LETTER FROM PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE !!!

Forwarding message:
Subject: Letter from the Prime Minister Office

PLEASE READ RE:  CUSTOMS & DUTY INFORMATION

Dear friends of Cat Island,
Please read below and it is IMPORTANT for everyone sending supplies to Cat
Island or the Bahamas in general:

Message from the Prime Minister's Office, his right hand secretary Mrs.
Teresa Butler,

Good afternoon Ms. Munroe,

Thank you for the copy of your response to Mr. Illing.  As you will now be
aware the Prime Minister, as Minister of Finance signed the Order of
Exigency yesterday providing a waiver of customs duty for Cat Island
residents on all hurricane reconstruction building supplies and replacement
of furniture, appliances and vehicles destroyed by Hurricane Irene for a 6
month period beginning on 1 September, 2011.

The Ministry of Finance (Customs Department) is working with each Family
Island Administrator in the administration of this Order.

With regard to items arriving in Cat Island applications for waiver of
customs duty can be made in Cat Island on forms available from the the
Family Island Administrator. Once the Administrator certifies the goods as
bonafide materials and supplies for hurricane repair or replacement as
listed in the Order, the Administrator is authorised to inform the Customs
Officer that he may waive the customs duty.

I am advised by the Financial Secretary, Mr. Ehurd Cunningham, that the
process has been put in place on all Family Islands with the expectations
that relief and reconstruction supplies will not be held up unnecessarily.
For all those islands not listed in the Exigency Order, application for
waivers will have to be made to NEMA as indicated by you.

I trust that this is helpful.

Teresa Butler

Office of the Prime Minister