SCANDALOUS! This is the only way to describe recent disclosures made about the illegal importation of chicken wings and the brazen deception by some importers to under-invoice and circumvent payment of required duties. What is particularly worrisome about this skulduggery is that it appears to be supported by officers whose duty is to prevent such wrongdoing.
The disclosures highlight deliberate efforts to flout the law by unscrupulous people whose only objective is personal financial gain. This exposure of illegal activity concerns a few items, but may be just the tip of a wider cancer in the system. That is why it is important to unearth and expose the full details of the depth of this kind of disreputable activity. There is too much at stake, whether loss of jobs, the survival of legitimate businesses or the non-payment of tax revenues badly needed by the state.
The situation points to inefficiencies relating to governance, regulation and oversight at the Customs & Excise Department. It must not be allowed to fade away as the proverbial “nine-day wonder” after the initial public outcry.
All officers of the Customs Department, even as they prepare to transition to the Barbados Revenue Authority, must be held to some regulation requiring of them greater transparency and compliance. There will, no doubt, be pushback against any efforts to fight corruption and complications could arise because of the lack of singular legislation, with even the trade unions and some politicians looking to defend the status quo.
What has been disclosed suggests that Customs cannot be left to police itself. We believe that the Auditor General, using his own initiative, should undertake a special review given both the public’s interest and, more importantly, the negative impact on revenue collection.
Government should also significantly expand undercover operations by the security services to ferret out wrongdoing. New methods to gather evidence in ways that existing systems do not allow ought to be put in place, as there must be more prosecutions for blatant lawbreaking.
More examples of malfeasance may surface, but it should be clear that those perpetrating these illegal activities do not put Barbados’ best interest first, but are merely interested in making as much money and as fast as possible. This is not about credibility, so there are no moral boundaries, including bribing those who will easily succumb to pieces of silver.
The Comptroller of Customs must respond to the public’s concerns. But while we await the reaction, Customs must enhance its anti-fraud strategy and understand the risks, especially regarding reliable estimates of revenue leakage.
NATION newspaper reports have shown that there has been either gross inattention or plain complicity by some within the Customs Department in this tangled mess. It is a clear case of broken faith.