Today Comptroller of Customs Gregory Gibson says there is a need to be more accountable, transparent and efficient but that through the Belize Customs and Reform and Modernization Project they hope to address all three areas including the reduction in imports and revenues.
Gregory Gibson,
I think the situation has seen a combination of factors which is timely, both the modernisation which addresses efficiency and transparency and I think if we can say we are 80% efficient then we can try to be 100% efficient by the processes that we are putting in place. Well trade facilitation is the biggest one. That will cut tremendous time down and cost; importation cost and the processing of goods and that is the biggest one. We are talking about post audit which will go to great lengths in verifying and attacking Customs fraud and included in that is the modernization and harmonization of our laws which will give the department additional powers to address the modern and creative ways taxes have been avoided.
The department is also looking forward to improving performance through a working partnership with Customs and the business community.
Gregory Gibson,
I do not know if we can boast that there has always been misunderstanding and misconceptions and this is what seek today to put shoulder to shoulder to ask each other to come forth and express their reservations, your concerns, and let us see how we can move forward working together.
Then there is the issue of internal corruption and....
Jacqueline Godwin,
We see shipments arriving under fictitious names and they are not cleared. What’s going on?
Gregory Gibson,
Well we must recognize that Belize is in the middle of a transhipment route for drugs. We must also recognize that hard times attracts more creativity and honest people might become dishonest in trying to make ends meet and so these are the challenges that come both within Belize and outside of our borders and Belize as a transhipment point has to face those situations and be in a position to deal with it. That individuals have imported shipments under false names and then have not come forward to claim it, reflects to some extent our strength and perhaps the ability to detect these things.
Jacqueline Godwin,
One observer pointed to me that the reason why the shipments are not being cleared by anyone is that they are waiting for a corrupt officer but that seems to be diminishing as time goes on. You guys seem to be doing your own kind of cleanup to make sure that what I think is a serious criticism that has been levied against the Department is no longer there and that is corrupt officers.
Gregory Gibson,
Yes we have not been afraid to talk about corruption and we have not been afraid to take steps to eradicate it but we must recognize that there will be individuals who will be daring and it is for us in strengthening and what I spoke about the code of conduct we are introducing. These are steps to make sure that officers do the right thing, that they are held to account, and we have interdicted a number of officers in that regard.
On a lighter note, today’s occasion was to highlight the work conducted by the department and its staff.
Gregory Gibson,
The importance of today is huge because we are a part of the global community and it recognizes Customs officers for what they are, they are misrepresentations of who we are and what we do. And while we are members of the community, it is good to showcase our abilities and express to the general public that you can come in and see that we are not all stern and stiff, we are quite friendly and warm inside.
Today’s displays were not on the scale of the exhibition in the first observance of 2009. Comptroller of Customs Gregory Gibson says the small presentation may have been due to some last minute distractions.
In other news from Customs, one of the unclaimed shipment discussed in the interview with Comptroller Gibson remains on the compound. In our newscast last week the Customs Department confirmed that a box stuffed with pseudo ephedrine tablets, a total of ten thousand three hundred and fifty five pills had come out of Singapore via a freight service and was delivered to the PGIA. As noted in the story it was consigned to the name of a Chinese person and it had a King’s Park address but investigations have revealed that both the name and address are fictitious. The value of the still unclaimed package is estimated to be forty one thousand dollars.
CH7

NOTICES &
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the editor,
Once again I am appealing to the public for support and donations for completion of the

San Pedro R.C. School cafeteria.

This project has been ongoing since the early part of 2008.

As coordinator and fund raiser I need help to complete so that the children can buy and

eat their lunches in a clean and healthy invironment.

At present I have volunteers  who have been doing what they can with donations.

All monies raised have gone into this project.

This has been a major  task and I have depended upon  volunteers, donations and support

Emma carter can be reached at---226-3376

or myself Eve Dirnback at 623-9962

e-mail eves@telus.net

thankyou

Eve Dirnback

Responding to the urgent needs in Haiti, the students and staff of Holy Cross Anglican School have been working hard to raise money. On Friday, January 22, two fund raisers were held at the school. The first, a
Rags Day, raised $512.05BZ. Later that same day a Cheap Sale of donated items generated $155.00BZ. On Sunday at the Family Worship Service, the offering of BZ$199.80 was also earmarked for Earthquake
Relief. In total, Holy Cross will be donating BZ$866.85 to the nation of Haiti. Support Holy Cross Anglican School in San Pedro www.holycrossbelize.org

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CAROLINE'S FINE COOKING! Now Open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Daily Specials BBQ on Sat, Sun, Mon, Wed Next to Road Kill Bar Call 664-9450

YOU SHOULD KNOW! Drug use is dangerous, expensive and a needless liability. Are you concerned about your employees or a family member being on drugs? There is a quick, easy and reliable way to know for sure. A multi-drug test is now available here. For more information phone 226- 2197

FOR SALE FOR SALE BY OWNER: House in San Pablo area 1 mile south of San Pedro Town. 1 bedroom owner’s apartment upstairs. 1 and 2 bedroom apartments downstairs. Fenced, lighted yard with lots of trees. Laundry facility. Quiet neighborhood. Excellent rental income. Motivated Seller!!! US$180,000 Call: 610-3506 or Email: belizebums@yahoo.com.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY A man in debt is so far a slave                                Ralph Waldo Emerson

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