A $16.5 million loan agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank and the government has led to improvements in the operational efficiency of the Customs and Excise Department, Customs Comptroller Charles Turner announced yesterday.
According to Mr. Turner, the department’s new addition of portable communications equipment sparked by the loan agreement signed two years ago, will “enhance and modernize the way it does business locally and globally” and “prepare the government of The Bahamas for its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).”
“On November 7, 2014, a contract was signed between the Customs Department and Forsythe Communications Centre to procure, install and maintain portable communications equipment throughout all ports of entry in The Bahamas,” Mr. Turner said.
He added, “We are pleased to announce the arrival of 89 land and marine portable radios. These will enhance and heighten our department’s operational efficiency.”
Mr. Turner also announced that 15 Customs Department officers will undergo “six weeks of rigorous training” formulated by training officers of the Marine Unit of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.
The new Marine Unit was officially launched on February 16.
He noted that the training will be done to sustain the modernization of its Trade Sector Support Program, which was designed to improve the facilitation of trade, strengthen the department’s ability to collect revenue, and improve boarder protection.
“It is proposed that in May of this year our canine unit will be launched. Officers will be trained both locally and internationally. Kennels are soon to be constructed and canines procured,” he said.
According to Mr. Turner, the department has experienced a number of significant advancements.
He noted that a total of five outboard vessels (three secured and two to be refurbished) will be deployed in New Providence, Grand Bahama, and Abaco.
Mr. Turner also publicized the addition of four trucks and two vans that the department will use as enforcement vehicles to “improve logistics and mobility”.
He noted that the department is also seeking to obtain new scanning equipment.
