The Customs Department has announced that the customary tax exemption on gifts
valuing up to US$1,000 brought in by passengers arriving for the holidays begins
today, 1 December. While the measure is limited to Dominican nationals who have
not entered the country in the past six months, airport authorities are known to
be lenient in this practice and will usually allow all gifts through at this
time of the year without assessment. The exemption will remain in effect until 7
January.