By NATARIO McKENZIE

Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN auto dealer believes the Government will not implement age restrictions on Japanese used vehicle imports, despite being petitioned to do so numerous times by the Bahamas Motor Dealers Association (BDMA.

Rick Lowe, a director and operations manager at Nassau Motor Company (NMC), the Honda and Chevrolet dealer, told this newspaper: “Separate to my personal position, the BDMA has petitioned successive governments on this matter, the suggestion being that the older cars are less environmentally friendly compared to the new products.

“Other countries in the region have restricted the age limit. For example, people importing a 2000 model car, which is already 12 years old cannot, happen in some of the neighbouring counties.

“The environmental factor is important, but how do you tell a consumer how to spend their income. The BMDA’s position is that an age limit should be enforced. I don’t see how the Government could put in policies preventing Bahamians from buying what they want to buy unless it’s causing harm to someone else. By that I mean the environmental harm. That may be a ground for the Government to consider, but all things being equal I don’t see how they could implement a policy to prevent me or you spending our money how we want to.”

Mr Lowe’s comments follow those of Andrew Barr, Friendly Ford’s sales manager, who told Tribune Business that the Government should look to enact legislation banning the importation of vehicles more than five years-old.

Jay Allen, proprietor of Jay Allen Auto Sales, backed that position but also felt the Government would not look to implement such a policy. “We live in a small country and it’s not good to have all these kinds of cars in the market,” he said.

“The market is already saturated as it is. That’s what’s making the business so fraught right now. If the Government would put some restriction on the type of cars and the year, that would make a difference. It would protect the consumers from getting ripped of as well.

“I would support some kind of regulation on imports. I understand, however, that the Government is looking to make their revenue. I’m not sure that the Government would actually go ahead and implement restrictions though,” said Mr Allen, who imports primarily American-made cars and not Japanese models.

Larry Albury, general manager at Freeport Jet Wash Auto Mart, told Tribune Business that the Japanese import issue was something the Government should look at, noting that many consumers were being left with cheap Japanese autos that are difficult to obtain parts for.

“Everybody needs transportation to get around. There are different cost brackets, but that’s something that needs to be looked at,” Mr Albury said.

“If we are going to allow used vehicles in, then it has to be from a source like North America, which we are closer to so we can stock parts for these cars. We see more and more Japanese imports coming in. People are buying these cars and when they break down they have a hard time finding parts for them, and I hate to see people getting in that situation but it happens every day.”