Donating to Organizations in Jamaica

Jamaica receives development assistance in the form of donations from many individuals and institutions, including from well-wishers in Japan. These donations are welcome, provided that the following guidelines are observed:

Donations of Medical Supplies and /or Equipment

• Prospective donors should submit the list of suggested items to the Embassy of Jamaica in Tokyo or the nearest Jamaican Consulate in Asia, along with the relevant specifications;

• The Embassy will then forward the list to the procurement Manager at the Ministry of Health, who will determine the suitability of the donation, after consultations with the relevant health personnel;

• In order to determine the suitability of the equipment, the Ministry of Health takes into account the specifications and age of the item, the availability of operational manuals and access to spare parts and maintenance services in Jamaica;

• Once the medical supplies have been found to be acceptable, the donor should arrange for the shipment, which should be consigned to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, for the attention of the Procurement Manager;

• Arrangements will be made for the handing over and distribution of the items, in consultation with the donor. However, the Ministry of Health reserves the right to direct gifts to the areas of greatest need, in which case the donor will be informed of the recipient institution;

• The final list of items to be shipped, with values indicated, along with a letter from the donor should be submitted two weeks in advance to the Ministry of Health in order to ensure that the relevant duty waivers and permits can be obtained prior to the arrival of the goods in Jamaica;

• The donor should also supply to the Procurement Manager the packing list as well as the corresponding invoices and shipping documents, so that arrangements may be made for Customs clearance.

For the donation of ambulances, the following documents should be submitted:

• Transfer Certificate;
• Inspection Certificate;
• Customs Declaration;
• Technical Specifications.

Documents should be in English or officially translated and certified.

To view the list of items that donors may supply, please visit the website of the Ministry of Health, Jamaica at: www.moh.gov.jm

Donation of Educational Material and Equipment

• Prospective donors should submit the list of suggested items to the Embassy Jamaica in Tokyo or the nearest Jamaican Consulate in Asia;
• The Embassy will then submit the list to the Procurement Manager at the Ministry of Education and Youth to determine the suitability of the goods and whether they will attract customs duties;
• Information on computers to be donated must be submitted prior to their shipment to ensure that they are appropriate for the intended purpose;
• Adequate notice must be given prior to shipment to allow for all the necessary approvals/waivers to be granted. This will prevent extended delays at the port of entry and possible storage/demurrage charges;
• Letters of offer to the institutions should also be sent prior to the shipment of the goods;
• The goods must be consigned to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Youth or to the Principal of the relevant school. Goods should not be consigned directly to a private individual.

Educational and non-educational goods (e.g. medical supplies) should not be packaged together, as the approval processes and requirements for customs clearance differ.

For Clearance
For shipment by sea, the following documentation should be sent ahead of the arrival of the goods to the relevant Ministry or beneficiary institution:

• The Bill of Lading;
• Invoice( if goods are new);
• List of goods and approximate value (if the goods were pre-owned).

For shipment by air, the following documentation is to be sent ahead of the arrival of the goods to the relevant Ministry or beneficiary institution:

• The Airway bill;
• Invoice, if goods are new;
• List of goods and approximate value if the goods were pre-owned.

When goods are accompanying passengers, the necessary letters of approval must be obtained ahead of the arrival of the person for presentation to the Customs Officer. The arriving passengers may present the necessary letters directly to Customs, if these were received before their departure from their country of residence. Alternatively, the necessary letters of approval may be presented to the Customs Officer by a representative of the receiving institution in Jamaica.

Where the donation is to be made to a particular school, the local recipient in Jamaica must submit an application to the Ministry of Finance, through the Ministry of Education and Youth, in good time, for the waiver of any applicable duties or taxes. The recipient is also required to attach to this application all the documents indicated above, along with a statement that the goods will be used solely for the benefit of the named institution.

The Ministry of Education and Youth will advise the Ministry of Finance by a supporting letter, whether the institution is a duly registered educational one.

The approval process takes a maximum of 10 working days.

For further information please contact the following officers at the Ministry of Education and Youth.

Mr. Leon Fraser, Chief Procurement Officer
Telephone No. 876-922-1400-9 or 876-922-6568
Fax No. 876-922-6568
E-mail:lfcasper@yahoo.com

Mr. Lauriston Wilson, Director of Technical Services
Telephone No. 876-9226568 or 876-922-2798
Fax No. 876-922-6568
E-mail: edirtech@cwjamaica.com

Donations to Other Organisations

The procedures for donating to charitable organizations are similar to those mentioned above.

For information on donations to children’s homes and national places of safety, please contact:

Child Development Agency
Cabinet Office
Office of the Prime Minister
1 Devon Road
Kingston 10
Jamaica
Tel. 876 929 8880-5
Fax# 876 929 8459
Website: www.cabinet.gov.jm

For donations to HIV/AIDs-related organizations, please contact:

National AIDs Committee of Jamaica
2-4 Kings Street
4th Floor, Oceana Building
Kingston
Jamaica
Tel. 876 967 1100/1103/1107
Website: www.nacjamaica.com