BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – EIGHT weeks of rigorous customs training culminated in a low-keyed graduation ceremony certifying 19 Junior Customs Officers with the competence required by the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council Examinations (CCLEC).
The sixth sitting of the course, which began on January 26, saw six Nevisian and 13 Kittitian officers taking on the challenge to equip themselves with the relevant knowledge and skills to function as efficient Customs Officers in today’s changing global environment.
The course brought together a wide array of Customs-related issues to provide the participants with maximum exposure in relation to the roles and responsibilities of the Customs and Excise Department in modern trade and border control. Focal topics included Legislation, Prohibited and Restricted Goods, Situation Diffusion, Cargo Report and Processing and Warehousing as well as Tariff Classification, Invoicing and Commercial Fraud.
Acting Comptroller of Customs Georid Belle told SKNVibes that the course offered topics that would enhance the professionalism of the officers and assist them in developing more discipline on the job.
“We expanded the course to include a number of management courses such as Time Management, Conflict Resolution and Customer Service. The course was designed in a way to offer pragmatic opportunities for officers to think on their feet, as we were of the view that that was one certain way on developing their on-sight skills.
“The course has and will continue to benefit the officers. When they first came, and over their two-year period working here, they would have been introduced to the general procedures of Customs, but the course took them into detail with almost every aspect. They are now able to fully understand the philosophy of the roles of Customs relative to their level.”
Junior Officer Venisha Pringle emerged the Valedictorian of the course showing consistency in her outstanding performance throughout the eight-week period.
Belle informed that training is year round as the Customs and Excise Department considers human resource development of “paramount importance”. He informed that the Department has a number of opportunities for training in the US and Canada and added that as more officers undergo training, the Department would be more prepared to take advantage of them.
