CCLEC – Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council – Page 2

Capacity Building

Continually strengthening our human and physical capital through strategic planning and sustained training.

Information Technology

Realizing the vision of a highly networked Customs through the implementation of modern ICT solutions.

Border Protection

Promoting compliance to enhance global trade and travel through enhanced border security initiatives

Facilitation

Facilitating fairness and transparency through systematic and standardized controls.

Miss Camille Garrick, St Vincent Officer

NewsBy Aaron Smith March 10, 2019

On behalf of the CCLEC Secretariat and Executive Committee I convey our deepest condolences to the family, friends and Customs colleagues of Miss Camille Garrick of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Customs and Excise Department, on her recent decease at such a tender age. The loss of such a dear friend and co worker leaves us often speechless and sad. Comptroller of Customs, Mr. DaSilva praises her as “ an athletic, adventurous, kind individual and a valued member of the Customs and Excise Department since February 11, 2002”, who will be missed dearly. May we all aim for such a legacy among our peers. Life being so transient, let us all take stock of our short time here to make the best of it at work and home. She will be missed, but we can all keep her memory at heart. May you all be supportive of each other and her family at this time.

The funeral and interment of Ms. Garrick was held at the Kingstown Methodist Church on 4^th December 2019.

May she rest in peace.

With our warmest sympathy and consideration.

Albert Sandy

Permanent Secretary

Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council

Mar82019

CCO Logo Contest

FeaturedBy Aaron Smith March 8, 2019

RULES:

Only current employees of Customs administrations that are members of CCLEC are eligible to compete
Competition is open to all age groups
Proof of employment is required with submission (a copy of Staff ID will suffice)
Submissions received after midnight (Atlantic Standard Time) on 12^th April 2019 will not be considered

GUIDELINES

Design must be original creation in digital format
Colour: the predominant color should be dark blue with optional white accent. Addition of one complimentary color can be chosen based in your creative design
The words “Caribbean Customs Organisation” must be included in the design
The objectives and character of the Caribbean Customs Organisation should be considered (https://www.cclec.org/cco-treaty-document/)
Font design should not be scripted.

3/8/2019

Feb172019

CCLEC / UKBF Middle Management Training – Miami

General, MeetingsBy News Editor February 17, 2019

The Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) with funding from the United Kingdom Border Force (UKBF) conducted a Middle Management and Operational Leadership Course, aimed at Supervisory staff of member Customs administrations. This course was delivered at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Miami from 12^th -14^th February 2019. Eighteen middle managers from the Greater Antilles, Dutch Antilles, the OECS, Central and South America, including Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Guyana attended.

CARMS a UK based human resource development company was contracted to deliver the training course. CARMS tutors comprised academic and ex law enforcement professionals, with many years of experience in consultancy, training delivery, mentoring, and support services.

The following topics and learning outcomes which were demonstrably achieved were based on European Union Management Competencies.

Understanding the current and future issues and demands of a manager and the organisation
Recognize the need for good leadership practices and the effects different leadership styles can have on individuals and teams
Recognize the need for good Management practices and the effects different management approaches can have on individuals and teams
Explore the roles and responsibilities of a manger in the operational setting

Jan252019

International Customs Day Message – 26th January 2019

GeneralBy News Editor January 25, 2019

The Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council congratulates its member administrations and the global Customs community on its observance of International Customs Day 2019.

Customs administrations in various forms have existed from time immemorial. Governments establish Customs and Excise departments for the purposes of tax collection, trade facilitation, regulation of the importation/exportation of restricted and prohibited goods, the protection of society and in more recent times terrorism detection and interdiction.

The World Customs Organization’s slogan for International Customs Day (ICD) 2019 is “SMART borders for seamless Trade, Travel and Transport.” CCLEC readily adopts same and challenges all its members to embrace these principles and strive to implement practices and processes that bring smart borders into realization.

The acronym SMART stands for: Secure, Measurable, Automated, Risk Management-based and Technology-driven. It requires Customs to innovatively drive the development of frameworks, standards and practices both academically and practically, that will greatly enhance the speed of processing and facilitating the delivery of goods, passengers and conveyances, while securing same. This creates a more enabling economic environment for national development, equity in trade and societal protections can produce safe and productive societies.

