Brokers protest new fees at Western border

The situation at the Western border remains uneasy tonight as local importers continue to object to the imposition of new fees by Belize’s Border Management Agency. According to broker Edgar Garrido, the fees now being charged to importers for use of the compound, ramp, and unloading crews is unjustified because the facility is inadequate. Responding to that accusation, this afternoon General Manager of the Border Management Agency, Herman Morris, maintained that the services and fees are fair and in line with those being offered at the Northern border. Morris contends that the customs brokers’ complaint is not about the money; rather the importers are upset that their containers must now be checked at the border by customs officials instead of being transported to private warehouses elsewhere. The situation climaxed this afternoon when Assistant Commissioner of Police Crispin Jeffries met with Garrido and his supporters to inform them that as many as thirty officers are on standby in the event that the importers attempt to block the highway or cause any other illegal disruption. Following that meeting, Garrido told us that there is no intention to act in that manner, instead they have opted to not pay customs duties until the fees are lifted. Morris says the fees are necessary as none of the government agencies, namely Customs, Immigration and BAHA, pay for the use of the facility and B.M.A. must find a way to repay the multi-million dollar loan incurred to construct the facilities at the border.