NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 36 INT’L CUSTOMS DAY & CUSTOMS WEEK 2024 FEATURE CUSTOMS NEWS IN REVIEW Jamaica Customs Agency’s contactless initiatives enhancing the microeconomic structure in the Jamaican economy – Minister Dr Nigel Clarke CEO/Commissioner of Customs, Velma Ricketts Walker (centre), is surrounded by (from left) Barrington Souden, JCA; Orane Thompson, JCA; Janneice Baker, JCA; Jason Garbutt, Walkerswood Caribbean Foods; Ian Garbutt, Walkerswood Caribbean Foods; Samantha Reid, JCA; Christopher Brown, JCA; and Sonia Thompson, Walkerswood Caribbean Foods. MINISTER OF Finance and the Public Service, Dr the Hon Nigel Clarke, praised the efforts of the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), in modernising and advancing its processes for a more efficient Customs administration, while making his presentation at the 22nd Annual Customs Seminar held on September 28, 2023. “Macroeconomic transformation of Jamaica is under way and the JCA has been aligning with the microeconomic efficiencies,” the Minister stated during his presentation. He further highlighted some of the current automated and modernisation initiatives being driven by Jamaica Customs, namely, the Contactless Clearance Process, the Jamaica Single Window for Trade (JSWIFT), the onboarding of body cameras for Customs Officers, and the full implementation of the Electronic Passenger Declaration (C5) Form, in partnership with the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA). The virtual seminar, hosted by the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) themed “Customs and its Stakeholders Existing in a Contactless Environment while Driving Efficiency,” was attended by several heads of entities, as well as various stakeholder groups within the trade and port community. Jamaica Customs continues to improve business relations with stakeholders THE JAMAICA Customs Agency continues to value the input of its stakeholders by finding ways to engage with them, with the most recent initiative being the Customs Business Interaction, which is a face-to-face meeting with executives of commercial/industrial stakeholder groups and the JCA led by the CEO/Commissioner of Customs. On February 16, 2023, members of the JCA, led by the Commissioner/CEO of Customs Mrs Velma Ricketts Walker, executed another successful CBI with the executive team of the Walkerswood Jerk Facility in Walkerswood, St Ann, who were able share the highs and lows of their business interactions with Customs. They also shared what they believe the Agency could do to enhance their business operations, the market and the economy, while the JCA team used the opportunity to provide further clarity on Customs-related procedures relevant to Walkerswood and the sector. The discussion ventured to the various incentives offered by the JCA. Jamaica’s disaster preparedness and readiness bolstered by JCA and WCO collaboration THE WORLD Customs Organization through its COVID-19 Project, collaborated with the Jamaica Customs Agency to host a Disaster Preparedness Workshop from January 16-20th. During the workshop, the JCA, in tandem with other Border Regulatory and Disaster Preparedness and Management Agencies were able to view and gain an understanding of the resources used by the WCO for disaster management. This five-day session also provided entities with an opportunity to draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in relation to disaster response and test these SOPs through simulation exercises. Other attendees included representatives from the JCF, JDF, MOA. ODPEM, KFTL, KWL, Food for the Poor, Red Cross, MOH, MLSS, MOF, MFAFT and PICA.
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