The forum convened by the management of the Customs & Excise Department as part of the reform and modernization project saw a large turnout Tuesday at the Public Service Training Center.
The forum was convened to discuss and receive feedback on the operations of a new Customs Control & Management Act. The 273-page bill could not receive page-by-page interpretation and commentaries as a number of attendees at the forum had not read the bill.
The schedules and regulations to be appended to the bill are still in the process of drafting and a promise by the legal draftsman is to make them available for comments before the bill is ready for Parliament on September 28, 2010.
However, from the text of the bill, it states that fines for false declaration will increase many folds from what currently obtains. The regulation of brokerage services, increased powers for the Comptroller of Customs, the introduction of open bonds, will all be positively effected when the bill becomes an act.
This bill is intended to repeal the current Customs (Control and Management) Act, Chapter 69:01 which was enacted in 1991 and the Customs Import and Exports Tariffs Ordinance, Cap. 265 which was enacted in 1930.
The primary objectives and purposes of this bill are to facilitate trade by simplifying the customs procedures and processes and to respond to the needs of the business community.
Links to the text of the Bill:
http://www.dominica.gov.dm/cms/files/customs_bill_part1.pdf
http://www.dominica.gov.dm/cms/files/customs_bill_part2.pdf
Huh and Tha truth
I will tell you what I found after following the “links.”
FILE NOT FOUND!
Considering that they don’t even have it finished as yet apparently, I should definitely ask where I can get a hard copy.
Maybe it is you who needs to do the research before you lash out at someone else.
At this point, even you don’t know what in in that proposed legislation.
And yes, the objective of govt. is to get more money. I would be very surprised if there is no mention of money in it. They stated in the article that they would be fining people heavily for not declaring the proper value. And that certainly comes under the heading of “getting more revenue.”
@only: How could you claim to have read the news item and still ask, “Where do you get a copy of this bill?” The links are there in bold text.
From my time reading this news blog, I’ve observed that quite a few of my fellow Dominicans make comments without reading.
@only: ….SIR/MADAM I FEEL SO SORRY FOR YOU….THE FORUM WAS BEING ANNOUNCED FOR DAYS….ALSO DO YOU EVEN KNOW WAT THIS IS ABOUT???…DO YOU EVEN KNOW WAT IS THE CUSTOMS ACT? DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT IS BEING REPLACED???…YOU ARE HERE MAKING A ROYAL MULE OF URSELF AND ALL THIS BILL DOES IS INCLUDE THE LEGISLATION FOR THE ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF CUSTOMS ENTRIES….LOL
IT DOES NOT IN NO WAY AFFECT CUSTOMS DUTIES…ITS AN ACT AFFECTING CUSTOMS PROCEDURES…WHY DO U PEAPLE COME HERE AND MAKE STATEMENT LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU DONT?
IT IS SO EASY TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT THIS BILL….YET YOU CHOOSE TO COME HEAR AND MAKE A MULE OFF YOURSELF..YET THERE ARE SOME DOMINICANS WHO WILL READ YOU REMARKS AND ACTUALLY BELIEVE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
IT IS SO UNFORTUNATE…
IT WAS ANNOUNCED ON THE RADIO
No, the objective is to get more money out of people. It is a disgrace the prices that people have to pay to bring goods not available into this country.
People need to protest this proposed bill.
The purpose of govt. these days is to tax the people to death and have no accountibility for the way the money is spent or wasted.
Wake up people.
Why didn’t they announce this meeting beforehand in the paper. This is the first that I have heard of it. Then more people would have attended.
Where do you get a copy of this bill?