Damion Mitchell, Staff Reporter
MIKE SURRIDGE, the tough-talking head of the Financial Investigation Division (FID), has warned that he will be recommending harsh actions against Customs officials if they are found to be involved in the foul up in the importation of certain produce following Hurricane Ivan in September.
In addition, he said the importers would be facing maximum penalties.
On Tuesday, Mr. Surridge was presented with a report from a four-member committee which was set up to investigate the events that led the government to incorrectly accuse 18 retail supermarkets of price gouging.
And, according to Information Minister Burchell Whiteman who was part of the committee, the report discovered that there were discrepancies at Customs.
"At first glance I see some things that need further investigations," Mr. Surridge told The Sunday Gleaner last week. "If I identify that there was wrongdoing then I will do what I always do and act on it. There is no doubt about that."
IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION
He said already there was a lot of information that would facilitate an in-depth investigation that should be completed by the end of January 2005.
Immediately following the hurricane, the government reduced the import duty on cabbage, carrot, lettuce and tomato from 260 per cent to 40 per cent.
However, this never resulted in reduced retail prices although several supermarket owners say they did not adjust their profit margins.
Meanwhile, at least one of the seven importers who were granted permits to bring in produce at the reduced rate has admitted to under-invoicing produce in order to pay less money to have his goods cleared.
He said under-invoicing was necessary, as high shipping costs and what he dubbed "ridiculous" duties made it impossible for the importation of goods to be profitable.
Contacted Thursday, Hector Jones, the acting commissioner of Customs, confirmed that Customs was aware that there have been under-invoicing of produce, but noted that he was satisfied with efforts, including audits, to address these inconsistencies.
Mr. Jones, however, addresses the allegation that there were discrepancies at Customs following Hurricane Ivan by saying he is yet to see the report from the four-member committee.
In the meantime, Mr. Surridge said it would be much easier to investigate the failures of Customs now, than in previous years given the current available technologies. And, he said, importation information on all media including those from the X-ray machines at the ports, must correspond.
