Gov’t waives import duties on relief items

The government has waived duties on a number of non-commercial items or relief supplies in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

This is according to Comptroller of Customs Roderick Deschamp at a press briefing on Wednesday.

The list of these items is as follows:

-foodstuff,
-clothing,
-linen,
-mattresses (three per household),
-toiletries,
-domestic refrigerators (one per household),
-domestic stoves (one per household),
-water pumps,
-generators (one per household but a permit from IRC is needed for generators more than 20,000 KVA),
-portable air-condition units (limited to business houses, companies and agencies)
-chainsaws
-tarpaulins

A waiver of import duties, Value Added Tax, custom service charge and environmental surcharge has been placed on all relief items from organizations to organization.

“For example from Digicel overseas to Digicel here, those duties and taxes will be waived,” Deschamp explained. “Friends and families to friends and families – my mother is sending some stuff for me – the waiver of duties will also be applied.”

There are also waivers on commercial imports of construction material and foodstuff. The import duty and Value Added Tax have been waived but persons are expected to pay the customs service charge and the environmental surcharge.

The list of these items is as follows:

-building blocks or bricks,
-cement,
-lumber,
-plywood,
-plastic tiles,
-ceramic tiles,
-panels,
-partition boards,
-ceiling tiles,
-galvanize sheets and capping,
-plastic guttering,
-steel rods,
-PVC pipes,
-electrical conduits and fittings,
-steel tubes and pipe fittings,
-copper tubes and pipe fittings,
-taps,
-faucets,
-valves,
-plastic sanitary baths,
-sinks,
-lavatories,
-wash basins,
-plastic windows and doors,
-wooden windows and doors,
-steel windows and doors,
aluminum windows and doors,
-plastic water tanks,
-steel water tanks, aluminum water tanks,
-nails,
-screws,
-electricals (lamp fitting, bulbs, switches, fuses, junction boxes, plugs, connectors, and other articles),
-locks,
-hinges,
-water heaters,
-paint,
-varnish,
-solar panels

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24 Comments

  1. jfingers
    March 2, 2018

    When do this duty waiver ends? What month..date?

  2. Genevieve
    January 6, 2018

    Does anybody know if this include Bedroom Furniture, Kitchen Units, Dining table ? chairs and Sofas
    If not what is the duty?

  3. Jay Legg
    November 9, 2017

    Does anybody know if this include Bedroom Furniture, Kitchen Units, Dining table ? chairs and Sofas
    If not what is the duty?

    Many thanks in advance

  4. Y U running 4?
    November 9, 2017

    @ let the truth you said Skerrit under enough pressure to build back Dominica? You don’t see pressure yet. He is indeed under serious pressure and so too is his lying attorney that cannot help Skerro now because he too under serious pressure. Both of them running these days. One hiding in Antigua with the file he was asked to turn in and the other going crazy in DA because he knows is just a matter of time. They are at the door step knocking the door but instead of opening the door they running to hide. Stay tuned Mr let the truth be known original because soon the truth will be known.

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      November 9, 2017

      You are not in favor of Dominica returning to normal. Too much talking on your part and no action for the betterment of Dominica.
      If you do not cease your negativity and pray for Dominica, nationals and yes, your PM, other politicians see what will happen and to you in time as God takes note of your consistent negative words which produce nothing good.
      God does not appreciate complainers and those who consistently spew criticisms of which you are one.

      • Y U running 4?
        November 10, 2017

        @ let corruption continue in the name of let the truth be know. Do want the truth known? If so why you always rebuking those coming out with the truth and you use all type of scare tactic to silence them? I HATE lies, though not the liar and I hate injustice unlike you. I hate what God hates while you love what God hates. To talk about what will happen to me if I don’t take note is foolishness because that will not stop me from call wrong, wrong. I will not wish you any evil except to encourage you to stand up for truth and stop defending lies and corruption. That’s what God hates and will judge according to Proverbs 6:14-19

  5. Sorry
    November 8, 2017

    How long is the duty free for? I myself I doesn’t listen I only come to dno once in a while to take kicks on the comments. So somebody tell me what’s the time frame. Critics feel free to blast me is all in the kicks I come looking for

  6. Daily Lies
    November 8, 2017

    @ de eyes have it you all not tired of defending a failed government that has amassed millions in personal wealth while the majority depends on crumbs. To talk about the first three weeks nothing could be done to put mechanisms in place for duty free concession, because of no power to use computer is pure lunatic! FYI the first week post Maria, PM was able to engage Ross University and gave them the assurance that Picard would be fully ready by month end of November, for Ross to resume. I like that because the north in particular depends on Ross. But you know Skerrit did not meet with them because he had Dominica and the North on his mind? He did that BECAUSE OF THE VILLAS and I can bet you that the small village of Savanne Pile, with less than a hundred residents, will get electricity and water before Roseau and Portsmouth are fully powered. Do you know why? Because that’s where the state villas are and we must get them ready to facilitate Ross faculty and professors.

