Auditor General Leigh Trotman
BU read with interest in the media an update on the status of the eagerly awaited Integrity Legislation (IL) by Prime Minister Freundel Staurt (Ag). He indicated the IL could be introduced very soon. Of interest to BU was his explanation the IL would be fairly wide in scope to include key partners in the private sector. The need to implement IL which is relevant has always been advocated by BU. It is against this background the stunt by Opposition Leader Mia Mottley and former Prime Minister Owen Arthur to declare their assets has exposed itself to be a forgettable political gimmick.
An example of how a relevant and effective IL can help to expose corruption in a public or private sector scenario is easily illustrated if we read the Auditor General’s (AG) Report 2009. On page 63 of his report, the AG refers to a few suppliers to the School Meals Department who are allowed duty free status to import for that department only. Here is the AG’s audit note. … However, there is no system in place to monitor the amounts imported by suppliers and ensure that goods allowed duty free status are imported for Government Departments only. As a result various suppliers imported goods in excess of what had been delivered to the School Meals Department. What a sweet deal!
The first question which comes to mind, why has the AG not mentioned the names of the suppliers in his report? Perhaps the one time the understaffed and hardworking AG Department has opened itself to criticism. There is little doubt after reading the AG’s report that some Custom Officers, School Meal management or both have benefited from the sweet deal. Are we being harsh in our conclusion? Here is the AG’s audit note. …Some suppliers were using both original and duplicate copies of authorization from the School Meals Department in order to obtain goods duty free. Only the original authorisation is intended to be used by suppliers as a waiver for imported goods, and the duplicate copy should be kept as a personal record. However, these duplicates were used by the suppliers to obtain goods free of duties to which they were not entitled.
Even if the supplier did not know that the original document must be presented to the Customs Department as the authorization, don’t you reasonably believe the Custom Officer should have been aware? Give us a break! If we had IL on the books maybe, just maybe…
It gets better.
The suppliers contracted to supply the School Meals Department are issued with certificates which indicate the items to receive duty free status. Equally as important is the amount of the item to be imported which is also recorded on the certificate. Surprise surprise, guess what the AG’s audit exposed? Here is the AG’s audit note, one of many. …One company had contracts to supply 3,001 bags of English potatoes weighing a total of 68,122.7 kilograms (kgs). A review of the ASYCUDA++ computer system and a comparison with the School Meals Department’s records showed that for the academic year 2007-2008, the company made twenty-nine (29) customs declarations of English potatoes consigned to the School Meals Department. These amounts had a net mass of 716,542.79 kgs an excess of 566,692.79 kgs over the contracted amount. A check with the School Meals Department revealed that over the two academic years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, the requirements of the Department totalled 123,760 kgs. In this case the particular supplier not only exceeded the amount approved to gain duty free status but used a COPY of the tax waiver certificate to obtain the goods. What a sweet deal!
The responses given by the Customs Department and the School Meals Department management would merit instant dismissal in the private sector, not so government departments (Read pages 67-70 of the Auditor General 2009 to see for yourself).
Would you have confidence in a Customs Department whose systems cannot account for 41 cars leaving the port without being completely processed and the relevant duties collected?
Thieving Galore!
Inefficient shi*e.
You mean dishonest.
Customs officers have been taking “prouges” (bribes for those who don’t know Bajan) since Adam was a lad.
How else can some of them live so large?
And they are no doubt protected by their political masters.
How else can a thief hold his (or her) job for decades at a time?
Who you think does let all the guns and drugs in the place?
Stupseeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any overall of our government must focus on weeding out corruption in customs, police, the courts and of course the politicians. We need a whistle blower system that would pay persons to collect information on the thieves.
Well, well, well. I’m telling you, with thieving included as part of the job makes for a well paid career.
don’t any of you forget corruption starts from the top and filters down (well in Customs) and when a PS or Minister will call and ask favours for themselves and their friends who can afford to fork out duties and VAT makes situations complicated and political. Who will bother to fight these situations? Barbados is so small and officers who do not comply with these favours are marginalised and unfaired. Everybody wants a piece of the Customs cake and officers have the knife to give them a slice. A sin is a sin no matter how large or small. The same way the big boys want help the little man want help too. So the Auditor General in his report should highlight how political the Dep’t is and start looking at his peers because they are the ones who contribute to the unethical practices that take place.
I am sick of hearing everyone’s opinion on what Customs Officers don’t do or should do. No one has solutions only criticisms. What are the AG’s practical recommendations.
and you hypocrites don’t forget how all of you and your friends and family come begging for favours trying to elude taxes! Customs contributes to over 50% of government revenue and anually! All the apples aren’t bad and I am sure if you look around in your offices you will find equally bad apples as well. I look forward to the day when Customs is stronger, but until then I’m not knocking the place I know has potential and good in it. To all you outsiders looking in you wish you were us! And to the joker whi says how else we can afford our lifestyles, we work damn had and we deserve more!!! When you are in your beds and 2 and 3 am we are on the front line protecting this country and collecting revenue we are under paid and disrespected and alot of our internal issues stem from this problem. 99.9% of critics can’t walk a mile in an Officer’s shoes.
@Starr
Have you read what you wrote? If you have and still stand by it then we have problems. The Customs Unit collects a significant percentage of government’s revenue and if you read the AG’s report it can be a hell of a lot more if inefficiency and thieving is cut out.
