I thank the staff of the JCA for their continued service to our nation

It is with great pleasure that I join the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) in observing International Customs Day 2023.

This year, the JCA along with other World Customs Organisation (WCO) Member States will observe International Customs Day, on Thursday, January 26, 2023, under the theme, “Nurturing the Next Generation: Promoting a Culture of Knowledge-sharing & Professional Pride in Customs.”

As a small island developing state, Jamaica depends on international trade, both as a source of goods that are not produced locally and as a means to penetrate markets to trade our goods and services.

International Customs Day reaffirms the importance of the JCA in safeguarding our nation’s future through the equitable collection of revenue, the protection of our borders against illicit imports and the facilitation of regional and international trade. The JCA is indeed a critical institution in the functioning of our economy.

In 1877, Jamaica’s first law relating to the collection of duties on imports and exports was enacted. It made provisions for the establishment of wharves, ports and warehouses and the appointment of customs officers. Since then, the entity we now know as the JCA has undergone several organizational changes geared towards increasing its capacity to facilitate trade through the deployment of cutting edge technology.

This work continues, and the JCA has recently implemented a pilot programme for a contactless clearance process by which persons can clear their goods without physically visiting the wharf. This is in keeping with the global trend towards digital transformation.

Jamaica’s geographic location and other strategic advantages provide us with the opportunity to become a Global Logistics Hub, and the JCA is a key organization in achieving this. I look forward to amendments to the long-awaited Customs Act which will help to enhance the operational effectiveness of the JCA in achieving these immense possibilities.

I also take this opportunity to thank the management and staff of the JCA for their continued service to our nation as they steadfastly pursue the vision of developing and sustaining a modern customs administration, delivering excellent service, fostering compliance and contributing to our national development and protection of society.

May this commitment to excellence continue in the years to come.

Happy International Customs Day!

Mark J. Golding, MP Leader of the Opposition