Danville Walker, commissioner of customs.

Commissioner of Customs Danville Walker says persons in the public sector who are not performing must be removed, as Jamaica's survival depends on the perfor-mance of that sector.

Addressing a St Ann Chamber of Commerce members' meeting in Ocho Rios last Thursday, Walker also slammed managers who were not performing effectively.

"Many times, those who walk around as managers are not managers, they just draw a little more pay than the next man. A manager must manage and in the public sector, where we are today is that those who are paid as managers and not managing and delivering, mechanisms must be put in place to remove them," Walker said.

However, he made it clear that he was among those who should go if he didn't perform, saying: "If five years from now - and it's a lot - Customs don't have any changes, I should be the first to go. Nobody is going pay you $8 million a year just to come there to warm the chair; as a manager you must make a difference."

Workers must deliver

According to Walker, Jamaica can no longer afford a non-performing public sector. If Jamaica is to be successful, the public sector must deliver, he emphasised.

Walker also made sure to point out that his call also applied to the private sector.

Regarding the paying of duties, the commissioner urged importers to "do the honourable thing" and pay the correct duties and not under-invoice, as customs might find out.

He threatened to disclose the names of those persons who were caught doing illegal activities through the ports.

Facilitatory plans

Walker also said that Customs, in an effort to cut down on the time it takes to process passengers, intended to put scanners at the airports and to bring back the canine division. An effort is also being made to reduce the time taken to clear goods coming into the country.

He also said that government was looking at allowing private planes to land at the Boscobel aerodrome in St Mary.

"We are working hard to be a facilitator, not a hindrance, as we are part of the supply chain in your business," Walker explained.