Regional customs and immigration officers urged not to fall prey to corruption
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – A senior official of the Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat Monday urged regional Customs and Immigration officials not to fall prey to corruption in the exercise of their duties.
Addressing the sixth Joint National Border Security Training conference, the CARICOM Assistant Secretary General, Dr. Douglas Slater, said that due to the economic situation in the Caribbean, law enforcement agents are faced with the temptation of corruption.
He told the delegates that it was important that they refrain from such inducements.
“We know that our workers including our border protection agencies, they do have temptations and the criminals are out there and will be making offers. You have a responsibility and I expect you to uphold that responsibility to desist from such temptations, because if you do not have proper discipline and professionalism chaos will result,” he said.
Slater said that the illicit movement of drugs and untaxed goods put a strain of on Caribbean economies and “hinder government’s social obligations to finance important programmes and policies that will develop the country”.
He urged the delegates to take advantage of the training noting that it is their responsibility to assist the government in ensuring that revenues are collected.
“Be professional, be vigilant, be compassionate but most of all, be professional, do what you have to do and serve your country well,” he said.
Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, also urged the delegates not to be victims of corruption.
“You have the training, utilise it on the job. Fight the corrupt elements, and do not let them get to you. They get to you, they destroy you and by extension they destroy the image and reputation of the government,” Felix said.
Felix said that in the world today, criminal syndicates reach across borders without regard for legal restrictions to conduct illegal activities.
He said that Guyana is one of several Caribbean countries which serve as a primary transit route used by criminal syndicates noting that persons are repeatedly caught with false immigration stamps in their passports.
“These issues have and are presenting major challenges to Caribbean countries, and have the capability to undermine democratic institutions and hinder economic activities that are vital to countries such as Guyana and by extension the international community” Felix added.
Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud made mention of the changing global environment including organised transnational crime and violence caused by terrorism.
“In Guyana, we are fortunate to have the political will to deal with crime and violence. That is demonstrated on several fronts and highlighted by His Excellency the President himself, chairing the National Security Committee. That is a necessity, political will is a necessity to deal with the crime and violence problems that exist today,” he added.
The five-day training workshop is organised by the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), European Union (EU) and the United States Customs and Border Protection.