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Jacqueline Cole is the new president of the CBFFAJ

Published:Tuesday | May 17, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Members of the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association's executive for 2011-12, front row from left, Samuel Coates, treasurer; Richard Minott, vice-president; Paulette Watt-McIntosh, vice-president; Jacqueline Cole, president; Donovan Wignal, immediate past president; Marcia Bent-Ferguson, vice-president; Andrew Henry, vice-president; and Mitzie W. Gordon Burke-Green, honorary secretary. Back row, from left: Clive Coke, assistant treasurer; executive members - Elaine Woodley-Williams, Leon Smith, Kerena Clarke, I. Rosemarie Spence, Ann Brown-Chang, Margaret Sharpe, Michael Bailey, Roger Stewart and Verna Clayton, assistant honorary secretary.
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Newly elected president of the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association (CBFFAJ), Jacqueline Cole, said it is the aim of the new administration to work assiduously to improve the association as well as find permanent solutions to issues affecting the association's members.

Cole was elected at the 45th annual general meeting of CBFFAJ and is the second female to hold that position. She has been a member of the association for 14 years and has served as vice-president and honorary secretary. The aim of her administration, she said, is to update the physical constitution which governs CBFFAJ, as well as establish committees to monitor changes in the industry.

"Our constitution is quite old. There have been changes we have ratified, but the physical amendments have not yet been done," Cole said. "This will also incorporate the code of ethics brokers sign at Customs each year when we renew our licences," She added.

Other areas the new executive will focus on include:

  • Establishing a committee to assess the implications of the transformation of Jamaica Customs into an executive agency, and its impact on customs brokers.
  • Work with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health to resolve issues relating to permits.
  • Set up a working group to review Customs' Valuation System with a view to recommending ways of improving efficiency.
  • Establishing a commission to review the association's constitution and cannons.
  • Identify and promote training programmes for members.
  • Create a mentorship, ascension and succession programme.
  • Institute a members' reward and recognition programme.
  • Improve the operating efficiency of our secretariat, and of key tools such as policy documents and the association's website.
  • Raise the profile of the members and the organisation to external stakeholders.
  • Improve internal relations.

Cole noted that her administration will also focus its efforts on communication by launching a website with meaningful information that will educate members of the industry, as well as the wider Jamaica, about the business of customs brokering.

Cole, who has more than 25 years experience in the business of customs brokering, will lead a 17-member executive board. Members of the board are: Richard Minott, vice president; Paulette Watt-McIntosh, vice president; Andrew Henry, vice president; Marcia Bent-Ferguson, vice president; Mitzie Gordon Burke-Green, honorary secretary; Verna Clayton, assistant honorary secretary; Samuel Coates, treasurer; and Clive Coke, assistant treasurer. Executive members of the board are: I. Rosemarie Spence, Ann Brown-Chang, Margaret Sharpe, Roger Stewart, Kerena Clarke, Leon Smith, Michael Bailey and Elaine Woodley-Williams. Donovan Wignal is the immediate past president.