props & Jets is currently flying supplies over at a reduced rate. You would need to bring them or have them shipped to their New Smyrna Beach office.

[bellavista]

Spoke with customs brokers yesterday and they said generators duty free if LANDED by Oct 31st. (Note: no superscript so this is a genuine 1972 doc).

[twosailing]

I would like to send some relief supplies to the abacos and am looking for someone that is going over there. I live in f. Myers Florida
Stephanie
twosailing22@yahoo.com

[Ridgehouse]

I spoke to my Customs Broker about an hour ago. He said everything for rebuilding is being let in duty free. I would suggest you contact a customs broker in Marsh and he can help you to apply. I use Bradly Reckly of Trinity Customs Brokers and hasve for years though I'm sure any one of them could help you. You need someone to be watching for your stuff so it gets in duty free. However they seem to be changing the rules daily.