The Editor, Sir:

As a member of a charity formed in November '93, not receiving any external funding but raising money through hard work, that is, car boot sales, sponsored walks/swim, generosity of friends/family, we have worked hard to provide help to schools, hospitals, baby clinic and almshouse in Portland, Jamaica, and every time we send anything in barrels, or even just a few days ago, we sent medical instruments for the hospital in Port Antonio, we are hit with heavy custom fees, which I think doesn't really help the country at all.

Address fees

Is there any way we can continue to sponsor these organisations, even though we use the church charity number, that we can either get the fees reduced or cancelled altogether? If anyone knows of a way then can they please let us know by replying to this letter. If there isn't a way, then the Government needs to start thinking, because what would be the point in providing aid if we are charged almost as much again to get it to its destination?

It's only because God has put Jamaica in our hearts why we continue to work in this field.

May God continue to bless Jamaica.

I am, etc.,

PAT MYRIE

p.myrie@syha.co.uk

Sheffield, England

Via Go-Jamaica