Discussions on border fees continue tomorrow

In an update to the dispute at the Western border over new fees charged on freight, all the concerned parties have agreed to meet tomorrow morning in an effort to resolve the matter. According to Chairman of the Border Management Agency, Yasin Shoman, on Monday, police, customs, B.M.A. officials, as well as representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, met with Tourism Minister Godfrey Smith and Prime Minister Said Musa to discuss the situation. Shoman says the only action taken yesterday was to set a meeting for tomorrow at ten at the Chamber’s offices in Belize City. Freight brokers and truckers had stopped paying customs duties in protest over the new fees, maintaining that the services and facilities being offered at the Western border did not justify the charges. To ease tensions, on Friday the B.M.A. lifted the newly imposed fees pending the outcome of negotiations.