Honduras: Close Call

By Ray Schmidt

The next morning (Feb. 16th), I arrived again at the customs office at 8:30 with our clearing agent. We were clearing the most critical piece of electrical equipment that day. There were two electrical panels that were air freighted from the U.S. on Tuesday and arrived on Thursday, Feb. 14. Most of the clearing process was completed yesterday. All we needed was a signature on a document, pay a handling charge, and then pick up the items. We were first in line and the customs officer said that he would sign our document as soon as it was found. The office filed it yesterday but this morning no one could find it. Ninety minutes later it was found. Now we just needed the officer to sign it, but no one could find him.

A little later we found him but he was in the middle of something and would sign our document as soon as he was done. “Give me ten minutes” is something we heard a dozen times today. It’s getting closer to noon—that’s when the customs office closes for the day. We can see this officer through the window and he is working diligently on some other paperwork. Every time he stands up, a dozen clearing agents jump to the window shaking the papers they need signed. Each time he sits down and starts on another set of documents.

11:45AM: Agents become very restless and begin yelling.

11:50AM: Half of the agents still in line give up and leave.

11:55 AM: The officer stands up and comes to the window. We push through the others and stick our piece of paper in front of him to sign. He glances at it and signs. We run to the payment counter, pay the small handling charge, and then sprint to the loading dock. Noon, straight up. We’re good now. Fifteen minutes later our stuff is loaded on a small truck and we are headed to the hospital where the electricians can install the panels today and tomorrow, and we’ll be ready to go on Monday.

It was a close call.