NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 3 INT’L CUSTOMS DAY & CUSTOMS WEEK 2024 FEATURE IAM honoured to extend my heartfelt wishes to the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) and its dedicated team on the occasion of International Customs Day 2024. This year, we come together with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Member States to celebrate under the theme, ‘Customs: Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose’. As we take a moment to reflect on the profound significance of this day, let us recognise the indispensable role that the JCA plays in fortifying our nation’s bonds with the global community. In today’s dynamic landscape, customs agencies stand at the forefront, pivotal in fostering economic resilience, ensuring border security against illicit activities, and facilitating the seamless flow of international trade. The chosen theme, ‘Customs: Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose’, encapsulates the evolving nature of customs operations amid contemporary challenges. It underscores the imperative for customs agencies not only to consolidate partnerships within traditional frameworks but also to proactively engage with emerging allies. In the context of Jamaica as a small island developing state, our reliance on international trade is undeniably pivotal. The JCA, as a cornerstone of our economic infrastructure, holds the key to unlocking myriad opportunities for our nation to emerge as a Global Logistics hub. With anticipation for forthcoming amendments to the Customs Act, I harbour optimism about fortifying the operational effectiveness of the JCA and harnessing its vast potential. To the esteemed management and staff of the JCA, I extend my sincere appreciation for your unwavering commitment to our beloved nation. Your tireless endeavours contribute significantly to the realisation of a modern customs administration, characterised by excellence, compliance, and substantial contributions to our national development and societal protection. I am confident that this legacy of excellence will endure for generations to come. Happy International Customs Day! MARK J. GOLDING, MP Leader of the Opposition Legacy of excellence will endure for generations to come AS IS customary, the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) joins the World Customs Organization (WCO) member countries in celebrating International Customs Day. The theme for 2024, ‘Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose’, comes at an opportune time as we continue to strengthen relationships with our key stakeholders and forge ahead with critical reforms in facilitating trade and travel. Customs agencies have long been viewed as the stewards of a country’s trade and borders – facilitating legitimate trade while protecting nations from threats. Trade accounts for a significant proportion of our gross domestic product and, as a result, the role of the Jamaica Customs Agency is critical in facilitating Jamaica’s business activity and maintaining border security. The mandate of the JCA continues to be supported by the right governance and legislative frameworks. The new Customs Bill, which has already been tabled in Parliament, and its accompanying regulations will further enhance Customs reform and support the delivery of services at the JCA including the introduction of a canine division, body cameras, contactless processing for non-commercial imports, single-window digital document processing, and digital immigration processing. Within the past year, the Jamaica Customs Agency has continued its thrust towards modernisation by investing heavily in the expansion of its digital ecosystem to provide quality public service delivery. Among these initiatives is the development of a new mobile application “JaCustoms Connect” as well as the implementation of its contactless clearance system, to enhance the end-user experience of Customs stakeholders with the entity. These, among other far-reaching digitalisation projects, have enhanced the JCA’s processes and outputs resulting in increased efficiency among various companies and border regulatory agencies, while earning the JCA the prestigious ISO 9001:2015 certification from the National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ). The JCA also continues to strengthen Jamaica’s capabilities in national security and to this end, has gained direct access to the information system of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), which will enable the faster sharing of intelligence information in an effort to enhance border protection. Congratulations to the JCA for continuing to execute on its mandates to secure Jamaica’s borders and facilitate business, through the implementation of various strategic initiatives. As you pursue your mission, your investments in promoting a culture of knowledge-sharing and building professional pride continue to reap great dividends through greater efficiency, transparency and high performance. THE HON NIGEL CLARKE, DPhil, MP Minister of Finance and the Public Service Congratulations on continuing to execute your mandates To the esteemed management and staff of the JCA, I extend my sincere appreciation for your unwavering commitment to our beloved nation. Your tireless endeavours contribute significantly to the realisation of a modern customs administration, characterised by excellence, compliance, and substantial contributions to our national development and societal protection. I am confident that this legacy of excellence will endure for generations to come. Congratulations to the JCA for continuing to execute on its mandates to secure Jamaica’s borders and facilitate business, through the implementation of various strategic initiatives. As you pursue your mission, your investments in promoting a culture of knowledge-sharing and building professional pride continue to reap great dividends through greater efficiency, transparency and high performance.
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