Barrel relief for Christmas

barrels
Dominicans who are expecting to receive barrels from relatives overseas this Christmas will pay only $10 when they are collected at the port as the government continues its traditional Christmas barrel initiative.

However, Executive Director of the Dominica Airport and Sea Port Authority (DASPA), Benoit Bardouille, said they should be for personal use only and not for commercial use.

The period took effect from December 1st 2016 and will run until January 10th 2017.

“First and foremost there is a household limit, each household in Dominica shall be entitled to, during the implementation period a maximum of two barrels, boxes or crates or cartons or equivalent size to a regular barrel will also be eligible,” he said. “The definition of the barrel shall mean basically non-commercial packages received… such as boxes, barrels, crates and up to upper limit of $1,500 on the value of these items will qualify for concession.”

He went on to say that the recipient of the barrels will be required to pay a flat service charge of EC$10, “for handling and storage of the barrel.”

“Persons clearing a barrel which was imported between December 1st 2016,to January 10th 2017, will pay EC$10 as a recipient of that concession…,” he explained. “The recipient also shall be exempt from import duty and custom service charge on the eligible barrels.”

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56 Comments

  1. forreal
    December 7, 2016

    one thing I notice about people that write comments on DNO, they do not write based on their own philosophies and knowledge’s, they write like they are waiting for someone to give a subject, then they are like”is true we” this is a headline story about the spirit of sharing, people helping their people just like they are obligated to, what does hurting local economy has to do with this,business people profit all through the year, this is one time of the year that they have to give back by selling certain items own on sale,but no to some it should not be so, but typical dominica’s,monkey do and say what monkey see monkey write and jump on with negative input.

  2. tasha
    December 7, 2016

    When u want to sell a box on corm flakes 50 dollars you don’t expect families to take advantage of this opportunity? I mean i understand alcohol being expensive but food and household needs should not be so expensive in Dominica.. You go in a supermarket with 100 and you can hardly buy enough groceries to last a week much-less a month. They need to drop the price of food and remove the taxes imposed because it is killing folks pockets esp if you have a big family or teenage boys who eat alot…

  3. Pres_Donald_Trump
    December 7, 2016

    $10 GarCon u making 100 million in passports travelling first class to dubai, staying in a US7,000.00 room and u giving we labourites $10. St.kitts giving an extra month’s salary in December for all civil servants, auxiliary workers and pensioners on the government’s payroll plus a Discounted VAT-Rate Day on Friday, December 16th. Skerrit u taking too much passport money for yourself and not sharing enough for this christmas season.

  4. silentoney2k
    December 7, 2016

    BARREL ECONOMY

  5. forreal
    December 7, 2016

    this is the time of the year when party colors come of, yep, all is one love then….beautifull no problem, but I have to chime in on you all, the people sending the barrels are the same ones, of which some are not US citizens but mare visa& green card holders, and of course are still in allegiance to the flag of dominica,which you all slaughter everyday by saying they should not come down to vote…who vex lost..i had to say it..love de toys..but love de santa clause them to

  6. zandoli
    December 7, 2016

    A long time ago, I used to send barrels to my grandmother and also to this poor lady. My grandmother died so that was the end of that. I also stopped sending barrels to the less fortunate lady. Instead, I send her a generous a amount of cash about 3 – 4 times a year.

    There a couple of reasons why I stopped sending barrels.

    (1) I used to send stuff like corned beef, rice, flour, sugar, oil, spam, and many other items. But I was told by someone who was close to her that she would feast on these things like there was no tomorrow, until it was all done. I try to eat healthy, and it occurred to me that I may have been doing more harm than good.

    (2) Sending cash gives her more flexibility to spend the money the way she wants.

    (3) Sending cash was better for the local economy.

    • tasha
      December 7, 2016

      Stop lying son, you were not sending cash or anything..

  7. CD
    December 7, 2016

    I welcome the initiative. However small business owners could use some customs relief so we can reduce our prices. The prices we pay on the port are killing us…it’s hard to survive. Of course we would like to reduce our prices but with the rate of port duties we just can’t afford. We have to pay our rent; store utilities and still make enough to survive. Further,not everyone has family to send barrels; therefore the relief is not wide spread.. If we the small the small business owners get some relief (not necessarily the $10); but some kind of relief; we will then be able to sell at lower prices at least for the season ad still make something reasonable.

