Do we need to declare gifts at Customs?

[gregandkelly63]

I don't want to sound cold but why do people feel the need to take "gifts"? Unless you have GOOD friends in Jamaica (not just acquaintances) why are you taking "gifts".

If you want to help out a school why do you not just drop of a cheque so they can purchase priority items that are really needed. No need to worry about customs issues!

If you want to help out the general population then drop of some funds to a recognized charity or to a church so that folks who are in desperate need can get help.

I think that by taking gifts, tourist get themselves labeled as walking ATMs by the locals and it encourages even more begging.

It is important to help our fellow man but gifting is not the way IMHO. Give your money to those who can distribute it wisely.

BTW, I was born and raised in Jamaica.

We are bringing two dozen backpacks. Are you telling me we should leave them at home?

[captaind & Linston]

We are bringing two dozen backpacks. Are you telling me we should leave them at home?

"aye, there's the rub", - Hamlet Act 3 scene 1

[halfwaytree]

We are bringing two dozen backpacks. Are you telling me we should leave them at home?

It is up to you whether you want to bring them or not.

All I am saying is that some visitors that travel to Jamaica complain about the begging. Even when I venture back to JA they know I come from "farrin" and they follow me with hands out to give them something. Tourist have created much of this sense of "expectation" and dare I say "entitlement" by handing out gifts willy nilly. Give!!! It is appreciated!!! But give wisely, give to organizations who know what the needs really are and who needs items the most. No need IMHO to go interrupt a class full of kids learning their lessons to hand out pencils and rulers. Leave them with someone in Jamaica who can distribute them to some of the outlying schools who will REALLY appreciate those items. If you are an educator and are visiting Jamaica then by all means contact the school and see if it is possible to take part in a lesson. The kids would probably find it interesting. If you are just a visitor with nothing more to offer than material items, then I do not see why anyone feels the need to visit a classroom to play Santa Claus other than for the self gratification that comes with it.

Again, sorry if i sound cold but that is just something I needed to get off my chest.

[Rob]

This is not an easy thing to discuss, and I feel Halfwaytree is less sounding cold than being blunt, but he is unfortunately not wrong.

Teaching a lesson at a school is a great idea as is volunteering at the Soup Kitchen in Negril. And making donations to the right charities and/or the right people who can make sure the items are given to the places most needed is the best way to make a difference. A scene I witnessed made me feel sad, but proves the point about expectations and entitlement.

I was with a group of frequent visitors when school let out and the kids enveloped the neighborhood. A little girl ran up to one of the female visitors and gave them a big hug. They obviously knew each other well. There was almost a parental feel about the situation, both the child and the visitor were sharing the moment. The child climbed on the visitors lap. The visitor asked the little girl how school went and she smiled shyly and said "fine". She was then asked "what did you learn in school today?" The little girl smiled and proudly announced, "tourists bring us things!" The visitor looked puzzled and then asked "no really, what did you learn in school today?" The girl shrugged and emphatically said, "tourists bring us things!"

It was a sad thing to witness, but to me, this is how the sense of expectation and entitlement starts.

Just some food for thought...

[smith744]

Just some food for thoughtt...

* Wow *

Rob, that-post is a ''..belly-FULL..'' of *food*

i've got HUNDREDs of sad-tales, just like that one

[smith744]

It is up to you whether you want to bring them or not.

[B]
But give wisely,
give to organizations who know what the needs really are and who needs items the most

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

that might-not *work* either

i've got MANY-tales i could share about some of those *organizations*
and how they play-games
with those from-foreign donations/funds

*tales* that'll make your head spin 'round
like that likkle-girl in the ''Excorcist" movie

,

. If you are an educator and are visiting Jamaica then by all means contact the school and see if it is possible to take part in a lesson

The kids would probably find it interesting.

Amen..!!!...

money & trinkets aren't the only-thing of value.

AND::>> the children WILL love to hear-from a from-foreign-teacher

,

It is up to you whether you want to bring them or not.

Tourist have created much of this sense of "expectation"

ditto
ditto
DITTO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wrtiii]

We are bringing two dozen backpacks. Are you telling me we should leave them at home?

No, I'm telling you that legally you should check the "Yes" box for Question 15 and go to the Red line.

You are free to do whatever you want. If you choose to ignore the customs law, there may be consequences. If you choose to obey the letter of the law, you may be charged duty. I just think people should make their own informed decision.

Some people seem to be taking this as an attack on the idea of bringing gifts. It is not. It's just that if you do, Jamaican law requires you to declare them. You may be charged duty on them. The customs official may also just wave you through. But either way, the customs official is making the decision and you are following Jamaican law. I have done exactly this with a bunch of backpacks that were promotional items from various conferences over the years. I told Customs what I had, they waved me through. (Of course, as these were promotional items with various company logos, the cash value was zero.)

Worst case, you decline to pay duty, they keep the offending items, and they end up in the hands of Jamaicans in some more roundabout way after they are auctioned off by Customs.