Commissioner of Customs Being Honoured for Outstanding Public Service

Commissioner of Customs, Velma Ricketts Walker, was overcome with gratitude, humility, a sense of pride and accomplishment upon learning of her selection for this year’s conferral of the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) for outstanding contribution to the public service by the Government of Jamaica.

She and hundreds of other Jamaicans will be bestowed with their awards by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, during the investiture ceremony at King’s House on National Heroes Day, Monday, October 21.

Mrs. Ricketts Walker, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), points out that, “This award is not just for me, but a testament of the [JCA’s] hard work, adding that, “my family, friends, colleagues and Customs family expressed their excitement, joy, pride, increased respect, admiration and congratulations.”

She tells JIS News that her selection for the national award forms part of the inspiration fuelling her desire and heightening her sense of responsibility to continue making a positive impact and difference in her capacity as Jamaica’s chief customs steward.

Mrs. Ricketts Walker has been at the helm of the Jamaica Customs Agency as CEO and Commissioner of Customs since April 2017.

Fuelled by her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Business from the Mona School of Business, coupled with her vision and more than 25 years’ combined experience in Customs operation, border protection, trade facilitation, compliance, risk analysis, strategic planning and enforcement, she has successfully steered the JCA into becoming a more modernised Customs administration.

The Commissioner’s groundbreaking achievements include leading the JCA’s strategic reform programme, which resulted in improved efficiency and effectiveness of the agency’s overall operations, in keeping with its mandates.

Through her leadership, Mrs. Ricketts Walker has effectively navigated the JCA, viewed as a model government entity, through several modernisation initiatives, including technological advancements and developments.

She has also encouraged greater cooperation, partnership and collaboration with other entities of government, as well as regional and international organisations.

Mrs. Ricketts Walker also led the JCA to a focused trade facilitating landscape, while ensuring compliance and security, and promoting economic growth and development.

Additionally, as an experienced professional, the CEO focused on engendering people-centric leadership through capacity-building, thereby fostering a culture of excellence within the JCA.

Regarding international agreements and best practices, Mrs. Ricketts Walker tells JIS News that she oversaw the JCA’s accession to the Revised Kyoto Convention (the blueprint for trade facilitation), citing this as demonstrative of the Agency’s commitment to making legitimate trade and doing business with Customs simpler, easier, safer, transparent and faster.

She has also overseen the agency’s implementation of international agreements and best practices, “to improve the efficacy of our operations and interactions with our customers, clients and stakeholders”.

“For example, the JCA attained ISO 9001:2015 certification in Quality Management System. This is the JCA’s commitment to quality delivery and governance assurance,” Mrs. Ricketts Walker adds.

The CEO further underscores her role in ensuring strong ethical conduct by all parties involved in doing business with the JCA, through engagement, sensitisation, awareness and compliance.

“[We] also promoted smart eCustoms and a digital agenda that supported greater automation and digitalisation of Customs processes and procedures, in line with an evolving ICT (information and communications technology) landscape that demands transparency, visibility and security of the supply chain,” Mrs. Ricketts Walker states.

Additionally, she focused on improving the JCA’s border protection measures, outcomes, collaborations and partnerships.

Mrs. Ricketts Walker, who acknowledges that the job of JCA Head is no easy undertaking, points out that she has been blessed with solid support within and outside the agency.

“The JCA’s Advisory Board provides strategic guidance and oversight, for which I am grateful. My family has been my rock; and so, I am very thankful for their continued support, emotionally and otherwise,” she tells JIS News.

Mrs. Ricketts Walker, who describes herself as a nature enthusiast, shares that, “I am awed by nature”.

“So I admire everything around, and that takes me to a happy place… admiring the miracles around. I love Jamaica’s culture, from reggae music, food and dance to the vibes of our people,” she says.

The CEO encourages Jamaicans to apply the JCA’s motto – ‘Country Above Self’ – in their lives.

“We are a mixed group of people, as reflected by Jamaica’s motto, ‘Out of Many One People’. The importance of ‘one love’ for all Jamaicans is very important. To my fellow public servants, I encourage you to apply the one love concept, that is, love for the work you do, love for your colleagues and love for the people you serve,” Mrs. Ricketts Walker states.