Dec142018

WCO Conference on the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC)

GeneralBy News Editor December 14, 2018

The World Customs Organization (WCO) in collaboration with the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council and St Lucia Customs hosted the first WCO Conference on the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) for the Caribbean, at the Bay Gardens Resort, St. Lucia, on 26-30 November 2018. The conference brought together Customs Administrations from Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Belize, BVI, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

The objective of this Conference was to enhance the general knowledge of the RKC among Customs administrations in the Caribbean region, to identify accession and implementation gaps and challenges, as well as exploring potential solutions for accession to the RKC.

The World Customs Organization’s Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) brings together all WCO tools to bear on Customs modernization in support of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) for the simplification and harmonization of Customs processes.

Dec32018

International Anti-Corruption Day 2018.

GeneralBy Aaron Smith December 3, 2018

Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries. Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to governmental instability.

Corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quagmires whose only reason for existing is the soliciting of bribes.

Economic development is stunted because foreign direct investment is discouraged and small businesses within the country often find it impossible to overcome the “start-up costs” required because of corruption.

International Anti – Corruption Day

Aug72018

Our Heartfelt Sympathies to Euan Stewart’s Family

GeneralBy Aaron Smith August 7, 2018

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

Jul62018

Congratulations to Jamaica (WCO Photo Award)

UncategorizedBy Aaron Smith July 6, 2018

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.

Jun132018

17th WCO IT Conference & Exhibition, Lima, Peru

NewsBy Aaron Smith June 13, 2018

Mr Raju Boddu, Comptroller of Antigua& Barbuda Customs and Chair of CCLEC Finance Committee, represented CCLEC at the 17^th WCO IT Conference & Exhibition which was held in Lima, Peru. Delegates from seventy five countries attended the event which took place from June 6-8, 2018.

Mr Boddu presented on the topic “Connecting dots in Maritime Environment”, with particular reference to Trade Facilitation, Border Security and Revenue collection which are the main functions of the customs administrations.

He described the different actors and entities in the Maritime Environment, the enormity of growing marine traffic and seaborne trade and outlined the challenges in connecting the dots; the challenges being (1) Varied legislative arrangements (2) differing National priorities in relation to border security (3) non-cooperative border agencies(4) Infrastructure inadequacies (5) Capacity and competence issues (6) Different technologies and their inter-inoperability and (7) Resource constraints

He highlighted the security challenges in the Caribbean context and the interventions of CCLEC in implementing the Regional Clearance System (RCS) for small vessels and CARICOM IMPACS Advanced Cargo Information System (ACIS).

“In the context of the complex Customs ecosystem, the actual implementation of profiling, targeting and enforcement is a herculean task if one has to depend on traditional way of managing borders” he said.

Jun52018

CCLEC CELEBRATES ITS 40TH CONFERENCE

MeetingsBy Aaron Smith June 5, 2018

The CCLEC 40^th Conference was convened in Miami from May 23-26, 2018 under the theme “Strengthening the Exchange of Information for Integrated Border Management and Risk Management to Facilitate Legitimate Trade”. Twenty two countries were in attendance as well as regional and international organisations. CCLEC was pleased to welcome Japan Customs, who was attending for the first time.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Ms Hazel Edwards of the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA). Director General of Haiti and Chairman of the 40^th Conference, Mr Jean Jorel Janvier, welcomed the delegates and the representative from the WCO, Mr Leigh Winchell, Deputy Director for Compliance and Enforcement delivered the opening address. The keynote address was delivered by Mrs Velma Ricketts Walker, Commissioner of Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA).

In her address, Mrs Walker noted that the advent of the information technology revolution has resulted in an extremely dynamic Customs environment with many Customs administrations having to respond to exponential increases in the volume of trade. She underlined the use of ICT, Single Window for strengthening the exchange of information and risk management as key to managing the changing landscape.

The region was also urged to be cognisant of the emerging security challenges at its borders. The ongoing unrest in Venezuela, the vulnerabilities associated with the expanding Economic Citizen program and the radicalization of individuals from the region travelling to the Middle East were cited as real border security threats.

She emphasised the need for robust information sharing between Customs administrations and border agencies. She said “If criminal networks can successfully strengthen transnational information sharing and build illicit empires…what of law enforcement? Will we adjust our sails to effectively mitigate against adverse and changing winds? We must answer the call to protect our nation’s borders while facilitating legitimate trade.”

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