Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter

Left: Clinton Hoo (left), Winnifred Burke (second left) and Lloyd McQueen (right), life members of the Customs Brokers and Frieght Forwarders Association of Jamaica (CBFFAJ), share in the laughter with Donovan Wignal (second right), president of the CBFFAJ. The event was the 40th anniversary celebration and awards banquet of the association held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Saturday, October 7.   Right: Judith Stephenson, wife of Grantley Stephenson (centre), chairman and CEO of Kingston Wharves Limited, shares some pleasant recollections with Jack Delisser, former deputy director of customs. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

The mood was mellow inside the Grande Jamaica Suite, Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Saturday night as the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica (CBFFAJ) celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Rocking to the music of Dwight Pickney and Friends who belted out hits from Bob Marley such as: "One Love," "Don't Worry," and "Jammin," the brokers displayed an attitude of pride, having crossed a great milestone.

The night saw two of the founding fathers of the association, Mr. Clinton Hoo and Mr. Lloyd McQueen receiving special awards for their years of service.

Both Mr. Hoo and Mr. McQueen are among the group of 15 men, who in 1966, formed the association.

Reflecting on the achievement over the past 40 years, Donovan Wignal, the youngest president of the association since its inception, charged the brokers to maintain their position as regional leaders in customs brokerage.

Concerns

However, Mr. Wignal raised concerns about the Government's role in the process.

He argued that the legislation governing e-commerce activity as well as amendments to the operations of customs brokers which was raised three years ago by the association, needs to be urgently addressed.

"It is quite untenable that in the era of fast-paced technological development, we should be required to endure unsatisfactory and uncomfortable conditions while the urgently needed legislation languishes and we continue to hear the excuse that 'these things take time," Mr Wignal pointed out.

He added that his vision is to see Jamaica get to the level of the paperless system that allows for clearance within 15 minutes. This system is used in Singapore.

Meanwhile, Mr. Percy Murrell, president of the Caribbean Association of Customs Brokers (CACUB), lauded the CBFFAJ on its achievements.

"Jamaica has been the example which we had to follow ... JCBA has been the driving force to Barbados, Antigua, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Trinidad," he said.