Inbond merchants slam racial overtones
published: Friday | December 12, 2003

Garwin Davis, Assistant

News Editor

SAYING THERE was no place in the tourism industry for "neither racism nor racial overtones", members of

the Duty-free Merchants Association feel they are being unfairly blamed for problems associated with the sector.

"As a

result of our ethnic background as Indians... it's very easy and convenient to use us as scapegoats," said Sanju Chatani,

owner of the Taj Mahal Plaza in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. "It's always a case where the Indians are to be blamed for this or the

Indians are to be blamed for that. As a nation, we have to move from that sort of thinking. We don't need to be polarised...

as our motto rightly states: out of many one people."

The merchants note that their contribution to tourism over the

years has in many cases been overlooked, noting that there was a tendency from "certain quarters" to downplay [them] "as an

important entity within the sector."

"I was watching this forum on television the other day regarding tourism and not

one mention was made of the inbond sector," notes Indru Dadlani, owner of the Casa de Oro chain of duty free stores. "As

someone who has been involved in the sector for many years, this was very painful to watch... its almost as if we have never

been or a part of the sector, as if our contributions meant nothing."

Ravi Daswani, owner of the Royal Shop chain of

duty-free stores _ a company which has not only been sponsoring a number of sporting events in western Jamaica but has also

been providing school books for children of its employees _ explains the reason for the negative perception.

"Our

reluctance to highlight our contributions to charities over the years... our unwillingness to blow or toot our own horns have

led to this perception of us as greedmongers," Mr. Daswani said. "There is a part of our culture that says we should not go

out and brag about things we do for charity. It should not matter that most of us are of Indian descent...we are citizens of

this country... pay our taxes like everybody else and should enjoy the same rights. Racism and racial overtones only serve to

divide."

PREMIER DESTINATION

Merchants, however, note that while it is only natural for them to feel slighted

by the "tone of some of the criticisms...being referred to as Indians"...their continued role in ensuring that Jamaica

remains a premier destination for duty-free shopping "is something that can never be refuted."

As Mr. Dadlani puts it,

"Duty-free shopping is and has been a mainstay of Jamaica's tourism... this cannot be denied. Despite facing increasing

competition from the other islands, association members have been holding their own, guaranteeing that Jamaica maintains its

niche in the marketplace. Without fear of being contradicted I dare say that we provide some of, if not, the best duty-free

shopping seen anywhere in the Caribbean.

Other tourism interests are in agreement. "My only problem with the inbond

merchants is that they hardly interact outside of their community," explained Roderick Graham, taxi operator. "They, however,

have done a lot of good for the resort towns and if the truth should be known, they should be lauded rather than being

criticised," he added.

Mr. Graham continued, "We should give credit where credit is due. My family has benefited from

their genorosity and I will not join in the Indian-bashing crowd."

Read more by clicking here

__________________