The Editor, Sir:

I reviewed the example of the US-dollar prices of goods submitted by an importer to the Customs Department as shown on the front page of The Gleaner on Friday, October 17. Based on the quantities - and I presume that the origin of the goods would be from far-flung places like China, Taiwan or India where prices are dirt cheap - there is the possibility that the prices could be genuine.

The Customs Department should investigate the prices at the source. We have to bear in mind that even though the names Gucci and Nike appear on the list, they could be illegal imitations or seconds. If illegal, the merchant has to suffer the consequences.

Go shopping

I would ask our esteemed Danville Walker to go shopping in any of the many wholesale outlets around the island. He would be shocked at the prices that things are sold for. The reason is that they got them dirt cheap and can sell the items dirt cheap and still make a profit.

This in itself is a plus for the consumer and Jamaica. Many years ago, Jamaicans used to travel overseas to buy cheaper goods in countries such as Haiti, Panama and Miami. The need for this has been reduced by approximately 70 per cent because of the availability of cheaper wares here. The higglers shop in Jamaica from the wholesalers here. I am sure that the country is benefiting from this sector.

There will be loopholes in every system, but we must be able to sift fact from fiction. If we convert the US-dollar amounts quoted for the items to Jamaican dollars, factor in the travelling expense, the shipping, duty, 16.5 per cent and an amount to cover overheads, one would conclude that the low wholesale offerings to the public means that the merchants got them dirt cheap.

On the other hand, if the jeans, the Gucci slippers and the Nike sneakers are the real brands, and if the merchant is not one of the cheap wholesale outlets, then Walker has an uphill battle to win.

I am, etc.,

VERNA GORDON BINNS

theashton@cwjamaica.com

Luana, St Elizabeth

Via Go-Jamaica