  7. Pamala
    November 8, 2017

    Yes but four weeks I have stuff on the port and every time is a story with badwill so what sense that making if people can’t get there stuff ashia

  8. Hot and Cold
    November 8, 2017

    As far I am concerned they should remove duty on everything except maybe on alcohol, and cigarette,. I say maybe because they too should probably be duty free for a short time so people could have something to help them deal with their stress , fears, and anxieties because these are not easy times for us . So every d*mn thing should be duty free and let Skerrit use the passport money they have hiding in Dubai and other for foreign countries, to run the country.

  9. cas
    November 8, 2017

    what about vehicles Maria take my vehicle… look most auto dealers mashup xD

    • really
      November 8, 2017

      so all you want everything off .. how government can make money to pay public servants

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      November 9, 2017

      It may be for a good reason. Less accidents on the roads. :lol: :lol: :lol:

  10. Hot and Cold
    November 8, 2017

    Almost three months since Maria and only now this lazy one man government waiving these duties? That is to show if they were busy to see life get back to normal in a hurry. No doubt Maria gave us a serious pounding but thank God many were spared and as the saying goes, where there is breath there is life. These duties should have been removed for first thing like by Month end of September, so persons could start doing what they could much sooner. Skerrit just likes to keep people down for as long as he possibly can to get praise later. I bet you he has already placed his order for containers of Ham and Turkey so he could distribute to his worshippers. That’s why Dominica cannot go anywhere as long as this man is prime Minister and Charo is his president. They make us a ham and turkey nation

    • really
      November 8, 2017

      If you were listening and was aware what was happening in dominica , instead of being overseas and listening to facebook . the first two weeks were only relief and the port was severely damaged . You would want to come to the port with non of the computer systems set up and pure confusion. These concessions were passed three weeks ago and everybody knew that but you . Listen and read before you talk and stop judging from your set in America or wherever.

      • Hot and Cold
        November 8, 2017

        @ really, de eyes have it and others, is people like you guys that have Dominica backward like that even before Maria. You spoke of the first 3 weeks post Maria and port was very damaged; what about the next 2 months? Do you realize in 10 days time it will be 3 months since Maria? You know how long since Skerrit spoke about duty free concession but did nothing to facilitate it? Do you know how long sing people want to send building material down to repair family house but they were waiting on the said duty free? This is a lazy, clueless, confused, last minute, and corrupt government that talks but does not act. Dominica needs a government that is PROACTIVE to replace that REACTIVE thing we have called government. If they were proactive they knew hurricane was coming and we were in a hurricane season they would have made basic preparation to take care of basic things for at least the first week. But to be in a place like Dominica and not even water was put in place speaks volume

      • Anonymous
        November 10, 2017

        You mean an important dept. like customs do not have a back-up system? And Skerrit boasting how progressive “his” country is? Chupes man.

    • De eyes have it
      November 8, 2017

      You are foolish. Sorry no other way to put it

      • Hot and Cold
        November 8, 2017

        @ De eyes have it I don’t know if you ever heard this little proverb. Let me try to say it in creole and then I will tell you what it means in English. “Cana wee ka de shodier bodai noir.” In English it simply means the pot is telling the kettle that its bottom dark. the application is, you just confirmed yourself to be foolish, but you calling others foolish lol. Don’t you realize is fools like you that have Dominica in this mess way before Maria?

      • no
        November 8, 2017

        The man said in 10 days time it will be three months since Maria. I thought Maria was September 18th…so how November 18th is three months. Hot or Cold is foolish indeed

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      November 8, 2017

      You are wrong, inconsiderate and judgmental. If you have accessed this Website from Day One after DNO Houston commenced posting certain information, you should know that some items were waived. I recall someone commented about it. I replied, “It may be extended.” This is what the PM did this time. He extended some of them, as the necessary items. Short memory? When you read and comment remember what was written.
      Some of you are so busy being critical and criticizing the PM that you do not appear to read and comprehend what you should. The way you carry-on, it is not fair to the PM. At such a time, he does not need that. His burden to restore D/ca to normalcy and to make Dominicans comfortable is great. Place yourself in his situation.
      One day you will pay for your careless words.

  11. No Face
    November 8, 2017

    I lost my phone during Maria. Why no duty free on electronics?

    • really
      November 8, 2017

      because you dont need your phone to survive . its a want not a need . Just cannot please people .. smh

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      November 9, 2017

      There was a time Dominica had no phones. Nationals did without them. This should tell you much. They were friendlier and kinder. These days people have more time for phones/cellulars and not enough time for others. This is a good time to visit your family and neighbors and join them in a good discussion. Appreciate these God-given moments and make the most of them while they last.

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