جامايكا رحلات و [توور غيد]

نحن قرّرنا أراد نحن عربة وبدأ يفتّش واحدة على شهر [أغو] الآن. كان سيارة جديدة [أوت وف ث قوسأيشن] وال يستعمل سيارة سوق هنا إلى حدّ ما فقيرة غير أنّ أنا أسّست أنّ أنت يستطيع حصلت سيارة هنا ل مثل بانخفاض بما أنّ $1000 [أوس] وأنا حسب ما طريق جيّدة ل نا أن يحصل حول من نا خاصّة عربة. بما أنّ نحن بدأنا ينظر أصبح هو أكثر ظاهرة أنّ ماذا نحن حقّا أردنا كان شاحنة مقفلة لذلك نحن استطاع ذهبت على نا خاصّة رحلات ولذلك نحن قرّرنا أن ينفق المال ووجدت شاحنة مقفلة لعمليّة بيع في جامايكا. بئر هناك تحميل من شاحنة مقفلة وحافلات لعمليّة بيع يستعمل ال [غلنر] [كلسّيفيدس] غير أنّ بما أنّ أنت يستطيع رأيت السعر معدّلة فوق $500,000 [جميكن دولّر] أو حوالي $8000 [أوس] أيّ كان الى حدّ بعيد لقمة أكثر من نحن اضطرّ أنفقت.

أنا أسّست أنّ أنت استطاع وجدت يستعمل سيارات لعمليّة بيع في جامايكا في سعرات [لوور] غير أنّ يذهب هم سريعا. هناك يستعمل سيارة موزعات في جامايكا في مدائن كبريات مثل كنغستون, [مونتغو] نباح ويتساوى [مندفيلّ] غير أنّ السوق أكثر لسيارات جديدة في ال 2003 وسنون جديدة نموذجيّة. أنا أردت أن ينفق أقلّ من $200,000 أو حوالي $3000 [فلت] [أوس] على عربة وأنا نحن سوفت كنت يمكن أن يشتري عربة محتشمة جارية في أنّ سعر. أنت يستطيع نسيت يجد [أنثينغ ليك ثت] في موزع في جامايكا. لا يتواجد هو ببساطة وأكثر لن حتّى سيتلقّى سيارة على الحصة تحت [$350,000جا]. أنا كنت مهما محظوظة أن يجد 1996 نيسّان [فنتّ] لعمليّة بيع في [غلنر] واحدة صباح في $220,000 وقفز أنا في حافلة وركض إلى كنغستون أن يشتري هو. هو أخذني اثنان أسابيع أن يتمّ هكذا غير أنّ اشترى أنا أخيرا شاحنة مقفلة ل أقلّ من $200,000 وحصل هو يؤمّن ويسجّل في اسمي. كان يعالج مع ال [موتور فهيكل] إنتقال كثير حالة لهو أيضا. I had to have insurance on the car in my own name before I could register it. I was lucky that i bought the car from a nice Jamaica family and they had already taken care of much of the paperwork necessary. You will have to have the Title signed by someone form the Tax Collectorate, a Certificate of Fitness which seems to be like a vehicle inspection and Insurance which set me back $28,000JA. I bought a new set of tires for it just because I feel safer on them but we’re on the road finally.

I’ve had the van for about two weeks now and I have put over 2500 KM on it thus far in trips to Kingston, Sav La Mar and all over the South Coast and Westmoreland Parish. Buying a car in Jamaica is pretty easy actually and a great way to see the country. Learning how to drive a right hand drive stick shift van on the left hand side of the road was a whole different story and I was involved in a minor accident on my first drive home from Kingston. Some guy clipped the side of the van pulled the rear tail light off but I already had it fixed and I even went to court over my traffic ticket but pled guilty when the cop who pulled us was sitting next to the juge all buddy buddy like. I knew there was no reason to even argue the case and I accepted a fine of $4000JA for “Careless Driving” as I was blamed for being on the wrong side of the road on a road with no sides. Thats the way things go in Jamaica and I knew there was no sense in fighting it. I left the courthouse and drive to Roaring Rivers with the kids and had a blast. I love our van and so do the kids, maybe one day you’ll come for a ride with us here in Jamaica.

In order to conduct any sort of business in Jamaica you must first register to get a TRN or Taxpayers Registration Number. I knew we would need a TRN for things like opening up a bank account, buying a car and opening a business so I decided to get one while in Kingston. I was in pursuit of a bank account in Jamaica so I can move some money here and avoid the ridiculous fees charged to withdraw some cash here in Negril. Opening up a bank account turned out to be a little more difficult then expected but I found a way around things for us and maybe someone else can appreciate the information but first back to the TRN.

The TRN application is pretty simple and straight forward and forms can be downloaded from the Jamaica Tax Administration in advance so you’re prepared once you arrive. Any government office in Jamaica is going to be busy but the Tax Collectors Office must be the worst. I was actually very lucky on my first trip through and getting the TRN was pretty fast, subsequent trips for the motor vehicle transfer would prove much more difficult. After filling out the forms and submitting them I was given a slip with my TRN number and told I could pick up my TRN card at the Sav La Mar office in about one months time. I have not yet done so but the month is almost up.

Opening a bank account in Jamaica was quite a bit trickier but there is a solution for those of us without strong connections to the island already. Commercial banks in Jamaica such as NCB, ScotiaBank and RBTT are required to secure quite a bit of paperwork on you before they can open an account for you. I was told by managers of each bank that they simply could not open a bank account for me without a reference from an existing account holder and a letter from a Priest, Police Captain or Justice of the Peace in Jamaica who has known me for more than 6 months. After talking with each bank it seemed I would have to cheat the system and bribe someone to vouch for me but then I went into the Jamaica National Builders Society and things changed. As a Builders Society and not a Commercial Bank they have their own rules and within 30 minutes I had not only a bank account but a listing of homes for sale in any Parish I wanted was printed for me to review and in the future it will be easy enough to secure a home loan or financing of some sort for our own slice of heaven here in Jamaica. It’s not a checking account, it;s a savings only with debit card available but thats exactly what I need here in Jamaica and it’s a lot easier then tracking down two references.

Welcome to Jamaica MAX. This blog will offer news and reviews on our Jamaican adventures. The Moya family is moving to Jamaica this summer for a 6 month adventure. We plan to cover as much of the wonderful island of Jamaica as we can during our first extended trip with the goal of returning next year on a permanent visa. We’re going to catalog the adventure here for all to see. Lets see how it goes.

Alfred