www.lifhaus.com.sb

Reports from the Solomon Star recently highlighted certain Chinese business houses questioning the process to clear imported goods from the Custom's Division.  The Chinese Association has also intervened to clarify concerns raised by these business houses.  While there is geniune concern raised by importers on the process; the customer also needs to get proper answers from both the importer and government.  Some Honiara residents who spoke with Lifhaus have raised questions on whether there are any guidelines on the quality of goods brought into the country.

Speaking with Lifhaus, a concerned Our Telekom employee shared his story, "The company always buys stationery for our use in the office but I was pleasantly surprised that I now have a pink stapler on my desk instead of a blue one!".  Lifhaus was told that the stapler was packed in a carton with the picture of a blue stapler clearly printed on the carton.  However, upon opening the carton, the employee was stunned but not surprised to see a pink stapler instead.

Closer examination of the carton confused our Lifhaus reporter as he was unable to decipher the writings on the carton because it was in Catonese/Asian/Meridian 'scriptology' that further worsened the misery of this employee.

"I am told that there is an important import guideline in Australia that goods brought into the country must meet very high standards and most importantly the labels must have 80% of all written instructions in English," said the disgruntled worker.  This makes perfect sense because if the writings on this carton were to indicate that the contents of the carton was a "pink" stapler then Lifhaus would have to be Asian to read it.

"These are simple control measures that can be implemented at some points in the whole import process and it would safeguard the consumer."  While there is merit in the importer's argument that the 'clearing process' for imported goods is slow and cumbersome, concerned consumers are also taking time to raise the issue of quality control for imported goods.

"While all this political wrangling is going on, I am still stuck with a pink stapler", sighed the obviously frustrated consumer.

Lifhaus agrees that these concerns are geniune and government must take deliberate measures not only to streamline and improve service delivery at our wharves, it must also empower our Customs and Excise division to declare goods that do not meet our standards "NOT FIT FOR IMPORT.  This way it is a win win situation for both the importer who gets better quality service and the consumer who then gets a better quality product.