Roadtown, Tortola - First and second formers of the St. Georges Secondary School got a first-hand view yesterday of the operations of Her Majesty’s Customs during presentations as part of Customs’ Week activities.

Head of the K9 Unit Mr. Franchie Gumbs and K9 Handler Mr. Akeed Fahie gave a demonstration on the use of K-9 dogs Havoc, Crock and Atos searching for drugs, weapons and apprehending suspicious persons. 

“Our role 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”, Mr. Gumbs told the students.

 Mr. Carl Benjamin of the Intelligence Unit said the Customs team will use these opportunities during the week-long observation to inform students about the various career opportunities within the Customs department.

The hour-long presentation, allowed the eager students to participate by lining up and being searched by the K-9 dogs for drugs and weapons. The students also had the opportunity to take individual photos with the K9 dogs. 

Second form student Shamarr George said he would be interested in a career with Her Majesty’s Customs as a means of contributing to the Territory.

The Customs team also visited and made presentations at the Agape Total Life Academy and Isabella Morris Primary School.  Presentations are also scheduled for the Seventh Day Adventist School and Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary School on Virgin Gorda.

Customs officers are the featured guests on this week’s ZBVI’s Morning Devotions with Mr. Merit Herbert.
Customs’ Week opened with a church service at the Road Town Methodist Church on Sunday, January 25 and ends with the seventh annual Customs Ball at Prospect Reef, Reef House on Saturday, January 31.

  The theme for this year’s Customs’ Week is “Customs’ Role Amidst the Global Economic Crisis”.
The objective of Customs’ Week is to further enhance awareness about the department’s operations and services and to promote careers in the customs force in the BVI.