    • DA
      December 7, 2016

      I agree 100 percent. The small businesses are not a concern for the government, but if we the small businesses are not there it will be more unemployment rate for the country. Help us help you!

  8. Oh
    December 7, 2016

    People it is not just $10 flat, we still have to pay Environmental Levy and VAT on the barrels. It was said on the news, and I experienced it last year. It is not only $10 that you pay.

  9. Just Me
    December 7, 2016

    My God! As if this is not the first time that this has been done

  10. Papa woolay Zor
    December 7, 2016

    Be careful too , look out for the guns

  11. Papa woolay Zor
    December 7, 2016

    :)

  12. Gorvernance
    December 6, 2016

    I reside in the US. If you buy a $10 perfume is rubbish you are buying. $10 barrell is certainly unfair to the very poor who do not have relative overseas. let us even out and ask the Government to provide basics for the poor for Christmas – tongue in cheek.

    On a serious note: The Govt is loosing revenue by foregoing the duty, VAT and port charges on the barrells. I suggest that all should pay the normal duty, VAT, Port Charges and let the Government provide the basics for the poor for Christmas. The old labour Party slogan was “all shall eat”. Now it is “some shall eat.”

    • shay
      December 8, 2016

      WHHAAATTT are you saying??!!!! U live in the US and suggesting that the Gov’t should not give people relief for xmas on barrels? Im lost for words with your stupid comment. I live in the US too and I am happy the people of Dominica can get this little relief. smh

  13. December 6, 2016

    I personally think that this is a good gesture but making this gesture only in December is not good at all.The cost of living is very hard for those living there,the PM said he is not responsible of offering jobs to the population, so the gov’t should allow people overseas to send barrels all year round to their families.Whether they can get to sell from it ;at list they will have a better life. The can’t charge a reasonable price at the port ;so that the gov’t can employ or do any thing that is needed to be done with the money.When the population make more money ,they can also buy more in the shops,supply what ever their kids need and so forth.In EU people work and still do some extra business by selling for example cosmetics,clothes ,shoes,perfume etc. By doing so they earn more money,send more money to their families, give to charity ,save etc.
    Stop putting so much restriction in the country Dominica needs developing ;their is no growth;it is improving in the reverse.

    • Lena
      December 7, 2016

      So how should the country make money if they allow YOU and YOURS to send in and collect barrels year round for $10 or free? Do you understand these very fees run the port and customs, hospitals, road, schools, social services etc? I’m grateful for the concession but a country can’t run on freeness. Oh so Dominica should allow what EU people are doing? No wonder BREXIT was important. Dominica is sovereign Island and giving free barrels year round is in no adding to development. You need a basic class in Economics, just because you have access to a computer or even smartphone shouldn’t be a reason for you to type garbage.

      • December 7, 2016

        Read carefully before answering counter clockwise…I said make them pay a reasonable price,I never said $10.00 or free..You are an idiot ,because it not because you sell a pair of trousers for $100.00 and someone is selling the same trousers for $80.00 ,this does not mean that you will make more more than the one who sells at a higher price….idiot READ BEFORE YOU LEAP ..

  14. Joeblo
    December 6, 2016

    Thank you Dr Severin, lowest ever charge….. $10. Strategy at work boy…… Good thing we don’t have 10 cents brains.

  15. beautiful lady
    December 6, 2016

    Thanks Mr. P M. Mine is ready to ship, my Queen and Sons will be happy too

  16. Doc. Love
    December 6, 2016

    Thank you, Mr. PM, but that will still not make me support you and your Government.

    • 4evatru
      December 6, 2016

      Who cares if you don’t.

      • Major56
        December 7, 2016

        Obviously you because you chose to comment. :-P

    • KID ON THE BLOCK
      December 7, 2016

      Doc.Love, PM doesn’t need your support! Keep supporting who you have been supporting and enjoy what you thank the PM for. Shameless!

    • shay
      December 8, 2016

      Put politics aside…..Atleast u acknowledge that he is doing good for his country weather u support or not. Give jack his jacket. This is going to give a relief to all of us this Christmas weather u support blue, red, green or yellow.

