Tendai Franklyn-Brown, Staff Reporter

Rhoden

Christmas may come early for some Jamaicans as 180 unclaimed motor vehicles are scheduled to go on the auction block on December 10 and 11.

A number of homes were also auctioned last week after most of their owners fell victim to economic hardship.

Auctioneer Alton Breakenridge, however, said the loss of homes could not be attributed to the United States' financial meltdown.

Breakenridge suggested that job redundancies and careless loan agreements were among the main reasons behind the auctioning of property.

"I have spent time trying to identify whether there is a correlation between the fall of alternative cash schemes. However, I don't think it is significant to the properties on auction," he said.

Lorna Rhoden, collector of customs, was coy on whether the crash of alternative investment schemes has affected importers' ability to pay for the clearance of goods.

"I couldn't say but anybody would think so because it's a lot of money that was invested," she argued.

"Based on what I have heard, it's billions and billions of dollars, so it must have had some impact somewhere."

Recoup losses

Rhoden told The Gleaner that the more than 1,000 undeclared vehicles at wharves had contributed to the massive jump in the current batch of automobiles up for auction. Approximately 105 vehicles were put up for auction in March.

Rhoden said the auctioning of vehicles, among them a 2008 Toyota Tundra and 2004 Toyota Corolla Fielder, would allow the wharf to recoup its losses.

"We are looking to recover the duty and all the other charges, as it relates to the law, in terms of storage and transportation," the collector of customs said.

Of the 180 vehicles advertised in The Sunday Gleaner, Rhoden estimated that 30 vehicles would be up for grabs at the two-day auction at the Queen's Warehouse, 230 Spanish Town Road, St Andrew. The conservative estimate is grounded on expectations that most importers would pay the duty and clear their vehicles prior to the auction, but after the advertisements are published.

tendai.franklyn-brown@gleanerjm.com.

Auction info

Those who wish to participate in the automobile auction are required to register with the Jamaica Customs Department, submit two passport-size photographs, a Taxpayer Registration Number card and a valid ID. Registration takes place at the Queen's Warehouse outlet at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Monday-Friday, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Viewing runs from December 3-9 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the NMIA warehouse.