Observing the theme “Digital Customs – Progressive Engagement”
I extend warm greetings and best wishes to the hardworking management and staff of the Jamaica Customs Agency as you host your annual Customs Week activities and commemorate International Customs Day on Tuesday, January 26. Observed under the theme “Digital Customs – Progressive Engagement,” I commend the Agency for embarking on an initiative designed to engage Jamaicans on a theme that is sensitive to the technological changes in Jamaica and the global village. This is indeed timely, as operating in a digital space becomes increasingly important in order to efficiently execute border management activities between countries.
Engagement on border management and digitization is essential at this time as my Administration takes bold steps towards the establishment of a logistics sector while continuing to leverage Jamaica’s competitive advantages in location, connectivity and language among other areas. We must ensure that all Jamaicans understand the opportunities and challenges and are prepared to leverage them for the benefit of the nation. Certainly, the operations of the Jamaica Customs Agency are critical to Government’s determined focus to maintain stability in the economy, improve productivity, support business expansion and trade and foster economic growth with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for Jamaicans.
As you host your annual Customs Week activities and commemorate International Customs Day, I hope that the management and staff of the Jamaica Customs Agency will hold fast to its noble vision of “delivering excellent service, fostering compliance and contributing to our national development and protection of the society.” I wish the Agency and its committed staff a productive week of activities as we work together “to make Jamaica a place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.”
Portia Simpson Miller, ON, MP
Prime Minister