The story of 61 instruments instruments (nice!)

[MdmeX]

The story of 61 instruments instruments
A musicologist's fight to get a gift of guitars and keyboards for Alpha Boys Band

By Steven Jackson Observer staff reporter
Friday, August 01, 2008


Musicologist, Herbie Miller was under the assumption that musicians' tools of trade were free of duty. "I was wrong," he said. "The chimes that we have in our home, that comes under instrument for free. But nothing we brought in came under instruments for free. Customs are gods, and I got a hard time."

Miller, in his capacity as director of the Don Drummond Foundation, got these instruments in order to buttress the band. But the duty was prohibitive and unless he got help via unofficial channels, these instruments would not now be in the hands of inner-city students. This is his story of the 61 instruments.

Sourcing
Miller got lucky; these instruments were going to be dumped by the defunct Guitar Studies Centre at New School University in New York. Miller knew the head of department, Fred Winston, and convinced Bob Kerrey, the university's president, to release them. These were not the usual instruments associated with the brass horns of the Alpha Boys Band, but instead guitars, keyboards, amplifiers and recording equipment. But Miller had to find a way to get these 61 cases of instruments to Jamaica. "How were we going to ship it?" Miller wondered.

Problems in US
He turned to respected sociologist Barry Chevannes, who put him in touch with Paul Pennicook and his secretary, Sheila McDonald at Air Jamaica.
"We both agreed that cases of guns and ammunition were coming in. Somehow they were coming in, but it was very difficult getting instruments in," he said.

Pennicock, who is head of marketing and sales, pulled every stop, and Air Jamaica decided to fly them in for free. But there was another problem. US Homeland Security regulations had prevented the loading of this kind of cargo in New York. It had to be driven to Florida and would cost US$2,000 (J$140,000); Miller was floored: "What were we going to do?"

Enter Sly and Robbie
Miller, former manager of reggae legend Peter Tosh, has many friends in the industry. He called superstar drummer bass duo; Sly & Robbie, who gave him a portion of the financial assistance he needed. Herman 'Goody' King came up with the remaining "bread". Finally, the instruments landed in Jamaica, ready to be taken to their new home. But there was yet another snag - the duty. It was nothing less than prohibitive.

61 instruments sit on a wharf
While the instruments sat on the wharf, Miller pondered his next move. He was at a function and saw the minister of culture, Olivia Babsy Grange. He managed to get her ears for a the few minutes, he needed to relate his tale and seek her assistance. She immediately summoned her two aides, who diligently took notes. A few days later, Miller got a call from Treverton Garvey at the culture ministry. Garvey and Miller got in touch with the ministry of finance and applied for a waiver - they eventually got it. That waiver would save the foundation probably J$100,000 in customs fees. But it took over a month to get it, resulting in a J$175,000 storage fee. Air Jamaica, who was sensitised to the foundation's crusade paid for half, the rest was paid by a private individual.

Waiver
Miller was lucky to get a waiver; in fact musicians and studios, the bedrock of the entertainment industry, are not likely to get waivers. Individuals must apply at the finance ministry for Customs to waive fees. The criteria are vague and not codified. What is known is that places of worship, schools and non-profits are ideal candidates for waivers. But what is codified are the import fees - guitar, keyboards, other musical equipment pay import duty of 10 per cent; GCT 16.5 per cent; then three per cent Stand compliance fee; and 2.8 per cent customs user fee.

"[We] had sleepless nights trying to make this happen while dons were getting guns," Miller said about the instruments. Although most guns enter illegally, import fees for a US$1,000 guitar versus a gun of same price, are not that different at US$323 and US$523 respectively.

Lobby
The information technology sector had successfully lobbied the previous technology minister Philip Paulwell to remove custom fees on computers. They said it would contribute to Jamaica's GDP. Currently a US$1,000 computer attracts import fees of only US$58. The entertainment stakeholders including Dr Vanus James have criticised government with a similar argument but to no avail. Recently, James, who did a United Nations-sponsored study said that the Jamaican copyright industry (which includes music at its core) earns J$6.18 value added for every J$70 (US$1) invested; versus J$1.49 from the technology industry. It means according to James that government is mismatching resources.

