EIGHTY-NINE Customs officers graduated on Wednesday from the new line officers programme at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Planning's National Heroes Circle office.
The officers are a distinct group because of the special training they received in technology.
Dr. Paul Robertson, Minister of Development, who was guest speaker, described the exercise as a 'milestone' in the history of the Customs Department. He reminded the graduates that their sole duty was to "safeguard the revenue streams of Jamaica," and its potential as a place where businesses would want to invest.
"Indeed the Customs Department is a key point of contact for investors. All public sector workers must therefore operate professionally, utilising his or her discretion prudently and competently," the Minister said.
He noted that Government had spent over $400 million to modernise the Customs Department, the result being that the pre-clearance of goods at the ports now takes three hours instead of 36 days. This, he said was made possible with the effective use of technology as well as the ability of Customs officers to adopt the new wave of "thinking, attitudes and behaviour" applicable to a competitive global marketplace.
Wednesday's graduates are the third batch trained to meet the requirements of the modernisation standards of the Customs Department. Clive Nicholas, director-general of Customs, described the occasion as 'exciting' since recruiters are trained to use high-tech systems.
The line officers programme is a replacement of the scholarship programme, which usually covers a year. Currently, the training runs for three months and is offered at the Customs Office in Kingston as well as the Montego Bay Revenue Training Centre.
