Customs recruits advised on importance of rules

(CNS): With the irony unlikely to be lost on them, twelve new recruits to the customs department were advised of the importance of common sense, being thorough with the rules and a good grasp of the reason the rules are applicable as they graduated from their training course last week. The new batch of junior customs officers finished four weeks intensive training, in which they covered the legislation, communications, defusing situations, drugs identification, firearm handling, passengers and baggage search, ethics and integrity, and customer service.

Successfully completing the basic course were Sabrina Cane, Jordan Ebanks, Anthony Echenique, Joshua Grizzel, Arvid Harris, Scott Hydes, Sharissa McLaughlin, Sacha Miller, Philip Neale-Bodden, Eren Nicholson, Holly Schneider and Kruse Smith.

At the closing ceremony on Friday at Customs Headquarters Financial Secretary Kenneth Jefferson urged these “ambassadors” at airport and seaport arrival areas to remain polite, professional and knowledgeable when dealing with visitors as well as to continue learning. He said that being thorough with the rules has to go hand in hand with common sense and a good grasp of the reason the rules are applicable.

Carlon Powery, the collector of customs, said the recruits' impressive performance during the training augured well for their continuing progress on the job.

“Customs can be a truly exciting career. Make the department the best it can be,” he said, adding that they were joining the team at a time when major initiatives are underway,

A team of 14 people from the department, plus agriculture and tourism ministry personnel provided the training, which Langlie Powery said gives the recruits a broad overview of their roles and responsibilities as customs officers. “The emphasis, of course, is on protecting our borders and ensuring they bear in mind always the spirit of our mission statement,” Powery added.

The department’s mission statement reads: “To collect and protect Government’s revenue, facilitate legitimate trade and control prohibited and restricted goods in a cost efficient manner while preserving a safe environment for all.”