WORKERS AT the island's ports of entry are bracing for an expected influx of barrels and goods at the wharves, and a surge of passengers arriving at airports for the Yuletide season."Next week will be the big week. By next week Tuesday, the rush will begin," Hector Jones, Deputy Commissioner of Customs, told The Gleaner, yesterday.
According to port officials, there has been a lull in activity at the ports when compared to what obtained in previous years.
Lorna Rhoden, Collector of Customs, admitted that projected tax revenues had fallen below expectations.
"The collections are not so hot yet but within the next month or two, we hope to see some improvements. Overall, in terms of our targets, we are below our targets right now, and the number of full containers has decreased by 22 per cent," Mrs. Rhoden said.
"We haven't seen anything out of the ordinary so far but things will pick up next week because everyone is expecting a barrel from overseas over the Christmas," Donald Thomas, manager of the Kingston Wharves, said.
In the meantime, the influx of visitors to the island through the international airports was also 'deceptively calm'.
"This is the calm before the storm, things are still a little sluggish this week with a lot of older residents, returning, some in wheelchairs. Today has been one of the busiest days in recent times in terms of passengers, but I attended a meeting this morning, and we were told that the specials begin tomorrow (December 12) so we should see a marked increase soon," Florence Howe, director of operations at the Norman Manley International Airport said.
"We're ready and prepared for the expected crush of arrivals next week, and we have people on standby as well," she said.
