Cayman Net NewsNow Subject toImport Duty
After publishing ten issues of Cayman Net News weekly newspaperwhich has been widely accepted across the community and overseas- as well as three earlier monthly editions of the Cayman IslandsBusiness & Tourism News the publishers are suddenly facedwith a ruling by the Collector of Customs that their publicationis now subject to duty as it is, quote, a "a newspaper printedoverseas with a predominance of local interest."
Heretofore Cayman Net News have not had to pay any duty, andso has another local newspaper printed overseas, The Cayman IslandsCommunity and Christian News.
Publisher and Editor of Cayman Net News, Mr. Desmond Seales,said that he taken up the matter with the Financial SecretaryMr. George McCarthy and the Minister responsible for CommerceMr. Thomas Jefferson, after making representation to the Collectorof Customs, Mr. Carlon Powery who said, it was "pointed outto him" that duty should be paid on Cayman Net News.
In the meantime the Community and Christian newspaper, alongwith all other newspaper printed overseas from Jamaica, the US,England, Canada and elsewhere do not pay import customs duty.
Mr. Seales contests the ruling by the Collector of Customs,stating, that the term "matters of local interest" isambiguous as it is open to more than one interpretation. He said:"Matters of Local interest could very well be news from allover the world ... not the Cayman Islands ... because we are nowan international jurisdiction ... and what could be of 'interest'to some individuals ... may not be of the interest of all. Thereforethe terminology could only lead to doubt."
He continued: "If the phrase 'predominantly matters oflocal "content" or "news" was used - as itwas done back in 1984 when we published the Nor'wester magazine'sCayman Pilot newspaper .. although the duty back then was punitive... we could very well not argue that it is correct as passedin law. This imposed duty back then - 16 years ago, certainlyhelped to bring about the demise of the Nor'wester."
In the meantime, the publishers of Cayman Net News weekly newspaper,was told this morning that the matter is still being discussed... and a response may be forthcoming ... after the ExecutiveCouncil discusses the matter further.
Mr. Seales concluded by stating: "Thankfully ... the Internethas given us a window to the world ... and it will know, throughour International website how the Cayman Islands attempts to controlits media."