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Knowledge gained for change during Customs Week 2011

Published:Tuesday | February 8, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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From left: Fritz Pinnock, executive director, Caribbean Maritime Institute; Viralee Latibeaudiere, director general, Tax Administration Department; and Roger Hinds, president, Shipping Association of Jamaica, during the Customs Department awards ceremony held on January 27 at the Ministry of Finance.
Roger Hinds (right), president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), gets educated on the offerings of Econocaribe from Conroy Clarke (second left), operations coordinator, Econocaribe. Looking on are Dionne Mason-Gordon, operations manager,...
Commissioner of Customs Danville Walker (second left, standing) with the recently honoured retirees from the Jamaica Customs Department. Back row (from left): Calvin Baker, driver; Rupert Venson, Customs supervisor and Rudolph Findlay, delivery officer. Front row (from left): Jean McCarthy, Customs supervisor; Myrna Thompson, Customs manager and Bridgitte Foreman, Customs supervisor.
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 Customs Week, celebrated this year under the theme 'Knowledge: A Catalyst for Customs Excellence', saw members of the public as well as stakeholders in trade being exposed to the operations of the Customs Department.

Riding on the heels of surpassed targets during the month of December, the department launched the week of activities with three church services (Montego Bay, St Ann and Kingston). At the service in Kingston, Commissioner of Customs Danville Walker underscored the importance of knowledge in creating an efficient department strong on border protection, freight facilitation, and customer service as the department progresses to executive-agency status.

The department showed its appreciation to stakeholders with a lunch-hour concert in Kingston and Montego Bay on International Customs Day. Fifty employees, including 10 retirees, received awards from Commissioner Walker on January 27. The employees were recognised for their exemplary leadership and discipline that contributed to the success of the department in 2010.

Roger Hinds, president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica, in congratulating the awardees, said, "The Department's recognition of your service is testimony to the fact that your work ethic and dedication are good qualities that you have actively displayed in your professional lives."

The week also saw Customs launching its Save a Life Blood Drive, which resulted in the creation of a blood account at the Blood Bank.

The week-long celebration culminated with the biannual Customs Information Fair in Montego Bay. Senator Dwight Nelson, minister of national security, speaking at the fair, commended the Customs Department for its vigilance and hard work in protecting Jamaica's borders. The fair facilitated the exchange of knowledge between stakeholders and the public for increased efficiency in Customs procedures.