Dear Editor,
I refer to the new system to be introduced by GRA come December 1, 2010 (‘Clearing of barrels simpler and faster’ SN, November 16).
Editor, it is already a big burden to clear a barrel so I really cannot understand how it will be “simpler and faster.” What is actually happening is that the duties to clear the barrel will be increased by over 100%. I cleared a barrel on November 16, 2010 and it only cost me $2,100; come December 1, 2010, the same barrel will now cost me $5,000.00, so what will be “simpler and faster” about that?
Here is the real process for clearing a barrel that was done only Tuesday last at the GNIC wharf. It all started at 10 am. You first have to go to the shipping company to collect your “simplified customs declaration” form and pay your fee of $2,500. You then proceed to the wharf where you check with the GNIC security, show your documents and present your ID card and will be issued with a temporary visitors badge to proceed to the wharf. You will have to then look for the shipping company agent, but it will take some time to find him as he is looking after other people’s barrels. When he is found, you give him your documentation and he would then instruct other workers to find your barrel.
In the meantime, while you are waiting, you have to present your ID to the GNIC desk #1 and they write in a ledger book and have you sign. They will now send you to GNIC desk #2 and they do the same thing – write in a ledger book and have you sign. By the time that is finished your barrel will be found and will be taken to the inspection area where it will be opened and some of the contents taken out. You then have to wait for a Customs Officer to come and inspect and value your barrel. When that officer is finished with the set of barrels that has been inspected (he will not inspect just one barrel), he/she then proceeds to the office to calculate the duties on the forms that were taken to the office. You have to now wait until your form is passed out with the relevant duties. After you receive your form, you then proceed to the GRA cashier to pay your duties.
After paying you have to then go to GRA officer #2 who signs your document and sends you to GNIC clerk #1 who will stamp and sign your form and then send you to GNIC clerk #2 who will now write up another set of forms and after these forms are authorized, you will then have to proceed to GRA officer #2 again with this new form to stamp and sign. You will now have to take that to GNIC clerk #2 again to stamp and sign and then take that form to GNIC clerk #3 for your barrel to be released. When the barrel is released, you have to now go and get your transportation. You then check with the GNIC security, hand in your badge, get your transportation and wait for the GNIC gate security to give clearance for your vehicle to enter the compound. When clearance is given, your driver will now have to show some form of ID and that will be noted in their book. After all of this, you still have to wait for permission to be given before you can proceed to the wharf to collect your barrel. You now have to check with GNIC clerk #4 for permission to collect your barrel and another book is written up.
At last, you finally get your barrel and then proceed to leave the wharf, but there is another gate security officer who collects your documents and checks your barrel and then signals for the gate to be opened for your barrel to pass. All this up and down and around takes 3½ to 4 hours, so by the time you have finished with your one barrel you are tired and hungry.
Editor I wonder what “simpler and faster” will mean come December 1.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
