Dear Editor – I believe it is a very serious concern with regard to those issues being raised by Mr Diau’s article in your paper on the excess fees being charged by our International Shipping Agents to both individuals and businesses who imported goods from overseas during SIPA and Mr Yow’s era or even now.
We hope those issues are resolved immediately so that local importers are not suffered by those unjustifiable excess fee charges by shipping agents to customers, especially the Berthing queuing fees and other new additional fees.
Moreover it is vital that those responsible authorities, government agencies, S.I Chamber of Commerce, Transparency International and other relevant stakeholders must investigate and determine the reasonableness of the fee charges to ensure fair costs are being charged to local importers.
Generally those who import goods to resell did not really suffer the consequences or feel the negative impacts on the excess fee increases because they will charge those excess fees to us the consumers which means the consumers are the victims.
On the other hand, those who suffered most directly are those importers who import the goods for their personal consumption or personal use for example individuals who import used vehicle for personal use.
For the interests of good citizens of this country, the ruling DCCG government must be proactive to monitor and prevent such unjustified business practices if it does exit.
Manuel Wuri
Honiara
