Dear Editor,
I visited Anguilla for the first time on May 6. I boarded the last ferry out about 7:10pm. I went across with a friend who is a deejay. He plays there every weekend.
All I was carrying with me was my passport and ID in a small side bag along with a shirt. My friend had his deejay equipment to carry, which was 2 cases, plus his laptop in a haversack. His both hands were occupied so he asked me to hold on to a plastic bag with one pair of used shoes which he would wear for the night.
Upon arrival in Anguilla we both cleared Immigration and next on to Customs. There were two officers on duty doing the checks. I went to the female officer who then asked me what I have to declare. I said to her I had nothing to declare. She then asked me what I was carrying in the plastic bag; I told her a pair of shoes which did not belong to me. I was just helping my friend by holding it for him. She then asked me for the receipt for the shoes, which I told her they were not mine. My friend came across and told her that they belonged to him, which she understood.
I was thinking it was all set for me to leave. She then asked me for the receipt for the shoes I was wearing, which I told her I do not have because I had those shoes for over two years. She had no remorse and wrote me up for an amount of $60, which she said I have to pay immediately for government tax. I said to her I am not paying for what is mine, those are my shoes and it’s totally impossible.
After about an hour and a half still standing at Customs and not giving in she gave me an option – either I leave my shoes at Customs and walk out bare feet or pay up and walk out with them. After a long deliberation some calls were made by her to her superiors and the conclusion was that I could leave, but make sure that when I’m leaving the next morning I present myself at Customs with the same pair of shoes on my feet. They were a pair of black Polo shoes.
A terrible first time experience. I hope it does not happen to anyone else.
Dave Pierre
