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Chamber moves ahead with trade facilitation and compliance programme

Contact: stluciachamber.org

Friday 11 February 2011 –  The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agricultures’ series “The Second Tuesday” continued at the Bay Gardens Hotel on February 8^th, 2011.

Mr. Herman St. Helen, Comptroller of Customs along with IT Manager Joshua Vernor and Mr. Samuel Eudoxie  of the Operations Department, facilitated the two hour “Encounter.” In attendance was a wide cross section of the Chamber’s membership. A variety of initiatives related to the operational aspect of the Department were discussed by Mr. St. Helen, including the staggering of lunch hours at the department, the “working” of containers during working hours, and the pending introduction of the use of the Authorized Economic Operator program.

Members of the Chamber took the opportunity to raise a number of questions with the Customs Team including issues related to the recently introduced, ASYCUDA World system, particularly regarding the need or otherwise for third party software. Additionally members spoke to some of the troubling practices which they encountered when conducting transactions with the Department. The Comptroller indicated that it would be extremely useful if members documented their complaints so he would be in a position to address these problems properly, following due process.

The Customs Team reminded Chamber Members present that regardless whether in-house or independent Customs Brokers were used they had to be clear that as long as they were the “declarant” they were liable for the information provided to Customs. Therefore they needed to monitor carefully the work being carried out on their behalf.

Members were extremely pleased for the opportunity to interact in such an intimate forum with the Customs Team and commended the Chamber for this initiative. Members can look forward to another interesting Encounter in March on “The Second Tuesday”

This session follows the successful Inaugural Second Tuesday: An Encounter with the Registrar of Insurance held early last month. The Second Tuesday: An Encounter with the Public Sector is designed as a platform for exchange and dialogue between the business community and the public sector.  It is a members only event and is scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month from 5.30pm to 7.30 pm at the Bay Gardens Hotel. 

For further information please visit the Chamber website at www. stluciachamber.org.

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