The CCLEC family is deeply saddened by the news of Mr. Euan Stewart’s death – the first Permanent Secretary of CCLEC. He passed away on Friday, August 3rd 2018 at his home in the UK.
In 1999 Mr Stewart was seconded by H. M. Customs & Excise, United Kingdom, to head the CCLEC Secretariat as Permanent Secretary (PS). Prior to his attachment to CCLEC, he served as Deputy Comptroller of Customs in the British Virgin Islands for a number of years.
He was a member of the CCLEC Training Development Team which developed the CCLEC Junior Officer’s Basic (JOB) course and Commercial Fraud course. He was also the main architect behind the concept of the CCLEC clearance system for small vessels known as RCS.
His legacy will no doubt be Customs modernization in the region. Although this has been a slow process, his contribution to capacity building, automation (including ASYCUDA), and enforcement forced many countries in the region to embrace reform and modernization of Customs.
He was a good example of a PS, statesman, strategic thinker and leader of men. He was firm and yet so friendly. He touched our lives and careers, significantly. May he and his ideals remain in our hearts forever.
Our deepest sympathies are with the family in this difficult time
