Private sector
will not control container policy, Treasurer vows
Chamber of Commerce president calls on Togiola to intervene
by Fili Sagapolutele/La
Poasa
Samoa News Reporters
ASG treasurer
Gaea Pelefoti Failautusi said implementation of the new policy
to centralize inspection of containers at the dock started yesterday,
a day before the trial run to test out the policy occurs.
Gaea, who is
behind the policy, said he received on Monday a telephone call
from Chamber of Commerce President David Robinson who told him
that the trial run set for yesterday has been canceled because
the vessel that was to be used for the practice didn't arrive
on time.
Therefore the
trial run will occur today and Customs, shippers, importers and
the canneries have been informed about it, according to Robinson.
However, Gaea
said centralizing of container inspection started yesterday and
added that Robinson and the private sector are not going to control
or dictate government policies.
Robinson contends
that there was an agreement made during a meeting early this
month with Lt. Gov. Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia that the new policy
will proceed after a trial run, if all went well during the test.
He said he has
heard that implementation of the policy began yesterday "but
it should not occur until the trial run is completed."
Robinson wrote
to Togiola on Monday requesting that he intervene.
"The governor
responded saying to go through the trial run first and check
out the issues involv[ed] in implementing this policy,"
said Robinson. "And if necessary the governor will step
in and make a decision on whether to proceed with this policy."
Meanwhile, the
House is seeking a delay of the policy until an audit involving
government excise tax collections is conducted. The House will
vote on the resolution today.
The audit, which
is also requested in the resolution, would include "financial
compliance, performance, economy and efficiency, and program
results and to consider all other major factors that impact excise
tax collection" and to report the findings to the governor
and the Fono.
Once the findings
are revealed, the resolution requests the governor to "adopt
and cause implementation of a policy and procedure for Customs
inspections of shipping containers arriving at the Fagatogo Port
Facilities which is reasonable, cost-efficient, fair and effective
and has rational, factually sound foundation."
The audit is
to be conducted by the Territorial Auditor, according to the
resolution.
(An audit can
be conducted by the Territorial Audit Office but the findings
will not be certified because the territory currently doesn't
have a territorial auditor. The post has been vacant since the
termination of George Webster.)
The resolution
is a result of a hearing held last Friday before the Budget and
Appropriations Committee, chaired by Rep. Laolagi F.S. Vaeao.
Representatives
of the two canneries, stevedoring and shipping companies, and
the Chamber of Commerce oppose the new inspection policy and
cited that additional costs to merchants is estimated at more
than half a million dollars per year if the new policy goes into
affect.
Gaea said the
goal is to collect excise taxes and prevent illegal drugs and
weapons from entering our territory. He said the policy will
work if government and businesses work together.
The resolution
noted that testimony at last Friday's hearing reveal that excise
tax collections have not decreased. It says tax collections for
the period of October 2007 to February 2008 is $1 million more
than tax collections of October 2006 to February 2007.
The resolution
says the new container inspection policy "will result in
additional, no-benefit added costs, which will be passed on to
the consumer".
"[I]t appears
the decision to implement the proposed procedure is not based
on any analysis or review of the excise tax collection system,
nor with consideration of any data regarding the number of containers,
types of containers, quantity of goods, time studies or other
statistical information," according to the resolution.
Reach Fili
Sagapolutele at fili@samoanews.com.
Reach La Poasa at la@samoanews.com.
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