SHAW

Message from Audley Shaw, Minister of Finance and the Public Service on the occasion of International Customs Day.

We are pleased to be part of the celebration of International Customs Day.

The Customs Department plays a critical role in the life of the nation, in terms of its interface with individuals, businesses and as a vital source of collecting border revenue for the national economy.

Front-line persons

Customs officials must see themselves as important front-line persons who must interact with Jamaican and overseas travellers at our borders, and to do so in a courteous and service-oriented fashion.

In addition to generating significant resources to finance our national budget, the Government relies on the Customs Department to protect our borders from illegal imports of dangerous weapons and drugs that can severely compromise national security and our reputation in the international arena.

The new administration is committed to providing the Customs Department with the necessary resources to ensure that the department achieves international best practices, utilising the latest technology, to facilitate individuals and businesses and to ensure the security and prosperity of our country, Jamaica, land we love.