B.V.I. Friday, June 25 - The officials expressed this view on a recently aired GIS Public Eye programme. Comptroller of Customs Mr. Wade Smith, Assistant Comptroller (Assurance) Mr. Leslie Lettsome, and Customs Officer on the CAPS Team Ms. Kindra Pickering comprised the panel. – Officials from the Customs Department have stated both the Government and importers will benefit from the new trader’s side of the Customs Automated Processing System (CAPS).
With regards to how CAPS can benefit the Government, Mr. Lettsome explained, “CAPS will be used to gather more information, specifically statistics on travellers and goods. If the Government needs those statistics for whatever reason, they can be provided at the click of a button.”
He added, “For example, the system can be used to identify how much of a certain commodity is being imported over a certain time period.”
He also asserted that users will spend less time with CAPS, as compared to the manual system used now. He said, “The new tariff is easier to use, because the details for items can be easily found.”
According to Ms. Pickering, CAPS is designed by IBM and the Customs Department and is tailored specifically for the traders and stakeholders in the Virgin Islands.
Ms. Pickering explained, “CAPS was created to speed up the processing of documentation, hence cutting time and increasing efficiency.”
To that end, Mr. Lettsome said that the new system will also allow persons to stay at home and prepare their entries. Also, persons will be able to pay through electronic means.
In relation to the benefits to importers, the Comptroller explained, “It is an advantage to the trader, because they can use the statistics generated to know what markets to target.”
“From the consumer standpoint, CAPS can be very instrumental in providing vital statistics, especially in cases involving product recalls,” said Mr. Smith.
Speaking on the challenges associated with CAPS, the Comptroller added, “One concern that the traders may have is the transition to the Harmonised System (HS), an international commodity coding system.”
He explained that the Brussels Tariff Nomenclature is currently being used, and that Customs will transition to HS after legislation is approved.
“Although we foresee some challenges in the initial stages of CAPS, once we get going it should be a smooth transition,” said Mr. Smith.
While moving towards computerisation, Customs will retain some manual processes. The use of the T-12 form will cease, and a new form named the Trader Declaration Form will be implemented after the appropriate legislation is passed.
For persons who want to know more about CAPS, the Customs team assured the public that more CAPS and HS training will be provided later this year. The CAPS team is also working on a website and helpdesk to assist persons with queries.
As part of its 35th Anniversary Celebration activities, the department will host another Importers’ Symposium on CAPS and other new procedures on Tuesday, July 13 at the Moorings Conference Room, from 9am to 1pm.
The mission of the Customs Department 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 Territory’s waters.
British Virgin Islands News