Dear Editor,
I wish to voice my support of the President’s move to have the Customs Department investigated. But someone needs to ensure that definitive action is taken, and in the shortest possible time, to prevent the guilty parties from escaping the full force of the law. There have been numerous instances where the passing of time has allowed corrupt people to walk free.
I frequent the Customs Department and I am aware that very junior officers who earn no more than $50,000.00 per month already own two cars and a home. Senior officers boast of several vehicles, several homes and several foreign bank accounts. And there are business people out there who make tons of money greasing the palms of Customs officials.
Declaring soft drinks for beer is only one method which Customs officers encourage. Purchasing “close outs” and getting foreign agencies to issue a certificate that shipments are purchased at auctions is another way of paying $20,000.00 as Duty and VAT on a 20ft container of mixed goods.
Surprised, anyone? I can relate hundreds of transactions where things like this happen and Customs officers and importers keep getting richer, the state’s coffers suffer and the burden is passed to the small man.
Who cares? Perhaps the President. But often, one is tempted to conclude that his bark is louder than his bite. I would respectfully suggest that if he does some house cleaning from ministerial level down, he will earn a great deal of respect.
Yours faithfully,
Siwnand Sharma
