'Immoral' levy on reading material
published: Tuesday | July 1, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
THREE WEEKS ago I received a Parcel Post Notice for an item originating in St. Maarten, my copy of Business Week Magazine for March 24. I had previously received all the issues up to April 21 without paying to clear them at the Post Office. Then came the GCT & Cess on reading materials and imports!
For this issue in question, I was asked to pay GCT -$15, Cess-$4, and Customs Fee-$45, a total of $64, on an issue that costs US$1.15. I paid the money, (for the first and last time) but not before expressing my disgust to the Postmaster, who, I know, was not responsible for the levy.
Today, I received another Parcel Notice (I guess there are many others to come!), this time GCT $30, Cess $4 and Customs Clearance Fee $45, making a total of $79, an increase of $15 for the same magazine, purchased by subscription for the same price, six months ago.
Now, I have been subscribing to Business Week for many years. At the end of each month I would give the 4 or 5 issues, still in perfect condition, to my Alma Mater, Morant Bay High School, whose students, particularly in the 5th & 6th Forms, looked forward to receiving and reading them.
Unfortunately, that may now cease, as I believe it is immoral to pay so much taxes on reading material that is necessary to help in the development of our minds. Surely, there must be some other way to raise money than to tax good reading material, in a country where its leaders claim to place emphasis on education.
While I will feel a sense of loss that I will no longer be able to read this magazine, the greater loss will be to the students, who may have no other means of getting them. Oh, for a new breed of leaders who will have a sense of vision to move this country forward.
