STAFF WRITER, FN News Desk
With new taxes seemingly being levied every day on local businesses and residents, several businesses owners came together recently, to establish the National Import and Export Association of The Bahamas (NIEAB).
Serving as NIEAB’s Acting President is Glennett Fowler; Acting Vice President is Anton Brooks; Acting Treasurer is Shantell Rolle and Acting Secretary is Stephanie Hall.
In a press release the group shared the goals of the organization, which included providing the community with information related to export and import and with reported new Tariff Taxes set to come on stream today – Monday, March 16 – NIEAB’s executives want to ensure the public is reliably informed.
Following is NIEAB’s release in its entirety.
“Since as early as 1913 in Trinidad, Jamaica in 1952 and 1948 in the State of Florida just as a point of reference courier, shipping companies and brokers have organized and operated associations to ensure the industries of which they are apart and have and continue to have representative at the highest level in their respective countries.
The Bahamas is behind in the formation of such entities we as a body have come together to bring transparency, ethics, stronger professionalism and respect from the governing bodies for our industry. Throughout the world fellow industry organizations have positioned their associations and various professional bodies in line with government and its ruling authorities and ministries to have representation at the national/regional level to address, create and influence the regulations passed down to industry professionals.
It is now time that we as an Industry fall in line, progress our industry and move into the future as such.
The National Import and Export Association of the Bahamas consist of three level of professionals that allow the business of importation and exportation of goods (commercial and residential) legally into the country.
Group A – Brokers, Shipping Agents, Courier & Freight Forwarder
Group B – Port, Dock & Terminal Operators
Group C – Individuals & Companies
Our purpose through the formation of this association is be recognized as the professional body for the industry collective. The main objective of the NIEA is to promote and protect the interest of professionals operating in the industry. To achieve this, NIEA seeks to become actively involved in regular liaison with all concerned Government departments, ministries and authorities. Further, we seek to garner the respect of said entities by ensuring that the members interest our protected and the members inputs are taken into consideration before any changes, new policy and decisions are made and implemented, for the overall benefit of Industry and those we serve.
Overall our mission through the NIEA seeks to provide its members with:
• Advocacy
• Education – understanding of the Customs Management Act or CMA
• Training – currently ensure all members are versed in Single Window
• Influencing Policy and Legislation such to not impede proper governance and business
Immediate Goals:
Completion of Legal Formalities
• Bylaws & Code of Ethics
Association Branding
National Press Release
Launch of Association Website
Single Window Training
Monthly Article in Newspaper
By working closely with the private sector and the government we can promote the sustainability and growth of our industry.
Increasing our national presence, we can also become a part of the larger Associations that represent the Caribbean, North and Latin America and as far as Europe.
Key Points to Address:
1. What is the current plan ensuring only legal entities can operate in the industry?
2. What measures are going to be put into place to ensure that unlicensed entities will not be allowed to carry out illegal business?
• Click 2 Clear should be operated only by a licensed broker.
• NO COMPANY should be operating without having a licensed broker.
• ECAS should only be used by the person holding the licensed or an employee of the company.
• A Custom Officer should not be submitting entries.
• When amendments, policies, and or regulations are being implemented or changed the Association would want to have input from the drafting to passing as law.
• We also need a list of all authorized licensed persons in the import/export business.
• What are the requirements to get persons regularized?
• We will end by inviting them to attend the press conference next week.
What is a freight forwarder?
BusinessDictionary.com defines a freight forwarder as follows:
Firm specializing in arranging storage and shipping of merchandise on behalf of its shippers. It usually provides a full range of services including: tracking inland transportation, preparation of shipping and export documents, warehousing, booking cargo space, negotiating freight charges, freight consolidation, cargo insurance, and filing of insurance claims. Freight forwarders usually ship under their own bills of lading or air waybills (called house bill of lading or house air waybill) and their agents or associates at the destination (overseas freight forwarders) provide document delivery, deconsolidation, and freight collection services. Also called forwarder.
What is Air Freight?
Air freight, or air cargo allows the transport of goods quickly by air. Shipping cargo by air has always been a high cost-to-weight form of shipment, countered by the fact that it’s the fastest way to transport goods internationally.
What are the advantages of air freight?
