Customs recruits advised on importance of rules
(CNS): With the irony unlikely to be lost on them, twelve new recruits to the customs department were advised of the importance of common sense, being thorough with the rules and a good grasp of the reason the rules are applicable as they graduated from their training course last week. The new batchof junior customs officers finished four weeks intensive training, in which they covered the legislation, communications, defusing situations, drugs identification, firearm handling, passengers and baggage search, ethics and integrity, and customer service.
Successfully completing the basic course were Sabrina Cane, Jordan Ebanks, Anthony Echenique, Joshua Grizzel, Arvid Harris, Scott Hydes, Sharissa McLaughlin, Sacha Miller, Philip Neale-Bodden, Eren Nicholson, Holly Schneider and Kruse Smith.
At the closing ceremony on Friday at Customs Headquarters Financial Secretary Kenneth Jefferson urged these “ambassadors” at airport and seaport arrival areas to remain polite, professional and knowledgeable when dealing with visitors as well as to continue learning. He said that being thorough with the rules has to go hand in hand with common sense and a good grasp of the reason the rules are applicable.
Carlon Powery, the collector of customs, said the recruits' impressive performance during the training augured well for their continuing progress on the job.
“Customs can be a truly exciting career. Make the department the best it can be,” he said, adding that they were joining the team at a time when major initiatives are underway,
A team of 14 people from the department, plus agriculture and tourism ministry personnel provided the training, which Langlie Powery said gives the recruits a broad overview of their roles and responsibilities as customs officers. “The emphasis, of course, is on protecting our borders and ensuring they bear in mind always the spirit of our mission statement,” Powery added.
The department’s mission statement reads: “To collect and protect Government’s revenue, facilitate legitimate trade and control prohibited and restricted goods in a cost efficient manner while preserving a safe environment for all.”
Category: Local News
Hey let's give these young people a chance! They nah business with previous crap!!!!
Congratulations to the new recruits! Work hard and may God guide you always.
Any drug testing for these recruits? One would hope they aren’t sporting the cocaine shovel pinkie nails that the guy at the airport has. It confuses tourists.
'Same with the gal who wears the tiny razorblade necklace. They're just a style now and don't necessarily indicate drug use. And let's not overlook the eagle-talon nails and Marie Antoinette hairdos. I think management supports that tough "dance-hall" look to intimidate potential smugglers.
Rule No. 1:
You cannot break the law and release explosives without the proper paperwork, even if McKeeva Bush tells you to do it.
Rule No. 2:
See Rule No. 1.
The department’s mission statement reads: “To collect and protect Government’s revenue, facilitate legitimate trade and control prohibited and restricted goods in a cost efficient manner while preserving a safe environment for all.”
Until you get an email from Mr. Bush…
I hope they also thought them how to be courteous
I have never seen such rude custom officers at the airport as we have. Their attitude is horrific and then you have the ones that think they are mighty then might, not even a smile, hello have a nice day…just plain miserable. The sad thing is this is what the tourists first see (after Immigration), and have to deal with.
You're not in Kansas anymore. Customs is an official security and revenue checkpoint in any country, so I don't mind if they are a bit terse. Hundreds of our residents fib to them daily about what is REALLY in their bags, and as we know, this has become a transhipment and weapon importation junction. Know that they need to be alert and focused on that serious task rather than telling jokes and kissing babies. Get over it: tell the truth and move along.
Really, is that right? Obviously not an expert on law enforcement and professional standards. One thing you learn as a competant officer of the law is that courtesy costs nothing and can prove very effective when confronting potential offenders. Nobody is fooled by the the self important attitude of the amateurs at the airport. They are a shabby and unprofessional group who have been given too much power for their limited knowledge, experience and ability. They are meant to be sworn public and crown servants, not street bullies. They should behave in a manner commensurate with their badge of office and demonstrate responsibility to their nation and sovereign at all times. Quite frankly its laughable to even consider these people as first line guardians of the Cayman Islands, let alone ambassadors of the Caymanian people.
So they will understand that they have to abide by the law and nobody can tell or request them to do otherwise? Did someone in customs really release the dynamite based on that letter in question, or is it still being held up?
Now that's really funny!
No its not actually.