Brigitte Foreman - Over 40 years of service to Jamaica Customs

On her 60th birthday, on February 19 this year, Brigitte Ann Foreman will bid farewell to the Jamaica Customs Department, a journey that began when she was only 19.

The most memorable year of her career was 1991 when she was sworn in as the first liaison customs officer at the National Firearm and Drug Intelligence Centre (now National Intelligence Bureau). The occasion afforded Foreman the opportunity to meet the late prime minister, Michael Manley and the members of his Cabinet.

While that moment is forever etched in her memory, May 11, 1970 is also a very important date that she will not forget. It is the day she began her career at the Collector General's Department, which had responsibility for Customs at the time.

"I started out in the manifest branch at Kingston Wharves Limited," Foreman recalls.

First job

In her first job, she was hired as an office clerk. Colleagues, she said, warned her that working on the wharf was rough, and could change any Christian, but she held firm to her faith. "I [have been] a Christian since I was 12 years old. I was determined not to lose my faith, so I held my devotion every morning before I started to work," Foreman said. Eventually, when a chalkboard was placed in the lobby, she wrote a Bible verse every day to minister to colleagues and customers. "They really appreciated it," she pointed out.

She was eager to learn the ins and outs of the operations, and Customs at that time, she said, exposed its employees to different areas of the department. Two years later, she was transferred to the Export Division where she stayed for eight years.

During this time, she worked with customs officers and paid keen attention as she hoped to be an officer herself. Her quest to become a customs officer began in earnest in 1980 when she was sent to the tax office for training. There, she received training as a cashier and an information officer.

"In that time, to become a customs officer, you had to have been a cashier and an information officer, because you had to know how to deal with the public," Foreman said. She gained a wealth of knowledge at the tax office and displayed it on the job. It was no surprise in 1985 when she was hand-picked to serve the department at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA). "Only the best of the best were sent to the airport," she said.

At NMIA, she continued to work as a cashier and information officer, while understudying a senior customs officer in the baggage hall. In 1988, she achieved her goal and was given the title of customs officer. She continued her training on the job, and in 1989, she received the award for the most outstanding woman in a customs and immigration course conducted by the Jamaica Tourist Board.

Transfer

No sooner had she achieved this, that she was transferred to the Invoice Branch at Customs, then later to the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) where she still is today.

"I was very elated when I went to NIB. That is where I got the opportunity to go on several training courses," Foreman said.

With a zest for learning, she excelled while at NIB and as a result, she received 26 commendations for service over her 40-year tenure. This is in addition to the Eagles Plaque Award received from the United States-based FBI.

Her hard work over the years paid off and she was promoted to senior customs liaison officer in 2010, and received an award for excellence from the Commissioner of Customs, Danville Walker.

"I believe that I was a born customer-service person. I love what I do. I love to deal with people," Foreman expressed with a smile.

I'm blessed with a wealth of knowledge to impart to my colleagues. The experience with Customs will be a lasting one," Foreman said.