From left: Messrs Duncan Potter, Pranab Das and Claude Paul
Mr. Pranab Das, Director of Compliance and Facilitation at the World Customs Organization (WCO), and Mr Duncan Potter, WCO regional representative, met with the Permanent Secretary of the
Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) on Wednesday, May 8th, 2024, at the CCLEC Secretariat to explore avenues for strengthening collaboration between the two organizations. The meeting underscored the shared commitment of WCO and CCLEC towards fostering cooperation and addressing challenges facing the region.
Key discussions revolved around various topics, including WCO’s support for small island states, trade facilitation, capacity building, staffing for the WCO Caribbean Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) hosted by CCLEC in St Lucia, data collection. CCLEC also provided an update on the advancement of its treaty efforts to establish the Caribbean Customs Organization (CCO) and expressed its interest in subsequently exploring the possibility of amending the MoU with WCO.
The dialogue emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation to improve trade facilitation and compliance, thereby fostering socio-economic development in the region. By forging closer ties, WCO and CCLEC aim to set a solid foundation for future initiatives in enhancing regional customs modernization and facilitation.
This collaborative effort highlights the significance of international cooperation amidst evolving global dynamics. It signals a promising step forward in advancing customs modernization initiatives, not only in the Caribbean but also on a global scale.
