by JULIE WILSON

CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC!

That was the reaction of Noel Euzebe, spokesperson for used cars dealers, to the directive issued by Prime Minister Owen Arthur on Monday to the Customs and Excise Department to release more than 300 cars held up in the port on suspicion of being under-invoiced.

He told the MIDWEEK NATION yesterday that he thanked Arthur for his timely intervention and hoped the unfortunate saga would now be brought to a close.

"We [used car dealers] are going to believe it when we see it," he said.

"We have been promised relief so many times that we are not believing anything until we see the cars rolling out.

"Thanks to the Prime Minister for his timely intervention. What we would like is for the matter to be closed. Even though releasing the cars will not address the losses, at least we can go forward from there with the customs . . . and try to work together."

The wrangling between customs and used cars dealers, said Euzebe, began when the agency tried to address the matter of under-invoicing the wrong way.

Although a court order was handed down in June, he said, only a handful of cars was released from the Bridgetown Port by customs.

Euzebe also accused the department of imposing a high bond as a "tactic" to keep the vehicles in the port instead of discussing any discrepancies they had found with specific invoices from dealers.

He also lashed out at customs officials for their "refusal" to meet with used car dealers as a group, opting instead to speak with the individual importers.

"This draconian thing cannot work because the . . . department is yet to bring anybody to court. I am hoping that the next time they believe that there is a problem, they would try speaking to the industry to find out what the issues are."

Euzebe described the process of clearing a car as bound up in "procedural housekeeping", and added: "That is why I say that we are cautiously optimistic and we are hoping that the customs department take the position of just releasing the cars."

Attorney for the dealers, Ralph Thorne, said that through Monday's statement the Prime Minister had honoured a fundamental constitutional tradition by deferring to the authority of the court.

"I am pleased that this intervention may have saved the dealers the time and expense of further litigation."

juliewilson @nationnews.com