Kids making music
Alpha Boys Band, the Junior Centre at the Institute of Jamaica, and a Montego Bay-based Catholic organisation will benefit from the instruments. It will allow these kids to plug in their guitars into their amps and create riotous noise. Noise to drown out the gunshots - never too far in the distance.

[Historian]

Finally, the instruments landed in Jamaica, ready to be taken to their new home. But there was yet another snag - the duty. It was nothing less than prohibitive.

Miller was lucky to get a waiver; in fact musicians and studios, the bedrock of the entertainment industry, are not likely to get waivers.

MdmeX, while this article ends on a pleasant note, it at the same time reveals something else about the executive and legislative branches of Jamaica’s governments that is by no means positive. I’m referring here to an apparent lack of focused priorities regarding the social development of the Jamaican people, and in particular the youth.

This lack of focus reveals itself very vividly in the continued failure by Jamaican governments over the years to capitalize on our track and field successes (developing sports tourism, for example), and it is also revealed in a marked lack of awareness of the crucial role that musical development (community marching bands, increased music education in schools, etc.) can play in developing countries such as Jamaica.

We all know that import duties are vitally important for any government to run its country effectively. Nevertheless, in the case of Jamaica and the central role that culture plays, one would have thought that it would not be “business as usual” regarding the music industry’s ability to easily obtain instruments! And we’re not talking merely about the obvious fact that it is thanks primarily to the ska, rocksteady, reggae and dancehall industry why Jamaica is as well known as it is, and to a large extent why our tourism industry remains fairly vibrant in the midst of unequalled criminal activity! No, even more important is the central role that music can play in providing individual personal development, hope, a sense of purpose, and upward social mobility for many Jamaicans.

Why on earth can’t any Jamaican government see that it would probably be in the country’s national interest to remove duties completely from musical instruments, and so have as much musical instruments available to as much people as possible?

I have always felt that, as far as Jamaica is concerned, three things that should be allowed into the country completely free of duties are computers, school textbooks and musical instruments.

[Rudi]

Maybe because the sports and music you refer to is originated from and dominated by a strata of Jamaican society to which the policy makers dont relate. The point you make would seem like no-brainer to anyone observing from the outside. The powers that be within Jamaica have never got it fom the days of Ska to Dancehall.
In fairness the politician who came the closest to acting on this potential was Eddie Seaga the rest have given pure lip service.

[Assasin]

Well I spoke to a doctor who is leading specialist in his field here in NY and he gave a story of him he tried to get some equipment in Ja and how it stayed on the wharf. He is Jamaican but was so disgusted with the system he said he would rather give it to other countries where the stuff will be used.

[Historian]

Maybe because the sports and music you refer to is originated from and dominated by a strata of Jamaican society to which the policy makers dont relate. The point you make would seem like no-brainer to anyone observing from the outside. The powers that be within Jamaica have never got it fom the days of Ska to Dancehall.
In fairness the politician who came the closest to acting on this potential was Eddie Seaga the rest have given pure lip service.

Very good points, Rudi. I fully agree with every sentence you wrote above!

[Historian]

Well I spoke to a doctor who is leading specialist in his field here in NY and he gave a story of him he tried to get some equipment in Ja and how it stayed on the wharf. He is Jamaican but was so disgusted with the system he said he would rather give it to other countries where the stuff will be used.

This is really sad, but then again I'm not surprised, Assasin! I wonder how many scores of other Jamaicans and non-Jamaicans have stories similar to that of the doctor above?

Really hard to fathom!

[MdmeX]

Well I spoke to a doctor who is leading specialist in his field here in NY and he gave a story of him he tried to get some equipment in Ja and how it stayed on the wharf. He is Jamaican but was so disgusted with the system he said he would rather give it to other countries where the stuff will be used.

Sass, this has happened countless times. Few years back, it was one organization donating ambulances; in the end the country never wanted them because they were over 5 years old! Look how many areas of Ja. don't even have a 15 yr. old ambulance. Of course, they were sent to another country that was happy to receive them.