The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

A US-based environmental firm working on Abaco’s post-Dorian clean-up yesterday said they were in a “holding pattern” over whether to stay in The Bahamas following a clash with Customs.

Karl Dix, a representative for Ceres Environmental Services, told Tribune Business that “confusion” over whether it had submitted the correct paperwork to Customs had resulted in a work stoppage for the firm.

“The Customs Department was just taking an inventory of our equipment,” he said. “The issue was all over proper documentation. We had submitted all of our information, particularly Form B, prior to our arrival. There was just confusion on their side with regard to proper documentation.

“We are just now working through those issues with government. We are in a holding pattern, and hopefully we can revolve the issue. We are working through our local legal representation, Dupuch and Turnquest, to handle the matter on our behalf with the government.”

Mr Dix told Tribune Business that Ceres has been in Abaco for about three weeks working with private, non-profit organisations that are all focused on moving debris. He added that there were no police officers accompanying the Customs Department from what he saw when the two parties had their run-in.

He added that the firm planned to stay in Abaco and had no intention of leaving any time soon, and said: “Every Wednesday at 10am there is a debris removal workshop held. We take our lead from these meetings. We had no initial end date and those who organise the meetings didn’t give us one. We have not firmly decided to leave just yet. If we can come to some resolution that would be fantastic.”

One source, familiar with the situation but speaking on condition of anonymity, blamed the clash on post-Dorian disarray at Bahamas Customs. They revealed that Ceres had obtained the necessary approvals to come in with its equipment, and also obtained work permits and a Business Licence.

“Customs is all screwed up in Abaco,” the source said. “This [Ceres] is a group that goes all over the world doing this work and they were hired by a group of Abaco homeowners from Treasure Cay to get the job done. I think they’re going to be alright but it’s created a big ‘hoo-ha’.

“Customs, when they realised they’d made a mistake and not done their job in getting a Form B, tried to cover their ‘you know what’. Customs is a mess. The port was so crowded that they told people to take their equipment and go as it was full of cargo.

“Customs did not have the wherewithal to do their job, and they were embarrassed they did not have the paperwork done. It’s Customs’ fault. They’re [Ceres] not leaving. They almost left. It’s one of those situations that had to go up to the Prime Minister’s Office. The organisation is not there to take care of this thing. There’s no local administration.”

The source added that it was essential that The Bahamas permit firms such as Ceres to enter the country to assist with post-Dorian debris removal, remediation and restoration as this nation simply lacked the manpower, resources and expertise necessary to cope with the scale of devastation.

However, the Ceres incident has reinforced for some the impression that reconstruction is being hindered by a slow and meddling government bureaucracy.

The Department of Inland Revenue’s website says that under the Exigency Order put in place after Hurricane Dorian on October 3, hurricane relief supplies can be imported into The Bahamas duty-free and VAT-free based on the conditions outlined in the Order. Importers must complete a simple, one-page application form to benefit from these tax breaks.

The website also directs persons to the subsequent application forms on their website where it can be downloaded, while a hard copy can also be obtained directly from the Customs Department. The website says that Form A is used to import approved goods, and is processed and approved by Customs at the border.

For goods not included on the “approved goods” list, Form B is required to obtain Ministry of Finance approval, and that the individual or business importer that is requesting the tax relief should complete the relevant Exigency Order Form.