Government steps in to solve duty row with World Vision
A charity donated 1,000 backpacks and school supplies to needy children yesterday as talks took place to end a dispute over Customs duty payments.
World Vision was forced to pay over $2,000 in duty on the goods for the first time this year. However, Government is considering refunding them and have promised that they will not have to pay duty in the future.
Managing director of the Northeast region of World Vision, Cheryl Self, said that the duty on the goods had been waived for the past two years but this year World Vision was forced to pay it.
World Vision, a Christian humanitarian relief and development organisation, donated the backpacks and school supplies to needy children yesterday at XL Capital headquarters.
Glenn Doers, a consultant for the project, said: ?They (Customs) are working on a refund and will stamp and waiver future projects.?
He added that the goods have to come through the Ministry of Education or a school to be considered duty free and the Ministry has agreed to submit the material on behalf of World Vision in the future.
There was a possibility World Vision would not have donated the supplies again next year if they were asked to pay the duty, said Ms Self.
?We are thrilled about that (waived duty) because we hope to expand the project,? she added. The school supplies cost roughly $20,000 ? including shipping, labour and goods ? to get to Bermuda.
In the first year World Vision gave out 250 backpacks, 500 in the second year and 1,000 this year with corporate support of XL Foundation and AXIS. Volunteers from the Women of Vision, XL Foundation and AXIS are committed to the project for the next two years, said Ms Self.
Acting Education Minister Randy Horton said at the presentation: ?As summer time recedes, many families face a moment of crisis as thoughts turn from the fun of summertime to the realities of preparing for the new school year.?
?While it becomes clich? to celebrate the enormous wealth that exists in this community, there are many who are not sharing in this and too many are children.?
