Cayman Customs train TCI officers
Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos customs officials (L-R) Jeff Jackson (CI), Alton Scott (TCI), Charles Clifford (CI), June Harry (TCI), Gregston Been (TCI) and Marlon Bodden (CI)
(CNS Local Life): The Cayman Islands Customs Department has been providing on-the-job training for three customs officers from the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) in different aspects of the department’s operations. The training, which ran from 6-17 June, marked the first time in the Cayman Islands for team leader TCI Assistant Collector of Enforcement June Harry, Senior Customs Officer (Intelligence Unit/Investigations) Gregston Been and Customs Officer (Anti-Smuggling Unit) Alton Scott.
The training was aimed at taking forward the TCI customs department’s strategic plan for the next three financial years with its focus on strengthening enforcement initiatives. Additionally, training is one of the tools for fostering capacity building in TCI Customs, Harry explained in a Cayman Islands Government press release.
CI Collector of Customs Charles Clifford welcoming the TCI team, saying he was happy that the department’s officers could provide insights into advances and capabilities that the Customs Department has put in place over the last few years.
“Though this is the first time, we hope to build a strong relationship from this platform and plan to keep our lines of communication open,” he said.
“We welcome better cooperation and solidarity among the region’s customs operations, and especially among other regional British Overseas Territories’ departments. Regional cooperation, exchanging information and cross-training are highly important as are building on relationships and networking among law enforcement agencies.”
Deputy Collector (Border Protection) Jeff Jackson, who helped set up the training, added that collaboration and information sharing have never been more relevant and timely among law enforcement agencies, whether local, regional or international. “Such partnerships and initiatives can strengthen and help sustain our border protection efforts and combat common threats,” he said.
During the attachment, the TCI officers worked in a variety of customs areas including intelligence, container selection and examination, fraud, risk management and seaport operations, Jackson added.
“We chose the Cayman Islands because of its advanced enforcement operations and tools, particularly, baggage and containerised scanning,” Harry said. “We consider the Cayman Customs Department to be well-advanced and experienced in dealing with many aspects of customs enforcement, including commercial imports and exports, fraud, intelligence gathering and analysis, container examination and risk management.”
For their part, the officers hoped to gain beneficial experience and learn about best practices and approaches used in other jurisdictions. The goal was to harness the knowledge gleaned to improve their overall enforcement capabilities and operational effectiveness and efficiency going forward, she added.
All three officers were unanimous about the value of the training received. As training manager for TCI Customs, Harry said she planned to share the knowledge gained with their other colleagues. TCI Customs has 46 staff members spread over four islands; 80% have fewer than 10 years’ experience in the department, she said.
Noting the hospitality with which they were received, Harry said, “All the officers have made us feel very much at home – so a big thank you to all, starting from Mr Clifford and especially Mr Jackson who helped put this training together.”
Category: Civil Service
