ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: The Grenada Ministry of Finance issued a statement today refuting suggestions that the Cabinet directed the Comptroller of Customs to deny customs duties concessions to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2003 election campaign.

According to the statement, on November 5, 2003, the Ministry of Finance received a request for concessions from the New National Party on a set of items for its election campaign. The items included banners and bumper stickers. This request was approved on November 6, 2003 and conveyed by a memorandum of even date from the Permanent Secretary, Finance to the Comptroller of Customs.

On the afternoon of Friday, November 14, 2003, the Ministry of Finance received a hand-delivered application from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for concessions on several items including copies of the manifesto and T-shirts. With the exception of the T-shirts, this request has been approved, today, November 17, 2003 and conveyed by a memorandum of even date from the Permanent Secretary, Finance to the Comptroller of Customs.

Consistent with the longstanding policy of support of promoting the local manufacturing sector, concessions have not been granted on imported T-shirts.

The Ministry of Finance wishes to make it abundantly clear that Friday, November 14, 2003 was the first time it received a request for concessions from the NDC. Any suggestion that Cabinet directed Customs to deny concessions to the NDC is totally false. The undisputed fact is that Cabinet was never asked to grant concessions to the NDC because the NDC did not apply for concessions before November 14, 2003.

Government is prepared to favourably consider, upon request, applications for concessions from the various political parties for electioneering purposes. However, concessions will not be granted on T-shirts and public address systems.


Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
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