Forex rate at Customs immoral

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I am a crew member affiliated with a major cruise line. I work on a ship that docks every two weeks in the port of Falmouth.

Being a Jamaican, I recently took the opportunity to offload some personal items. I was told beforehand the customs fee would be approximately 25 per cent of the value of the items, which I had already made allowances for. The customs officer valued the items at an exchange rate of J$106 to US$1, which was also the bank rate, and told me to pay the fee at the collection desk.

However, their rate of exchange (in the same building) is now $88.50, meaning they would make J$1,750 on every US$100. I would understand if it were a private cambio, but this is Customs.

I find this practice not just unfair, but immoral.

Is there a limit on the rate of exchange between the bank and other businesses? If not, there should be.

D. BILLINGS

Falmouth, Trelawny