* Businesses in field ?finding it very difficult to function? as some imports come in duty-free, while others have taxes levied
* Government?s duty exemptions to encourage energy efficiency being undermined, says ex-Chamber president
* Firms being deterred from undertaking energy efficient projects

BAHAMIAN suppliers of energy efficient equipment and technology are ?finding it very difficult to function? because of the inconsistent treatment their imported products receive from the Customs Department, a former Chamber of Commerce president said yesterday, with some shipments allowed in duty-free and others charged the full 45 per cent. Dionisio D?Aguilar, Superwash?s president, said the uncertainty and inconsistency associated with Customs? treatment of such imports was not only undermining the Government?s efforts to encourage energy efficiency among Bahamian households and businesses through the elimination of duties, but was also deterring companies such as his own from implementing energy-saving projects.

Mr D?Aguilar told Tribune Business that Superwash had been contemplating the importation and installation of $150,000-worth of solar panels, as part of an energy-saving initiative across the laundromat chain. The Government, as part of its 2008-2009 Budget, announced a range of fiscal incentives designed to encourage energy efficiency as global oil prices skyrocketed, and
made the importation of energy-saving light bulbs, solar lamps and panels, batteries, converters and wind engines duty-free.
However, Mr D?Aguilar said Superwash?s supplier and others in the energy-saving technology field had told him of problems experienced in getting their shipments cleared by Customs duty-free.