This Government is Moving to Clear Its Customs Agency of Corruption
Minister of Finance Audley Shaw says they’ve been several breaches in the Jamaica Customs Agency. |
Jamaica’s Minister of Finance, Audley Shaw, has warned that the Government is leaving no stone unturned in its effort to weed out corruption within the Jamaica Customs Agency.
He pointed to a number of breaches within the JCA, including goods at the transhipment point — meant for overseas destinations — remaining here in Jamaica, and the importation of illicit cigarettes, alcohol and pharmaceuticals.
“Let me make it absolutely and abundantly clear that in moving from direct to indirect taxation, we are going to create more equity. More individuals will be contributing to the tax system and if we cut out the corruption of imports we can lower our taxes as well; more compliance and everybody will have a more ordered civilized and decent society. That is the mission of this administration,” he said.
“A lot of you have had a good run bringing in illegal goods into the country — some of which are dangerous to our health. A lot of people in a lot of places – and they know when they hear my voice on television or radio, they know who they are…You’ve had a good run, but we are going to leave no stone unturned to clean up the system, create better equity for all Jamaicans and at the end of the day have a cleaner quality of life with better economic growth,” Shaw added.
Shaw, who was speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (Amcham) President’s Breakfast on data and document security on Thursday, noted that corruption is becoming a nationwide crisis.
In a panel discussion involving members of the banking, entertainment, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries, the group highlighted that fraudulent paperwork has not only cost local companies millions in technologies to mitigate the activities, but has also led to the Sagicor Group closing one of its critical illness plans in light of fraudulent insurance claims.
Globally, fraud currently accounts for US$400 billion. But by 2020, that number is expected to reach US$1 trillion. One solution discussed among the members is the implementation of hologram images on official documents and the public education of these images.
“We are doing our best to control this situation because the corruption is moving somewhere from endemic to epidemic. We can’t sweep it under the carpet and as the minister I’m not going to tolerate it, and we are going to find a way to solve it,” Shaw told members of the audience. (Jamaica Observer)
Related News
Anti-corruption in Finance: Resolutely eliminating cumbersome administrative procedures
08:40 | 21/09/2024 Finance
Contraband goods increases on An Giang border
09:44 | 29/05/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Prevent corruption and group interests in developing financial laws
10:07 | 11/05/2024 Finance
Improving the legal corridor in anti-smuggling work
16:27 | 18/01/2024 Anti-Smuggling
Latest News
Dutch customs seize 1,575 kilograms of cocaine at Vlissingen Port
10:32 | 10/12/2024 World Customs
Taiwan-Canada customs agreement signed - Taipei Times
14:21 | 09/12/2024 World Customs
Sabah Customs foils bid to smuggle 3,000 cartons of liquor
13:46 | 28/11/2024 World Customs
The Philippines Pioneers Corruption Risk Mapping to Strengthen Integrity and Trade Facilitation in Customs
13:41 | 23/10/2024 World Customs
More News
US customs clamps down on vague cargo descriptions
09:38 | 27/09/2024 World Customs
Uzbekistan Signs Customs Agreement With U.S.
09:02 | 26/09/2024 World Customs
Hong Kong customs seizes B42.5m of smuggled platinum, its largest haul in 20 years
09:02 | 26/09/2024 World Customs
Customs Affairs conducts training programme for OFOQ2 Single Window System
13:15 | 16/08/2024 World Customs
Abu Dhabi Customs equips sea customs centres with five advanced inspection devices
14:20 | 15/08/2024 World Customs
Customs rules get stringent at Singapore
14:20 | 15/08/2024 World Customs
Sabah Customs seizes over RM600,000 worth of drugs
10:16 | 09/08/2024 World Customs
Hong Kong customs to use AI to check 6,000 digital images in seconds for crime-fighting boost
14:43 | 07/08/2024 World Customs
Hong Kong customs seizes HK$5.8 million of heroin hidden among durians
16:05 | 05/08/2024 World Customs
Your care
Dutch customs seize 1,575 kilograms of cocaine at Vlissingen Port
10:32 | 10/12/2024 World Customs
Taiwan-Canada customs agreement signed - Taipei Times
14:21 | 09/12/2024 World Customs
Sabah Customs foils bid to smuggle 3,000 cartons of liquor
13:46 | 28/11/2024 World Customs
The Philippines Pioneers Corruption Risk Mapping to Strengthen Integrity and Trade Facilitation in Customs
13:41 | 23/10/2024 World Customs
US customs clamps down on vague cargo descriptions
09:38 | 27/09/2024 World Customs