Dear Editor,
I was told by Customs that only three pieces of Indian garb are duty free at Cheddi Jagan International Airport. I was shocked. This must be a cause of concern for the Indian community and the Indian diaspora, if not the entire Guyanese nation and its diaspora. Such a rule is unheard of. There should not be any limit on ethnic wear unless it is brought in for sale. I am not a business person and I am not a huckster or trader. I never brought things to Guyana for sale. For some inexplicable reason, every time I visit Guyana, I am harassed at Immigration and/or at Customs. I will not silence my activism if that is the intention of the authorities.
I came into Cheddi Jagan airport and after sending my bags through the X-ray, I was pulled over for a second inspection and clearance. I brought donations for orphanages, including some Indian garments of various sizes for children and adults to donate to orphans for special Indian events or the mandir or masjid or church. The Customs officer went through all of my bags thoroughly and separated all the Indian garb on one side and left the rest in the luggage. She was not focused on what I thought would be dutiable, like a new pair of expensive boots or sneakers or refreshments or other things. She focused like a laser on the Indian wear. She ripped open the see through plastic bags containing the Indian ethnic clothes.
I asked her what was she doing as she attempted to write on the Customs declaration form. She informed me that I had to pay duty on the traditional Indian garb. I asked why, since personal ethnic wear or limited low cost gifts are not dutiable. She informed me that only three pieces of Indian wear were allowed and that I had nine pieces. The truth is I had ten pieces which had a total value of less than US$50 that I bought on a recent trip to India. Yes, they are low cost or cheap items (relatively speaking) for gifts. And I did have an exchange with the officer in charge querying the rule for duties.
Every passenger visiting any country is allowed a certain amount of duty free items. Unless for sale, clothing is not dutiable. Personal items are not dutiable. I do not know where this number of 3 duty free Indian pieces came from. It is capricious.
So if a dulahin is visiting Guyana for a Shaadi (marriage), she will only be allowed three pieces when her cultural practice in preparation for the rituals would require at least half a dozen pieces? The Dulaha also needs several pieces. If I am coming to an Indian cultural event, I can’t bring more than three Nehru suits or kurthas. So the rule is idiotic. If Finance Minister Jordan or any of his acolytes establish such a rule or instructs Customs to haphazardly apply it, he should immediately reverse it. It is discriminatory.
I do not know if the restriction of three traditional items of clothing also apply to African and Chinese wear. If it applies only to Indian wear, then that is discrimination. If the three piece restriction applies to African and Chinese garb as well, it is also discriminatory. Other groups may not have traditional wear; they tend to wear Western garments on which there are no limits at Customs. So on clothing, passengers from some ethnic groups face discrimination while others face no such obstacles because Western clothing is accepted as the norm.
I call on the government to urgently address this matter. I also call on Indian organizations to take note and voice their objection to this policy of three duty-free items of Indian clothing. There must be no restriction on ethnic wear or personal items (not for sale) coming through Customs.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
