For Immediate Release
Update on Bahamas Fee Increases
Do NOT Use General Declaration Forms!
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We MAY have a reversal in the recent tax increases in the next few
days. Your emails to senior officials in the government got their
attention. Also, see my interview in the Nassau Guardian. Click Here.
Not only were the fee increases ill-advised, but the regulations were
poorly written. There remains much confusion amongst the Customs
officials at various out island airports about what to charge whom. I
made a fuel stop in the Exumas on July 3 and their tried to charge me
$150!
These are the current regs: General Declaration forms will be charged
$75 in and $75 out. Do NOT use General Declaration forms. When you
arrive, present the C7A Inbound Cruising Permit for private pilots, even
though you may not be island hopping in the Bahamas. Keep a copy of
the stamped form. The fee is only $50 for the C7A.
The ill-written regs state that you must request outbound clearance
when you depart the Bahamas (which means presenting a GenDec) but
instead, simply present your inbound C7A and state that you are
departing. Customs headquarters in Nassua has stated categorically that
private pilots will only be charged $50 inbound and nothing outbound.
Too bad this is not clear in the written regs.
Our efforts seem to be paying off. The government has heard you and is
re-visiting their decision. Everyone else was sitting on the
sidelines, including AOPA, waiting for who knows what. If there is a
reversal of these goofy fees, your messages will have been one of the
main reasons for the retraction. Thanks.
Regards, Jim Parker
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