  17. KID ON THE BLOCK
    December 6, 2016

    Wish everyday was Christmas! :-D

  18. no
    December 6, 2016

    wowwwwwwww..yes yes yes.. praise god for that

  19. john doe
    December 6, 2016

    I think this is a very welcomed gesture however I also believe that the normal price to clear a barrel is exorbitant. It should definitely be a lot less when someone sends regular daily supplies to their loved ones so that the greedy retailers with their 1000% mark up can be knocked to their senses when their stuff expires on their shelves.

  20. Ignorance
    December 6, 2016

    Thank you . Dominicans will surely make good use of this . Keep the barrels coming .
    If the shops would be reasonable with their prices ,this would not be an issue.
    Too often toiletries ,and other personal goods are just too expensive and poor quality.
    Some stores buy cheap stuff and price them high in Dominica.
    A perfume that cost 10.00 in the US is 150 -200.00 in Dominica.
    So Let people bring in what they want . Good Job I say
    Mene. Bawee Zor desan. ???❤️?

  21. December 6, 2016

    If you guys chevk with your caribbean neighbours you will find that they have also relaxed the cost. you know you guys lack gratitude

  22. December 6, 2016

    Good job Mr. P.M.

  23. December 6, 2016

    De country nice, why the barrel? :-D :-D

  24. d-a born
    December 6, 2016

    Good stuff. After seeing how much things cost in D/a, it feels good to send barrels down for the holidays.

  25. Rescue 911
    December 6, 2016

    Ok. What about the people that stuff their barrels with thing to sell for Christmas

  26. Zion Man
    December 6, 2016

    Does this cover all port of entry? Sea as well as air?

  27. papa
    December 6, 2016

    U have your own boat let me no so I can send my barel with u at that price very cheap

  28. Shaka Zulu
    December 6, 2016

    Like I said last time this is another feel good decision that ends up hurting local retailers. Christmas time is when they make max profits. If I send two barrels then that’s sale lost to the US and elsewhere, local business es will not hire and you guys wonder why things get hard. Let’s do maths. One barrel cost about $180 to post, and let’s estimate about $500 worth of goods. Make that two barrels, and that equals US $1360. Converted to ec that would be about $3631.2. let’s assume 15k barrels are sent that would be a value of over 27 million dollars. For a country where we say places like brizeemart closed don’t you think 27 million would be a great infusion into the country. You guys would Dominica a greater favour sending the money than it would do sending barrels.

    • TO HOT TO HANDLE
      December 6, 2016

      You must be barren. you must also be rich and spend most of your money on vacation trips for you to talk such bull
      have you ever consider the less fortunate individuals who happen to have their children overseas.
      Stop and think before you open you mouth

    • LifeandDeath
      December 6, 2016

      So like all year Businesses waiting for Christmas to make $27Mil? Don’t you think the population deserves a bit of a break also.

      Your calculations are rudimentary but you assume that everybody receiving a barrel would spend that amount of money on island for Christmas..I doubt it!!

      I agree there has to be a balance but for Christmas (a period of roughly 1 month) at least poor people deserve a break..

      Businesses have 11 months and they squeeze ppl all year..

      • Shaka Zulu
        December 6, 2016

        You want me use differential equations :-D

      • December 6, 2016

        You all have good points and sending the money instead of the barrels would be the right thing to do . Some business gets a boost in income at year end, In North America some companies welcome the Christmas season because they are hopping to cover the lost of revenue and that’s why we have so many sales around that time of year, sometime what little they made during the year is just enough to pay the taxes and at a lost to the rest of the business. On the other hand some of our folks need the help and we just want to take care of them so we still send the barrels it’s a two way street

    • “Like I said last time this is another feel good decision that ends up hurting local retailers.”

      In any event the local retailer will still be hurt, because the local people who support the local business, do not have any job. And the handouts received form Skerrit cannot totally support the few operating business on the island.

      Which would you prefer, people in the United States, sending food home to their hungry relatives, or would rather them stave to spend a few pence for the sake of supporting some mum and pap shop?

      Let me remind you, there are people in Dominica right this day, had it not been for receiving one or something from one of these barrels, on Christmas day they me have nothing to eat okay!

      And that is the reality in Dominica.

