The Editor, Sir:

The current contemplation of a reduction in duties on various categories of vehicles being imported has been long overdue, not only because of a downturn in sales affecting imports but, importantly, the revenue being collected by the Government's agents.

The fact that duties on many vehicles exceed 200 per cent is itself a corrupt act that feeds and breeds more corruption, as the very persons who makes these laws themselves do not pay those duties. The top men and women who make the rules pay zero per cent duty while some of their functionaries and enforcers lower down the scale are happy with 20 per cent. This, in my view, is an abusive practice that takes the rest of the population for fools.

Think about it, the Jamaican Government makes more off motor vehicles than their manufacturers or countries of origin, whether a Toyota from Japan, a BMW from Germany or a Ford van from the USA.

This has been partly the reason for the advent of the massive importation of used cars (deportees) where people suffer further abuse by having to pay for an old car sometimes twice the price what your counterpart in, say, the United States pays for the same car new.

We all, as inhabitants in Jamaica, contribute to its growth, development, maintenance and at times destruction. In terms of duties, all preferential duty regimes should go and in particular level the playing field with a 20 per cent motor vehicle duty for all. That means the minister, members of parliament, councillors, public servants, masters and the rest of us should face the same burdensome duties at the wharves. Only farmers and people in the production of goods and services could be considered for zero per cent duties. If not, the rational man, sometimes called corrupt, will continue to take matters in his own hands, trying to level the playing field by beating the system.

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL SPENCE

P.O Box 630

Liguanea, Kingston 6