Continue to be fair, transparent and purposeful

THE JAMAICA Customs Agency (JCA), along with other world Customs organisations, observe International Customs Day on January 26, 2024, under the theme ‘Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose’.

The JCA has the vision of being a modern Customs administration, delivering excellent service, fostering compliance, and contributing to our national development and the protection of our society. To accomplish this, JCA is required to collaborate purposefully with businesses, government agencies and other stakeholders locally, regionally, and internationally to ensure regulations, policies and programmes effectively respond to the constantly changing environment. This requires a framework of regular consultation and engagement with traditional and new partners, using traditional and new methods.

In the context of increasing pressures for more reliable and faster movement of goods at the lowest possible cost, without compromising Jamaica’s border security and revenue collection or JCA’s core values and enforcement responsibilities, the Jamaica Customs Agency has been focused on processes to increase the volumes of cargo with reduced reliance on physical intervention. These are centred on modernising and simplifying trade procedures while maintaining efficiency. The agency’s thrust with the Jamaica Single Window for Trade (JSWIFT), a one-stop electronic portal for importers and exporters, to satisfy all import and export regulatory requirements by submitting these at a single point of contact and, more recently, the introduction of the Contactless Clearance Process, are evidence of this. The Contactless Clearance Process is aimed at modernising the physical inspection process, making it easier for non-commercial importers to clear cargo and for customs officers to conduct inspections in a controlled, sterile and secure environment, without the need for importers having to physically visit the ports and public bonded warehouses for Customs inspection.

The agency must have ongoing feedback from all stakeholders to continue identifying the gaps, and improvements required, to produce the desired strategic outcomes and enable it to engage with the relevant government ministries and agencies, with a view to recommending changes to policies and, ultimately, legislation to address these. This culture of cooperation and communication builds trust and respect and enhances voluntary compliance.

I take this opportunity to thank the members of staff of the Jamaica Customs Agency, under the leadership of CEO/Commissioner Velma Ricketts Walker and her deputies, for the ongoing efforts they make to facilitate trade, protect Jamaica’s borders, and optimise revenue collection, and encourage them to continue to do so in a manner that is fair, transparent and purposeful.