Couriers, brokers ‘frustrated’ by airport goods clearance

Local couriers and brokers conducting business at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) are blaming gross inefficiencies at the level of the Customs and Excise Department for a massive backlog of items languishing in warehouses.

The frustrated businesses fear the delays could cost them thousands of dollars over the busy Christmas period and result in extreme disappointment for businesses and citizens attempting to receive their goods well before the holidays.

Some importers have also been highly critical of plans to further scrutinize the process, contending that Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Struaghn, who announced the new legislation, ought to be dedicating more of his energies to mending the broken system.

Barbados TODAY understands that over two weeks ago, unknown to the couriers, changes were made to the system for clearing packages under US$30 in value, also known as No Commercial Value (NCV) items, which are traditionally expedited and attract no duties.

“This process was working well and we were getting our cargo out on a weekly basis like clockwork. Now, two weeks ago, management changed at the airport and there was a change in the system,” disclosed an official, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.

“We now have to submit the manifest online and wait for the Customs Officer to get around to looking at the manifest online and knock it out of the system before we can even touch the cargo. Then, we have to wait for another officer to come into the warehouse and count every piece we have to verify and then it is released.

“This has created a huge backup and the process is much slower. As I speak, we have been waiting for someone to come out and examine our cargo since 9 a.m.,” said the frustrated courier.

As a result, the executive revealed they often have very little information to relay to frustrated customers demanding to know when their items will be released. In some cases, couriers say they have been receiving attacks and threatening messages online.

In the meantime, the backlog of cargo is steadily increasing as they are limited to a once weekly appointment system, although shipments arrive on Tuesdays and Fridays. They say it is placing undue pressure on the warehouses.

“What makes it crippling is the financial burden on us. We pay customs duties and the total amounts paid to customs range from $8,000 to $,15,000 depending on the size and shipment and we have no way of sending out the cargo to recoup the money we’ve paid to the government,” the courier explained.

“With Christmas coming up, we’re not sure how we’re going to be able to get our stuff.”

Barbados TODAY’s efforts to reach Comptroller of Customs Owen Holder over the last six days were unsuccessful. Reports suggest that numerous meetings were held over the last two weeks to discuss the challenges in the current system, including on Wednesday, when Minister Straughn explained the rationale behind some of the changes.

“We started to understand why some of the changes were necessary from a security standpoint. But most persons have been saying we could’ve been given some sort of notice before the change occurred so we could inform the customers,” said one courier.

Following the meeting with minister Straughn yesterday we understand why the changes were necessary, from a security standpoint but most persons have been saying we could’ve been given some sort of notice before the change occurred so we could inform customers. The sudden change with no idea what the New standard operating procedure is, was very poorly done.

On Tuesday, Minister Straughn outlined the details of the Customs Bill, 2021 that include a new Customs reporting system that facilitates cutting-edge security and monitoring systems to detect misrepresentations.

Meanwhile, an employee at a well-known brokerage declared that the Government ought to place more emphasis on the more practical problems that exist.

“Our business is crying out, because we have customers who, long after the time they were supposed to receive their items are still waiting, because Customs is still messing around with the documentation,” the employee complained.

“Things are not good up there. It is havoc and it is on the way to destruction. Yesterday we had a meeting pertaining to it and [the comptroller] kept saying ‘we have to look into this’ over and over,” the source added.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb