Left: Joseph Lowe (right), director of operations at Maritime & Transport Services Ltd., accepts an award from T. Leo Samuels.   Right: Grantley Stephenson (right), chairman and CEO of Kingston Wharves Limited, accepts his award from T. Leo Samuels, past president and vice-chairman of the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica (CBFFAJ), in appreciation of his "keen support and interactive affiliation," during the CBFFAJ's recent 40th anniversary banquet held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

Importers of small shipments are set to benefit from changes to the cargo release process at Jamaica Customs.

The adjustments, which took effect on October 9, resulted in an increase in the threshold for non-commercial goods ordinarily entered on the C78X from US$1,000 to US$3,000. At the same time, importers of packages consisting of non-dutiable goods only, valued at US$100 and below, will no longer be required to submit a C78X Import Entry Form.

These shipments will now be processed using the Airway Bill, provided that there are no dutiable goods contained in the shipment. In addition, there is no longer a requirement for a letter of authorisation signed by a Justice of the Peace for goods cleared by couriers.

Acting Commissioner of Customs, Mrs. Viris Page-Gardner, notes that the changes have been implemented to facilitate the speedier processing of small shipments and to avoid long delays whilst ensuring the necessary checks and balances.

Left: Alvin Henry (right), member of the board of directors of Kingston Wharves Limited and past general manager of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), accepts an award from T. Leo Samuels.   Right: Frederick Leighton (right), consultant and past CFO of Kingston Wharves Limited, accepts an award from T. Leo Samuels.