Press Release

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, praised the efforts of the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), in modernising and advancing its processes for a more efficient Customs administration, while making his presentation at the 22^nd Annual Customs Seminar held on September 28, 2023.

“Macroeconomic transformation of Jamaica is underway and the JCA has been aligning with the microeconomic efficiencies,” the Minister stated during his presentation.

He further highlighted some of the current automated and modernisation initiatives being driven by Jamaica Customs, namely, the Contactless Clearance Process, the Jamaica Single Window for Trade (JSWIFT), the onboarding of body cameras for Customs Officers, and the full implementation of the Electronic Passenger Declaration (C5) Form, in partnership with the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA).

These initiatives are some of the ways in which the Agency fulfills its border protection, trade facilitation and revenue collection mandates. In relation to the importance of the correlation of the three mandates, Minister Clarke noted that, “productivity and economic output can be positively impacted with border efficiency.”

Representing the CEO/Commissioner of Customs, Velma Ricketts Walker, at the seminar, Deputy CEO of Operations, Selina Clarke-Graham shared that “the JCA over the years, has been positioning itself to become a world class Border Management Authority…modernising services, implementing new and advanced technologies, building capacity and involving our key stakeholders in our effort towards maintaining and improving efficiency in our service delivery.”

She added that while these advancements help with efficiency as it pertains to time, cost, and human resource, they also allow for greater risk management which is critical in fulfilling the JCA’s border protection mandate.

Deputy CEO Clarke-Graham concluded her presentation by encouraging the key players and stakeholders to "come fully onboard as we continue our journey... to fulfilling our mission and realising our vision... of achieving world class status."

The virtual seminar hosted by the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) themed Customs and its Stakeholders Existing in a Contactless Environment while Driving Efficiency was attended by several heads of entities as well as various stakeholder groups within the trade and port community.