Customs in line for US$20m funding of modernisation plan
Published:Friday | March 18, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Danville Walker, commissioner of customs, is expecting an allocation of US$20 million (J$1.7b) to fund ongoing modernisation of his department, to be disbursed in tranches starting in August or September, he said Wednesday.
The capital financing is part of a US$75-million loan that the Jamaica is negotiating with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Walker's disclosure was made at a forum, organised by the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica, in Kingston.
Walker addressed a range of questions on how Customs would affect customs brokers and freight forwarders when the department, in April, begins a one-year transition from a division of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service to an executive agency, having its own autonomy.
Speaking against the background of the modernisation programme and the financial support required to, among other things, upgrade the information communications technology system, Walker said the Government is in negotiation with the IDB to raise funds for a number of projects.
Beneficiaries of the loan include Jamaica Customs, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) as well as the finance ministry for implementation of the new Central Treasury Management System, where all the Government's bank accounts will be merged.
"If we can get the funding in place, I believe (that) in the next two or three years, Customs will be the Customs most of us would like to see," Walker said.
Speaking with the Financial Gleaner after the forum, the customs commissioner said his department's portion of the IDB financing "would be sufficient to get us to where we want to be as a service provider. What we are looking at right now is how much we can actually use each year to get us to where we need to get to."
The upgrade of the agency's information and communications technology system, which is considered crucial to improving Jamaica's border security, is a vital component of the modernisation project.
The new system will allow more efficient collection of inbound passengers and cargo prior to their arrival, and according to Walker, this will assist the department to improve its service delivery.
"The IDB visited us some two weeks ago to look at what we propose to do with the funding," said Walker. "They have all of our documents and our plans needed to begin the procurement exercise."
Walker assured the customs brokers and freight forwarders that the changes being considered were intended to improve customer service while ensuring increased surveillance and security with faster clearance.
He also said the customs brokers and freight forwarders association would be represented on the board of the Customs executive agency.