Customs walking the talk

Acting Comptroller of the Customs and Excise Division, Ralph Newton, has made it clear that change is not going to come easy. The establishment of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) will undoubtably have serious implications for the local customs and excise division, said Newton. He was speaking at the “Getting it right with Customs” seminar organised by the TT Manufacturers Association (TTMA) last week. Newton also noted that under the CSME, a practicing customs broker from another country may be able to come to TT and establish a practice here. “The person who is practicing in St Lucia for example, within the framework of the operation may be able to lay claim to the fact that he is on par with our person. This then leads to competition and competition is healthy,” Newton said. He stressed the need for a complete reconstructing of the customs and excise division. “Transformation is the new order within which the framework of customs and excise will be operating in the next five to ten years,” he said, adding that the division had already begun talking to  the US Customs services.

He explained that transforming the division would involve elaborate reforming, restructuring, re-engineering and repooling of policies, systems, procedures, operations and processes. “The road is a long and difficult one,” Newton asserted. He went on to note that in this “hand holding exercise” with local manufacturers, they were looking at forging links on both sides. Customs has traditionally been accused of walking the road alone, he said, adding that it was looking towards promoting reforms and compliance. Newton slammed manufacturers for laying what he referred to as the foundation for the compromising of the integrity of the division. “I would know where the integrity of my division and my officers is being compromised,” he maintained, “and I think you are responsible. “If you do not act responsibly, my division will be hard pressed to be able to pull up its boot straps and operate within anti-corruption initiatives in order to firmly walk the road of integrity,” he said. He called for the resurgence of the mercantile committee, which he stressed was an important factor in the division’s transformation process.