Jamaica Customs continues to improve its services with the employment of new technologies

Each year the international customs community celebrates January 26 as International Customs Day in recognition of the vital role of customs officials in handling the flow of goods across international borders and maintaining border security.

This year’s celebrations are under the theme: “Nurturing the next generation: Promoting a Culture of Knowledge-sharing and Professional Pride in Customs.”

The mission of Jamaica Customs Agency is to facilitate trade, protect Jamaica’s borders, optimise revenue collection, deliver high quality customer service, and to develop and maintain a team of motivated professional and competent staff through collaborative border management. This year’s International Customs Day theme is an appropriate one, as the Agency continues to implement new ways of sharing knowledge of the Agency’s role in our country’s national development and security objectives.

The Agency is improving its services with the employment of new technologies to aid in the fight against corruption, loss of revenue and to protect our borders against the introduction of contraband and illegal trade while still providing the best customer service experience.

The ongoing digitalising of many of the Agency’s processes has enabled it to utilise a risk based assessment and a more targeted approach for further action, as may be necessary. The collaboration between the Agency and other Border Regulatory and Law Enforcement Agencies, here and abroad, has produced outcomes that are positive outcomes for the Agency and the country.

Through its Customs House Weekly Series and otherwise in radio and print, stakeholders are educated about our services and processes. The Agency also provides information updates and invites comments and feedback through several channels including email, live chats, and social media.

Every Jamaican must be made aware that activities involving illegal imports and exports pose a serious threat to our national development and the interruption of trade which is necessary in order for us to achieve our 2030 vision.

I wish to recognise the dedication and hard work of the team to promote a culture that demonstrates their pride in our Agency, and to the delivery of the highest standards of service in a competent, transparent and courteous manner.

I look forward to even broader cooperation with all stakeholders here, at home and globally.

Gina Phillipps Black

Chairman, JCA’S Advisory Board