Jamaica Customs Agency

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2021 4 CUSTOMS W EK M E S S A G E S A S IS customary, the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) joins the international cus- toms community in celebrating International Customs Day. The theme for 2021, ‘Customs Bolstering Recovery, Renewal and Resilience’, highlights the importance of recov- ering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and doing so in a manner that puts the world on a better footing as re- covery takes hold. Trade and the movement of people are major contributors to Jamaica’s growth, and thus the role of the JCA in facilitating the safe movement of goods and people cannot be over- stated. Congratulations to the JCA for ably strengthening and implement- ing various initiatives and strategies to facilitate the continuation of busi- ness; for example, expansion of the Express Clearance Process; continued stability of the Customs Automated Management System; introduction of an online Track and Trace Service, the Valuation Verification Appointment Portal, and the Returning Residents Online Application and Virtual Interview process. As Jamaica focuses on recovery ef- forts to ‘Rebuild Jamaica’, for border regulation and Customs, the focus is to create a more transparent, indus- try-friendly and sustainable frame- work that facilitates trade, promotes greater ease of doing business, and enhances border protection. As such, the Government of Jamaica has taken a strategic approach to modernising the JCA in a num- ber of areas. A key feature of this modernisation process is the pro- posed new JCA Bill that has been referred to a Joint Select Committee of Parliament. The new JCA Act will seek to repeal and replace the exist- ing 1941 Customs Act. The new act will allow for more transparency, im- proved dispute resolution, provision of administrative appeal processes for Customs decisions, increased predictability, the introduction of advance rulings and increased facil- itation for compliance with Customs processes. The public should benefit from added facilitation for process and clearance times. Modernising the JCA provides the opportunity to implement cus- toms procedures that will promote prosperity through current and future business opportunities for Jamaica and strengthen sustainabil- ity practices. Congratulations to the JCA for its commitment to‘bolstering recovery, renewal and resilience’. NIGEL CLARKE Minister of Finance and the Public Service Modernising the JCA will promote prosperity I JOIN the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) in celebrating International Customs Day 2021 under the theme:‘Customs Bolstering Recovery, Renewal and Resilience for a Sustainable Supply Chain’. This past year has underscored the need for efficient customs agencies and more robust logistics systems to support international trade and critical global supply chains. The JCA’s mission statement high- lights the organisation’s goals of fa- cilitating trade, protecting Jamaica’s borders and optimising revenue collection. The JCA seeks to do this through the power of collaboration, effective teamwork and customer en- gagement. The JCAworks towards the vision of being “a modern customs administration, delivering excellent service, fostering compliance and contributing to our national devel- opment and protection of society”. The Opposition supports the cur- rent phase of legislative reform to the Customs Act, as part of the ongoing effort to modernise the JCA’s proce- dures, systems and operations which has spanned political administrations. We commend the JCA for its trans- formational reforms over the past decade, and urge the JCA to pursue its mission with a renewed sense of purpose, drawing strength from its accomplishments. MARK J. GOLDING Leader of the Opposition Continue to pursue mission with renewed sense of purpose T HIS YEAR’S theme for International Customs Day: ‘Customs Bolstering Recovery, Renewal and Resilience for a Sustainable Supply Chain’, has at its main focus customs’ role as the driving catalyst within the supply chain. In essence, without people – without the human resources, there is no supply chain. People make it work. In light of the global pandemic, the World Customs Organisation (WCO) has challenged Customs administrations worldwide to emerge successfully fromthis crisis, by strengthening the global supply chain, reinforcing collaboration, harnessing technologyand re-enforcing‘people’ at the centre of this transformation process. The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) fully endorses and supports this approach, and we have adopted several strategies in support of recovery efforts by changing, adjusting and improving howwe operate and do business; this is in keeping with our thrust for renewal and to ensure that we remain resilient. This year’s recognition and celebration of International Customs Day is dedicated to the critical efforts of Customs administrations globally to emerge from this crisis and sup- port people and businesses, by strengthening the global supply chain, reinforcing collabo- ration, harnessing technology and bringing about effective transformation. We have all been touched by this pandemic; however, as an agency, we have remained com- mitted to our mandates, core values andmotto, by executing the business of our country, while ensuring our safety, and that of our families. AS WCO members, we are encouraged to embrace digital transformation at the borders, pay particular attention to automation, the use of innovative technologies and adopt collaborative approaches with all stakeholders along the supply chain. The JCA has done this, and we continue to ensure that we not only stay afloat, but that we remain steadfast as trade facilitators and border protectors. In keeping with our strategic direction and the‘new norm’, the JCA has instituted several initiatives geared at meeting the needs of staff and our stakeholders. As we adapt to these unprecedented times, the JCA continues to focus on providing quality customer service, maintaining efficiency through business re-engineering and automation. And, in keep- ing with our thrust to improve and maintain our service standards, we have introduced several new online initiatives, established new policies and procedures in this respect. More specifically, the Jamaica Customs Agency has been bolstering recovery, re- newal, and resilience of the supply chain: • By placing greater emphasis on our val- uable human resources’ welfare, well-being and professional development; • Through ensuring measures are in place for the expedited clearance of goods directly impacted by and related to the coronavirus pandemic; • Utilising greater risk management ap- proaches, systems and practices to focus our efforts on high-risk shipments, thusminimising contact for both Customs and customers; • Expediting the increased roll-out of the continued automation and digitalisation of our services; • Increasing communication and engage- ment with our customers, as we have further expanded our online engagements to foster ongoing dialogue with our customers, locally and globally; and • Supporting business continuity, as Jamaica remains open for business. As we continue to navigate these un- charted waters, let us renew our hope to remain resilient, so that we can recover faster together, as a people, as a country, as organ- isations and as individuals. Together we will get through this successfully. Remember we are the driving force behind recovery, renewal and resilience. VELMA RICKETTS CEO/Commissioner Jamaica Customs Agency People – the Centre of the Global Supply Chain