THE FINDINGS OF a report into the operations of the Customs & Excise Department does not make good reading. Even though the study is four years old, it would be safe to say the results would most likely be the same if another study were to be done today.
The simple truth is that the public’s perception of Customs and Excise is not good, even if it is only a situation of impressions being greater than reality. Many Barbadians who have any contact with the department can relate to experiences from the most pleasant to the totally brusque behaviour they encounter.
It is one agency of Government always spoken about by the public with an element of distrust and suspicion. Some people will protest loudly about its methods of operation, many others make their comments sotto voce.
Neither the outcome of the report nor the feelings of Barbadians about Customs should be dismissed and swept aside. The department is too important to this country’s economic growth in the facilitation of trade and also the fight against crime which is ever growing in its sophistication.
Many of the newly highlighted issues have become ingrained in the operations of Customs over many years; hence the perception that there is graft. So, despite the expected protestations of the unions, we must not live in a fool’s paradise.
This may be the ideal time to initiate that needed change in Customs as it is about to be subsumed in the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA). But it would make little sense having a new agency with the same bad practices and service.
The BRA must attract skilled, multi-talented and motivated individuals ready to take on the challenges of customs and international trade in the digital age. By adopting all the modern technologies, the objective must be to make doing business easier and faster while enhancing the productivity of Customs officers.
Barbados needs customs reform that has a clear strategic and operational plan and with measureable performance management criteria. It must embrace the commercial sector and be abreast of the innovations around it, while at the same time ensuring smooth cross-border trade facilitation given the growing importance of economic partnerships. Admittedly, trade controls and facilitation do not always go hand in hand, but can conflict.
The reforms must also ensure there is greater transparency. This requires greater emphasis on the roles of internal audit and internal affairs to allow for consistent compliance in all areas and of all personnel.
The objective must not only to be more efficient in revenue collection and plugging loopholes, but also ensuring that Customs can boast of the highest level of integrity and a total focus on service delivery.
This report must not be pushed aside in a drawer only to be overlooked and forgotten. Those responsible must act on the recommendations.
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