By Trudy Simpson, Freelance WriterTHE PRIVATE Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) has presented a proposal to the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), seeking a reduction in the security inspection fee for containers of finished goods intended for export.
Speaking with The Gleaner recently, PSOJ president, Beverley Lopez, said she was hoping for a favourable response. The current security inspection fee is US$105 per container. Mrs Lopez declined to state the rate she was proposing.
The PAJ's implementation of new security inspection rates, which became effective May 1, prompted concerns among several exporters, importers and other commercial interests who said they were worried that the higher inspection fees would make businesses more uncompetitive when compared to their trading partners.
RECOUPING
The PAJ said the security inspection fees are part of its effort to recoup the more than US$50 million which it spent on improving security at the seaports.
Among the fees listed in a document obtained by The Gleaner are: the payment of $6,405 (US$105) per container for full container loads (FCL); $12,810 (US $210) per container for less container loads (LCL); $305 (US$5) per wharf tonne or part thereof on break-bulk; $3,355 (US$55) per container and $152.50 (US$2.50) per wharf tonne or part thereof, on sensitive and specialised cargo as defined in the tariff of wharfage rates.
According to the document, steel is to attract a fee of $122 (US$2) per wharf tonne or part thereof; motor units less than four tonnes, $6,710 (US$110) per unit; motor units greater than or equal to four tonnes, $10,065 (US$165) per unit, and unmanifested cargo charge, $32,757 (US$537) per container. Rates were calculated at J$61 to US$1.
In a press release earlier this month, the PAJ said the fees covered all security-related scanning and stripping charges for manifested goods, including instances where containers are sent to the container stripping station for stripping after being scanned. The new charge replaces existing security charges and is to be collected by the wharf companies from consignee and shipping lines.
Noel Hylton, president and CEO of the PAJ, explained earlier this month that the fees were necessary given the over $500 million investment the PAJ had made to improve its security systems for certification under the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code.
