Let's cut the Caribbean fella some slack here. While I agree, you should know your car and what can be done, you have to remember, the term "chipping" your ECU can mean multiple things. To us in the USA with a NA spec car, that mean clean the contacts and plug in a chip. To others (Euro) it can mean an actual re-program of the ECU, rather than a plug-in. Now, in the Caribbean, there are a number of "interesting" mods that are done. While I wouldn't do them myself, monies and parts can be tight in the Caribbean area, unless you're loaded.
Christ, the Duty on a new car alone in say, Jamaica, is equal to about 100% of the actual car purchase price. So, that means you would pay say $12,500 for a car in Jamaica, and you will be paying another $12,000+ in Duty fees. That's nearly $25K US, and $1.204 Million in Jamaican dollars.
I just got back from Jamaica, last night, and let me tell you, the amount of kitchen forks, coat hangers, cut springs, and overwide tires will blow your mind, but that is what is readily available in some countries (especially the West Indies).