I recently sent some gift items from the United Kingdom to one of my church brothers residing in Jamaica. The gift included a pair of shoes each for his wife and two children - for him I sent two shirts, a pair of trousers and five socks.

A friend who was taking the gifts to Jamaica had to leave the package behind at the airport in the UK due to overweight. In the end, I had to send the package. The items cost me £80 and to send with Fedex, a staggering £120.

Duty for trading

To my astonishment, my church brother in Jamaica was told by Fedex to go to airport to clear the items. Upon examination of the goods by Customs, he was asked to pay just over J$5,700 in duty, which I believe is half the value of the goods if the Jamaican dollar is just over $140 to the British pound.

Now, I can understand collecting duty for trading, but for simple gift items?! Sadly, he had to leave the package because he could not afford to clear them.

With the current wage freeze among public-sector employees, including my church brother, why is there that measure of greed on the taxman's part?

I am, etc.,

WOLDE AMLAK

woldeamlak@yahoo.com