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Gov’t to Re-Table and Pass Port Security act This Year

January 28, 2008

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Minister of National Security, Derrick Smith, has said that the Government will be taking measures to strengthen security at the nation’s ports, including the re-tabling and passage of the Port Security Act by the end of the year.
The Minister, who was addressing an information fair organized by the Jamaica Customs Department yesterday (Jan. 26) at Dump Up Beach in Montego Bay, said that the legislation will, among other things, provide for the establishment of a single agency with responsibility for security at the ports and bonded warehouses.
“I intend to have discussions with my counterpart Minister Mike Henry in the Ministry of Transport and Works, so that, that bill could be looked at again, re-tabled and to ensure that it is passed into law by the end of this calendar year,” he stated.
The move, he said is in keeping with Government efforts to curtail the illicit trade in drug and guns and appealed for all well-thinking Jamaicans to join in the fight. “We as a nation need to continue to increase our actions against these smugglers who are clever and who are wealthy and who on many occasions, succeed in buying their way forward. We must keep at it because if we don’t, not withstanding past efforts and not withstanding efforts at the international level, we will not be successful,” the Security Minister noted.
He further commended the “hardworking custom personnel, those on the front line and those in the back room. Continue doing your work. We appreciate your efforts, not only in bringing in the revenue to the Government, but the role you play to minimize illicit items entering our country. I say to you, continue to be professional, continue to be honest and of the highest integrity. Keep up the good work.”
The information fair, held under the theme: ‘The fight against drug trafficking,’ was the culmination of a week of activities by Jamaica Customs to mark International Customs Day.
Hundreds of persons attended the event, where they were sensitized about the work of the Customs Department and associated public and private sector agencies.
Among the agencies and institutions that set up display booths were the Tax Administration Department, Statistical Institute of Jamaica, Customs Enforcement Unit, Organized Crime Unit, custom brokers, and the Jamaica Bankers Association.

Last Updated: January 28, 2008

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