At a meeting between the Ministry of Finance and representatives of the Association of Traffickers’ Trade on Tuesday September 11, 2007, the following decisions were made with respect to the issues relating to the implementation of a new regime for the traffickers in Grenada. 1. The Ministry of Finance would hold discussions with importers in Grenada who are Agents for certain products the traffickers’ import and discuss with them the possibility of “giving up” or sharing their “Agent Status” with the Traffickers Association so that they would be able to obtain a CARICOM Certificate which is now necessary for the clearing of their goods. This meeting will be held tomorrow Tuesday September 18, 2007. 2. The Ministry of Finance will hold a meeting with the brokers, of Grenville and St. George’s to discuss their charges for filling in the entry form for the traffickers. The Ministry is proposing that the fee should not exceed EC$40.00 per trafficker. That meeting will take place before the end of next week. 3. The Ministry will provide training for the traffickers so that they themselves can in fact fill out the entry form. First session will take place this Wednesday and Thursday, September 19th and 20th, at the St. Andrew’s Methodist School in Grenville at 4.30pm, and will continue every Wednesday and Thursday until October 4th 2007. 4. The Ministry of Finance will work together with the Grenada Port Authority in an effort the traffickers’ facilities (i.e. their shed) at the St. George’s and Grenville ports. 5. The Ministry has advised the Association to explore the possibility of bulk purchasing which will ease much of importation hassle. The Ministry of Finance would like to emphasize that the changes taking place with regards to the traffickers’ trade in Grenada is a policy matter arising out of the establishment of the Single Market and then Economy. This process requires that all countries implement the relevant laws and regulations to facilitate the establishment of such a market. One of the main principles governing the establishment of the CSM is that all importers must be treated the same; there can be no preferential treatment, no special arrangements for certain kind or class of people. It therefore requires that Grenada reconsider the way we treat with our traffickers as far as our trade relations are concerned. St. Vincent and Dominica have preceded us in this respect since they have already taken steps to regularize the trafficker’s trade in their islands. As a result, over the last year or so, the Customs department of the Ministry of Finance, has been meeting with our traffickers in an effort to prepare them for this new situation. A number of meetings were held in which the new regime was explained to the traffickers. In retrospect, it would seem that not everything was done to facilitate a smooth transition and that misunderstanding clouded the process. The Ministry of Finance trusts that the decisions taken would serve to rectify the current problems Additionally, the Government would like to categorically emphasize that these actions represent its effort to protect and develop an informal sector which generates income and employment for a very important section of the population and which, at the same time, gives the opportunity for the modest and noble in our society to help themselves and to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit. The Government is no way attempting to destroy the trade but instead is trying to elevate the traffickers’ trade to a higher status in society. Source: Ministry of Finance 440-2731/435-0057