Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control Service (CBC) Graduation Ceremony for New Recruits –January 27th, 2023

The CBC has successfully delivered training to twenty four new officers using a combination of online training and instructor-led training. The CCLEC online Junior Officer Basic course formed an integral part of the training program which provided new recruits with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their duties as officers within the CBC.  The CCLEC JOB course consists of twenty-one modules which covers the full range of customs operations and was a critical element in the transformation process towards establishing the CBC with its multi-agency functions.

International Customs Day 2023

 

In observance of International Customs Day, the WCO’s theme for 2023 is “Nurturing the next generation: promoting a culture of knowledge-sharing and professional pride in Customs.” This theme is very relevant to the Customs fraternity in the region and the CCLEC is committed to working with member administrations to build capacity in keeping with this goal.

Customs is a complex organisation with multi-facetted functions and responsibilities that are often misunderstood and underestimated even by business leaders, government officials, and the general public. Most people tend to focus on the revenue collection role, which invokes emotional responses from those who are required to pay border taxes on importation. In this region, customs duties are relatively high compared to more developed and emerging countries, and in some instances represent over 50% of the annual revenue yield in some of our smaller economies. Governments have become very reliant on Customs and VAT for financing a major part of annual budgets. Notwithstanding the above, it is important to point out that the mission of Customs in today’s context includes a fiscal element (revenue collection) an economic element (implementing government policies), and a protection and security element (law enforcement and compliance). All three aspects are intrinsically linked to international trade. [1]

Those charged to perform the duties of a Customs officer must be well trained, knowledgeable of various legislation, regulations, directives, and administrative instructions. They must also be equipped with the necessary tools to effectively and efficiently carry out those duties.

Congratulations to Jamaica (WCO Photo Award)

CCLEC congratulates Jamaica on winning the 2018 photo competition.

The WCO has awarded Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) the best Customs photo for the photo competition. The photo competition provides WCO members with a means to showcase their administration’s history, activities and successes.

Commissioner Velma Ricketts Walker received the award on behalf of her department.