Although there has been a slight delay in customs officers relocating operations to the new building at the Government Campus, Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain senior customs officials have said they will begin moving into the new facility just after Carnival. Customs officers and other staff members were scheduled to relocate by the end of January. However, officials said the move had been delayed as a result of “minor works which were still being completed.”
They have said the move will be done on a phased basis, after work during the week and even on the weekends. Unable to say which departments will be relocated first, the officers said, “We are still reviewing the schedule to determine which department will move first.” It is expected that approximately 200 people will be relocated in the first phase.
During a tour of the new building last December, Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal commended the contractor Exeqtech for their efforts to complete renovation and refurbishment works within a seven-month period, at a cost of $77 million. Regarding their current quarters at Custom House, Nicholas Court, Port-of-Spain, the officials said they were “a little old and run down.”
Just last week, the air-conditioning system was said to have been down for three days, which resulted in administrative members of staff having to be sent home early. The new building boasts 1.3 million square feet of office space and features ten floors which contain executive offices, a library, a cafeteria, conference rooms, break rooms, storage areas, meeting rooms, work stations, and 360 security cameras installed throughout the building.
There are also 1,700 parking spaces at the nearby Parkade for officers and other employees, while 60 parking spaces have been designated for department heads in the building’s basement. Meanwhile, the Customs and Excise Division celebrated International Customs Day on January 26, with a grand celebration at the Trinidad Hilton, where they also rewarded employees for their outstanding service.
The annual long service award ceremony encompassed 177 people, including staff who completed ten, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service. Several retirees were also honored at the function, during which Finance Minister Larry Howai applauded the division for its coordinated approach and cross-border cooperation with international agencies to preserve national security.
Celebrating the theme Coordinated Border Management - An Inclusive Approach for Connecting Stakeholders, Howai said the introduction of new systems had led to an improvement in the time people had to spend preparing documents for importing and exporting goods.
With the implementation of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) and the Single Electronic Window (SEW), customs clerks and brokers no longer have to visit the office for manual endorsements and approvals, which has resulted in a reduction in both the processing time for customs documents and the time it takes to clear the goods.