The Jamaica Customs Agency Urges Passengers and Importers to Comply

The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) wishes to advise persons importing items into Jamaica for social outreach, that they are to import only those items for which the requisite approval has been granted by the relevant authority.

This is against the background of allegations against an employee of the JCA that were posted on Facebook last weekend.

To date, the JCA has not received a formal complaint from the passenger on this matter.

We have taken note that some of the items imported by the complainant did not qualify for a waiver, nor were they included in the letter issued by the relevant authority. The passenger therefore would have been required to pay the applicable duties, taxes and fees totalling Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty Three Dollars and Forty Four Cents ($7,133.44) as detailed below:

• Import Duty: $585.00
• Standard Compliance Fee: $243.77
• Environmental Levy: $406.28
• General Consumption Tax (GCT): $798.38
• Stamp Duty: $100.00
• Customs Administration Fee (CAF): $5000.00

No duties and taxes were charged on the school supplies.

The public is hereby informed that the JCA has several channels of communication that our clients may use to lodge their complaints, including our telephone and online outlets. We can be contacted by email: public.relations@jacustoms.gov.jm; quick.response@jacustoms.gov.jm; telephone: 922-5140-9; 750-3010.

The JCA reiterates its commitment to the highest standards of customer service, requiring professionalism at all levels.

The JCA cannot comment further on this matter, given possible litigation relative to the content posted by persons whose remarks may be deemed defamatory.