International Customs Day & Week 2022

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2022 7 SIGHT CONTINUED FROM 5 and people; and importantly, how you secure cross-bor- der trade. This, Commissioner, is demonstrating the agency’s support of this Government’s strategic plan as we seek to achieve Vision 2030. Though we are experiencing challenging times, the Government of Jamaica has expended significant resources to cushion the effects of thepandemic.Your efforts demon- strate your commitment to help us do this. Finally, I urge you, Commissioner and Customs Officers, to never lose sight of the agency’s mission, and possibly even more important, to always remember to uphold the Code of Conduct which guides your operations. You, Customs Officers, have been placed in a critical area of service. There are high expectations of you and I charge you tomaintain the highest standards of integrity in your duties. As you serve the public and the business com- munity; and as you work alongside other public sector employees, your integrity must be your watchword. It can never be compromised. Aswe joinyou inacknowledging International CustomsDay 2022, IreiteratetheappreciationoftheGovernmentandpeople ofJamaicaforthevaliantworkthatyoudoeverydaytokeepour borderssafeandtoimprovetheeaseofdoingbusiness. HON DR NORMAN DUNN, MP Minister of State Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce I T IS with immense pleasure that I join the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) in celebrating International Customs Day 2022. On behalf of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), I extend our best wishes and appreciation to the management and staff of the JCA for the work they do on behalf of the people of Jamaica. Recognitionmust be given to the JCA for its role in facilitating the uninterrupted processing of cargo at our ports through- out the pandemic. The authority is anticipating the contin- uation of the successful working relations that exist with the JCA which are crucial to sustaining operations at our island’s ports. The recent resumption of cruise ac- tivities locally would not have been pos- sible without the collaboration among PAJ, JCA, other government entities and industry stakeholders. An increase in cruise passenger arrivals is expected during the year and it is our intention towork inpart- nershipwith the JCA tomake the process as seamless and efficient as possible. Globally, the cargo industry was plagued with challenges over the last year and these included: rising freight rates, the unavailability of port workers due to COVID-19, demand that outpaced supply, and port congestion at several major locations. As a result, it became necessary for countries to innovate in order tomanage the massive congestion across ports. Since the onset of the pandemic, the need for greater utilisation of technol- ogy has been realised and embraced by the shipping community, with the JCA and PAJ being the major promoters. The PAJ has implemented systems and initiatives, such as the Port Community System (PCS), to improve efficiency and reduce cargo processing times. The im- plementation of the Truck Appointment System as a module of the PCS has ad- dressed the port congestion issues in Kingston. Similarly, the contactless clear- ance of cargo at the Freeport Terminal in Montego Bay is a collaboration between JCA, PAJ and Port Handlers Limited. These initiatives are complementary to the JCA’s push for automation and will enhance Jamaica’s trade competitiveness and doing business indices. For the upcoming year, the authority is looking forward to the continued part- nership with the JCA as both entities work towards fulfilling their respective mandates in service to the people of Jamaica. PROFESSOR THE HON GORDON SHIRLEY, OJ President & Chief Executive Officer Port Authority of Jamaica Looking forward to the continued partnership Gordon Shirley Messages CUSTOMS WEEK