Roadtown, Tortola - Her Majesty’s Customs will celebrate Customs Week from January 25th to 31st under the theme, “Customs’ Role Amidst the Global Economic Crisis.”

According to Comptroller of Customs Mr. Wade Smith, “This years' theme is timely and fitting as Customs administrations are faced with increased challenges, results of the global economic meltdown.  Therefore, Customs administrations worldwide must be vigilant and ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders.  Our challenges are not new: we must be prepared for an increase in smuggling activity, human trafficking, duty evasion, non-compliance, etc.  Our department must be and will be pro-active in maximizing revenue collection while reducing expenditures.”

Mr. Smith told the Department of Information and Public Relations that the celebrations will begin on Sunday, January 25 with a service at the Road Town Methodist Church beginning at 9:30 am and the highlight of the activities will be the seventh annual Customs Ball at Prospect Reef, Reef House on Saturday, January 31 beginning at 9:00 p.m. under the theme, “All that Glitters”.

The week’s activities will include daily, morning devotions on ZBVI radio station and demonstrations and presentations at the Agape Total Life Academy, Isabella Morris Primary School, St. Georges Secondary School, Seventh Day Adventist School and Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary School on Virgin Gorda.

“As in prior years the activities are focused on enhancing the awareness of the community on the department’s role, functions, operations and responsibilities and in turn will serve to promote careers within the law enforcement field in the BVI”, Smith concluded.

Her Majesty’s Customs mission is to safeguard the well-being and security of the territory by facilitating legitimate trade, enforcing import and export regulations and conducting covert and overt surveillance of the BVI’s waters.