3. Evaluation of the data collected and the methodology used

According to the recently introduced value added tax system, (VAT) enterprises earning less than BDS $60.000 annually are not required to disclose a financial statement to the authorities and this makes it very difficult or almost impossible to accurately monitor small companies involved in domestic trade. However, for larger enterprises that are engaged in foreign trade, (both imports and exports) all relevant data are collected and fed into the customs department computer system by a custom’s data input officer. As mentioned earlier, the information is taken from the C63 forms and this procedure was already discussed. This information is further re-evaluated by a custom’s assessment officer whose job is to check the accuracy of all calculations, quantities, commodity codes, etc. Assuming the correct procedure is followed, this officer would be in a position to detect any major errors.

As it relates to strengths and weaknesses in the system currently being used to collect and analyse data, there is hardly any room for mistakes excepts for that of human error. One advantage of this system is the fact that both the input and the assessment officers are able to crosscheck any doubtful information. For example, the assessment officer may detect an unusual increase or decrease in a particular product and to clarify this information he/she can easily asked the input officer to produce all C63 forms relating to that product so that accuracy can be ascertained. One weakness in this and most other systems is the possibility of human error, which can easily go unnoticed and consequently, incorrect information is passed on to other agencies. The statistical department is responsible for disseminating this information and that is done on a monthly basis. Bulletins are circulated to both governmental and non-governmental departments so that member of the general public can have access to this information.

Tables below provide a summary of values and quantities mentioned earlier.

Table 1

IMPORTS IN BDS $
	Wooden Furniture	Wooden Products	Sub-Total
1994	9, 697, 494	2, 141, 565	11, 839, 059
1995	7, 408, 338	4, 032, 634	11, 440, 972
1996	9, 912, 619	9, 515, 445	19, 428, 064
1997	20, 339, 464	15, 657, 029	35, 996, 493
1998	22, 882, 645	19, 782, 602	42, 665, 247
1999	22, 711, 469	19, 523, 103	42, 234, 572
TOTAL FIGURE FOR IMPORTS = BDS $ 163, 604, 407

Table 2

EXPORTS IN BDS $
	Wooden Furniture	Wooden Products	Sub-Total
1994	597, 950	126, 831	724, 781
1995	534, 548	248, 539	783, 087
1996	1, 229, 457	116, 655	1, 346, 112
1997	1, 356, 996	250, 971	1, 607, 967
1998	1, 469, 966	65, 953	1, 535, 919
1999	973, 411	237, 921	1, 211, 332
TOTAL FIGURE FOR EXPORTS = BDS $ 7, 209, 198

Table 3

EXPORT MARKETS FOR WOODEN FURNITURE FOR 1997
Country	Value in BDS $	%

St. Vincent	435, 170	32.1
Jamaica	273, 954	20.2
St. Lucia	99, 378	7.3
Other CARICOM states	338, 665	25.0
Extra Regional	209, 829	15.4

TOTAL	1, 356, 996	100.00

Table 4

EXPORT MARKETS FOR WOODEN FURNITURE FOR 1998
Country	Value in BDS $	%

St .Vincent	348, 428	27.3
St. Kitts/Nevis	199, 464	13.6
St. Lucia	299, 625	20.3
Other CARICOM states	463, 793	31.5
Extra Regional	158, 656	10.9

TOTAL	1, 469, 966	100.00

Table 5

EXPORTS MARKETS FOR WOODEN FURNITURE FOR 1999
Country	Value in BDS $	%

St. Vincent	253, 310	26.0
St. Kitts/Nevis	207, 904	21.4
St. Lucia	283, 021	29.1
Other CARICOM states	205, 661	21.1
Extra Regional	23,515	2.4
TOTAL	973, 411	100.00

Table 6

SOURCES OF WOODEN FURNITURE IMPORTS FOR 1997
Country	Value in BDS $	%

USA	7, 382, 196	36.3
Trinidad & Tobago	3, 526, 524	17.3
Great Britain	2, 655, 600	13.1
Jamaica	2, 036, 717	10.0
Others	4, 738, 427	23.3

TOTAL	20, 339, 464	100.00

Table 7

SOURCES OF WOODEN FURNITURE IMPORTS FOR 1998
Country	Value in BDS $	%

USA	8, 313, 221	23.7
Great Britain	4, 746, 996	13.6
Trinidad & Tobago	3, 915, 981	20.3
Canada	1, 691, 208	31.5
Others	4, 216, 022	10.9

TOTAL	22, 882 645	100.00

Table 8

SOURCES OF WOODEN FURNITURE IMPORTS FOR 1999
Country	Value in BDS $	%

USA	7, 648, 941	33.7
Great Britain	3, 105, 455	13.7
Trinidad & Tobago	4, 681, 586	20.6
Canada	2, 822, 426	12.4
others	4, 453, 061	19.6

TOTAL	22, 711, 469	100.00

Table 9

IMPORTS IN KILOGRAMS		EXPORTS IN KILOGRAMS
1998	61, 904, 112	1998	3, 906, 140
1999	61, 543, 308	1999	3,331, 768
2000 (Jan to July)	29, 168, 543	2000 (Jan to July)	1, 741, 831