      • dee
        December 7, 2016

        ”Let me remind you, there are people in Dominica right this day , had it not been for receiving one or something from one of these barrels ,on Christmas day they have nothing to eat okay”
        Francisco I don’t want to be like so many others who sometimes grace you with a response to your idiotic comments , so i’ll just ask when last were you in Da? though its not important .I know Dominica like the back of my left hand ,and i can safely say THERE’S NO WAY ,IN ANY VILLAGE IN DOMINICA THAT ANY ONE PERSON CAN GO A WHOLE DAY WITHOUT FINDING SOMETHING TO EAT, if this happens,trust me, its by the individuals own choice for whatever reason .
        A perfect example, there are dozens of vans loaded with coconuts selling each day , most nuts are topped off, the coconut water consumed,the nut is then discarded with the ”nanan” white fleshy nutritious filling insides of the coconut ” just thrown away”. WHAT A WASTE ,only in Dominica . MAN WE CAN NEVER BE HUNGRY,DOW COME SO . STAY…

    • Woywoy
      December 7, 2016

      This is the same post put out on facebook by a former “barrel” agent who use to charge $100.00 just to sign the delivery papers,now is sour grapes.Check his facebook page!!

    • LuCClu
      December 7, 2016

      I’m not sure where you ship from or shop, but it only costs me about US$100 to ship my barrel/box. I buy no name grocery items, which taste the same as the brand name, in stores like Aldi’s, stop and shop, etc. buy when things go on sale, don’t try to pack a barrel in one shopping trip. Buy clothing at the end of the season for better deals. The max is spend on a barrel is $300 maybe $350. Also, if shops are waiting until Christmas to make money they need to revisit their business plan. I think this is a great initiative for Christmas time, if the they aren’t spending that money on food they can have a bit more disposable income to buy gifts. If people have more disposable income to spend, the economy is still benefitting.

      • Shaka Zulu
        December 7, 2016

        You see the bigger problem is the VAT they have killing people. Why not reduce the 15 percent VAT. People love getting things from the US so I am in no way against families sending barrels to thier loved ones. For those who argue that poor people suffering, why wait till Christmas to help your poor families if they suffering whole year round. I say keep the normal fees on barrels remove VAT from November to February. The comments here just shows how desperate our economy is. No one willing to do what is right for the country as a whole. Each man each family for themselves. No wonder this administration flourishing. Lost country.

  29. Kubuli
    December 6, 2016

    Way to go… Don’t want to come across as greedy but that should apply to everyday barrel for household use. We pay too much for food in Dominica and when our families send us help, is like we’re buying over the goods. This would help lower income earners to have a little more disposable cash in hand too.

    • d-a born
      December 6, 2016

      Exactly. I never liked knowing my family had to pay all that money to clear a barrel, especially around the holidays.

  30. analy thomas
    December 6, 2016

    Good Job!

  31. enough is enough
    December 6, 2016

    HOurra!! another very good idea to continue to put the business community on their knee !!
    personal use only !! what a joke , all of us know that barrels will be on the side of the road for Shopping day !! no taxes, no duty, no Vat, a total loss of revenue for the state and for all vendors!! good luck D/A!!

    • Woywoy
      December 7, 2016

      Thank you Pedro,they fire you now you against it.

    • enough is enough
      December 7, 2016

      for the 19 who are not agree with me : guys you must learn how to use your brain. small business are the Backbone of dominica. they are the one that employed people, pay their duty , pay their tax, pay the Social security, pay their taxes at the end of the year, they are the one that injected money in the economy. if they are not here we all dead. what do you expect? that the Gov feed you for free for ever??? one day ( soon) we will have to pay the bill for all this non sense. continue to believe in Santa claus!!

  32. MUDD
    December 6, 2016

    DNO please double check this information because this sure dosn’t sound right.

    • TO HOT TO HANDLE
      December 6, 2016

      maybe if you were listening to the news on DBS this afternoon instead of lisenting to Q95 you would have heard it. It was confirm on the 1:15pm news today from the chief of the port authority

    • KIM
      December 7, 2016

      this is not totally right the port charges are $10 but the customs charges are not you still have to pay the vat and levy which is 1.5% and !5% of the cost of the barrel

      So people don’t be misleading that you pay only $10 and walk away

  33. December 6, 2016

    Thank you!! About to mail 2 barrels And 2 boxes and was hoping you guys would do the same as last year . so once again thank you!

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