Opposition wants clarity on duty-free items under Hurricane Beryl relief

The Opposition People's National Party is urging the Ministry of Finance to provide explicit guidelines on the eligibility criteria for duty-free relief on imports related to Hurricane Beryl recovery.

Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Julian Robinson, says the identification of genuine relief items should not be left to the subjective discretion of customs officers.

"Following the announcement of duty-free relief, there has been a troubling lack of specificity regarding which goods qualify for this exemption and in what quantities. This ambiguity is causing unnecessary confusion and uncertainty among those seeking to import essential relief supplies," Robinson said in a media release on Wednesday.

Robinson said it needs to be made clear whether critical items such as generators, batteries, first aid kits, medications, food items, cleaning products and clothing are detailed as eligible for duty-free importation.

He called for the Ministry of Finance to urgently issue a comprehensive list with accompanying guidelines to facilitate effective relief efforts.

"Providing clear, precise information will empower families to organise their recovery and help stakeholders support the recovery and rehabilitation of those affected by Hurricane Beryl efficiently," he said.

last week, the Finance Ministry announced that the government would provide temporary relief from customs duty and General Consumption Tax (GCT) on goods imported for rehabilitation works linked to Hurricane Beryl. The relief runs from July 4 to August 23.

It said the move was in accordance with 30B of the Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff and section 47 of the GCT Act. 

In the meantime, Robinson also expressed concern regarding reported disruptions in the Customs ASYCUDA software system, which he said have led to significant backlogs at the island's ports.

"These technical issues are exacerbating the challenges faced by those attempting to bring in vital relief supplies. It is imperative that the Customs Department swiftly resolves these issues to ensure a seamless and efficient importation process," Robinson added.

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.