Celebrating World Customs Day in COVID Times
International Customs Day was celebrated virtually this year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. January twenty-sixth is the day designated to honor custom officials and agencies for their function in taking care of the flow of goods across the world borders. But with the pandemic still raging, issues of effective service delivery and revenue collection are being looked at carefully by the Customs and Excise Department to improve efficiency where necessary, despite the restrictions caused by the widespread effect of the disease. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
“Customs Bolstering Recovery, Renewal and Resilience for a Sustainable Supply Chain” – It’s the theme for this year’s World Customs Day which is being dedicated to the united efforts of Customs to come out of the coronavirus crisis and support people businesses by strengthening the global supply chain, reinforcing collaboration, harnessing technology and putting people at the center of the transformation process.
Estelle Leslie
Estelle Leslie, Comptroller of Customs
“The past year, in 2020 brought some new challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic that contributed to some unparalleled closure of our land, air and sea ports of entries and exits. Nationwide shutdown, curfews and travel restrictions to protect the health of Belizeans. To our dismay, it disrupted the supply chain that proves to be detrimental to our economy. The sustainability of the supply chain is vital to a nation because trade is the engine that drives a local economy. Customs is uniquely positioned and mandated at the borders and ports of entry and exit and drives trade, therefore we play a key role in the economic growth and development of our country.”
The Customs and Excise Department is expected to find strategic means of reducing the challenges related to revenue collection and implement sanitary, health and trade measures to protect and secure its people, environment and economy.
Estelle Leslie
“Customs continue to take up the responsibility to bolster recover, renewal and resiliency for a sustainable supply chain. We reinforce collaboration to drive the recovery process. Using a coordinated border management approach, the department provided a rapid and coordinated response with other government agencies. At the national and international level and with the private sector for sustaining the supply chain.”
This year, the focus is equally placed on developing and embracing technology to make the work of the department more efficient as the country looks toward economic recovery.
Gilbert Gordon
Dr. Gilbert Gordon, Deputy Comptroller of Customs
“The journey of recovery has just began and the challenge is still before us. As we anticipate the introduction of the new customs management team that is on the horizon for 2021, optimism is embraced. New, innovative ideas are expected to be ushered in. Newfound energy is anticipated to be revitalized and the unity of one customs must be our team. To our government agencies and stakeholders, the road to economic recovery includes our continuous partnerships and obligations. One that would create an environment that will not impede the global supply chain but would embrace technological processes and procedures for international trade.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
