Time to settle

THE rocky transition of the Customs & Excise Department into the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) must be settled for the interest of the country.

Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, Donville Inniss, insisted that the move, which has been riddled with snags of industrial action and protest, was leading to higher costs of goods on the island, hitting Barbadians deep in their pockets.

“This island needs to settle down. If it means that a few have to be discomfited for the sake of the masses, then let us do what has to be done and do it now. This is no idle threat, this is my honest simple opinion as a Cabinet minister, as a Member of Parliament, as a father and as a member of this community. This matter with the Barbados Revenue Authority and Customs & Excise Department needs to be settled. It is causing just too much frustration amongst ordinary Barbadians,” he said.

Noting that it will never be easy to merge Government’s revenue collection entities because of the administrative, legal and personnel issues and financial costs involved, he admitted that managing the transition of Customs into BRA had not been as smooth as it should have been, but should be viewed as “a work in progress”.

The outspoken minister also took a swipe at those behind the protests saying, “What must never be allowed to rule the ultimate goal is the self-serving egotistical attitude of a few individuals or entities...”

He made the comments while commiserating with the members of the Customs Brokers and Clerks Association gathered yesterday at the Small Business Association for their annual general meeting as many outlined how the issue had affected their businesses.

“We have to look at what is in the best interest of the country. When we had industrial action at the Port sometime last year, I felt the pain of those who wanted to get their goods out, the pain of the business people who were losing money due to spoilage,” he said, noting as well that businesses across the island were hit hard by costs due to the delays in clearing the containers, and were often left with no other choice but to pass on the cost to consumers. (JMB)