Crashed cars imports concern JUCDA
THERE is concern in the used car industry in the wake of Tuesday’s announcement of a relaxation of import restrictions on crashed and overaged vehicles.
Industry Minister Karl Samuda, at an emergency press briefing at his New Kingston office, said that the importers of the vehicles would be allowed to clear them in an effort to ease congestion at the island’s sea ports.
Samuda said the one-off measure is extended over a six-week period and will facilitate the clearance of approximately 350 vehicles from the wharves.
But president of the Jamaica Used Car Dealers Association (JUCDA) Ian Lyn is arguing that the minister’s decision is sending mixed signals to the industry.
According to Lyn, Samuda shut down the process earlier this year charging that there was rampant corruption in the issuing of licences to import vehicles.
Lyn charges that some of those crashed and overaged vehicles that were intercepted are now being cleared without the charging of any penalties to the importers.
He also questioned if the integrity of the crashed vehicles, now being allowed on the roads, will be tested and verified and by whom.
Government, last year, implemented a policy to stop the importation of crashed cars and at the same time limit the age of vehicles to no more than four years old.
In his announcement Tuesday Samuda also extended Government’s moratorium to overaged vehicles that were imported this year despite the age limit policy, saying that those vehicles would also be eligible for the special offer.
“He is now going against his own dictate, allowing overaged and crashed vehicles to enter the island,” Lyn told Auto.
“Dealers caught red-handed with overaged vehicles were never reprimanded,” he added. “These dealers are now given the privilege to clear the vehicles.”
In the meantime, Samuda, admitting that the vehicles were imported without appropriate licences because they did not comply with the age limits, argues that the damaged and overaged vehicles were piling up on the wharf.
“What we have decided in the ministry is that we would allow these vehicles to be taken by their owners with all the provisions under the Customs Act where the appropriate duties would be paid. This will be a one-off clearance and it must be done within six weeks,” he said at Tuesday’s press briefing.
Vehicles not collected within the six-week period will be auctioned. Additionally, Samuda said that the rules and regulations governing the importation of motor vehicles would be vigorously enforced when the six weeks have elapsed.
“We will be very rigid in the application of these regulations,” he cautioned.