@Starr
Those of us who use Customs often enough know that not all are bad apples. But cuhdear – guarding the country? Perleez! Last week I arrived late from Miami and watched as suitcase traders were waved through without even stopping, while regular passengers and tourists were stopped and asked about what they had to declare. The government is desperate for revenue and millions are lost every year by this method. Methinks you doth protest too much!
It is known how officers look the other way when many of those containers are being unstuffed offsite. It is time we clean this crap up. Hypocrisy at its height in our society.
DAVID —you do not know what you are talking about –Trust me –you are way off base-come again—friend !
The problem at Customs has to do with the destruction of the Department by certain operatives within certain Ministries who believe that they can pick anyone and put them in Customs and push trained and qualified Officers one side to bring in their friends –by introducing a qualification order that is stagnating and destroying the Department.
The problems are deep and systemic and has nothing to do with what you are alluding to my friend.
A big part of the problem is the system that gives one person–a permanent secretary or a Comptroller all the power to make decisions for such a big an imporant department such as customs.If that PS or Comptroller is bad , things will be bad and if that PS or Comptroller is good things will be good.
You all do not know half of the story.
Stop speculating and do some research
You all are hit by the good old bajan habit of talking shoite and talking about things about which you do not have the fact. This is an old bajan pastime-
STOP IT NOW !!!
When ever certain departments are criticized we can expect the calvary to respond. Some departments are deemed untouchable. BU has reported in the main what the AG has identified in his 2009 report. What he speaks to can only be described as inefficiency at a high level which lends itself to breeding corruption i.e. tieffin
Who has forgotten the huge resistance to the installation of cameras in Customs by Customs Officers. There is a lot the Customs Department will have to answer for, and very soon.
Customs Officers have been getting away with alot for a very long time…it’s about time they be held to account.
The Customs officers work hard under very trying and difficult circumstanes and deserve evey cent that they work for. Those who bash the officers seem to be jealous of the monies they work for. The old people say you need two hands to clap why only a focus on the officer. No one likes a tax collector and anytime there is an opportunity this society comes down on Customs officers.
Customs is a law enforcement / revenue collection agency the basic salary scale is not good . However there are some areas where the officers can work for overtime and travelling and other allowances which will increase their renumeration.
Due to this fact many officers have been able to achieve more. Even within the Civil Service ( Ministry of Finance , Ministry of Civil Service , Personnel Administration Division ) Customs officers are being given a bad break because of the feelings by many that he car to nice or she house to big.
There are several reasons while revenues are down :
a) the application of new technologies and systems which have not be immplemented correctly and support system which have not been implemented
b)the attitude of the Finance Ministry which controls the purse strings which is headed by a PS who has no respect for the Officers.
c) an in adequate training vote
d) early retirement of senior staff who were forced to go due to the qualification order { brain drain]
e) the PS of Finance beleiveing that any one can function as a Customs Officer. Replaceing senior Customs Officer with University graduates who lack customs experience.
f) failure to recognize or reward the contributions of the rank and file staff member.
g) Too many actors . From the Comptroller down acting at every level officers are not being appointed.
h) the sustained attempts by the Ministries of Finance and the The Civil Service to reduce or remove the allowances that Customs Officers have enjoyed for many years.
The morale of the officers is very low due to a combination of several of the above factors. A HAPPY WORKER IS A MORE PRODUCTIVE ONE. NO ONE CARES ABOUT THIS PERTINENT FACT.
These are harsh economic times Customs is a revenue collection agency . Instead of knocking the officers systems should be put in place to see how we can maxmize our revenue collection systems. In addition productivity incentives must be put in place for the Customs Officers to encourage them to be more productive.
IN SOME CUSTOMS JURISDICTIONS WHEN AN OFFICER HOLDS DRUGS HE IS GIVEN A REWARD FOR EACH SEIZURE HE MAKES . IN BARBADOS THE OFFICER IS GIVEN NOTHING AND HAS TO PRAY THAT HIS HOUSE IS NOT BURNT DOwn.
Barbados has one of the best Customs Department in the Carribbean. Barbadian Customs Officers are our brothers and sisters , fathers and mothers there are no more corrupt than police officers , lawyers , immigration officers ,business men , bankers ,traders or politicians.
The CUSTOMS ACT TALKS ABOUT BRIEBERY AND COLLUSION A CUSTOMS OFFICER CANNOT BREAK THE LAW BY HIMSELF HE MUST HAVE A FACILITATOR TALK ABOUT THAT PERSON TO.
I KNOW SOME HARD WORKING AND HONEST OFFICERS
@ the saint // May 31, 2010 at 8:56 PM
“Barbadian Customs Officers are our brothers and sisters , fathers and mothers there are NO MORE corrupt than police officers , lawyers , immigration officers ,business men , bankers ,traders or politicians.”
I read your statement to imply that the Custom Officers are either less or just as corrupt as those noted above. It’s good to see that even though you are defending the Custom Officers that at least you are very forthright in the assessment of your comparisons.
In life people choose to see what they want to see. We support the causes we choose to .There is good and bad in every thing. I know of officers who bend over backwards to accomodate poor people . We do not make the laws we enforce it. I once saw a female college take out her money and gave to a poor woman to pay taxes on items . All are not bad . Many bajans go overseas and spend thousands of dollars on items and when they come to the Airport the officer say the duty is a $100.00 and they want to treaten the officer.
Customs Officers play a very vital role in the drug interdiction process.
Customs officers play a very important role in protecting the health of this country.
I had a school mate who used to be involved in drug trafficing . The man tell me Barbadian Customs Officers are some of the strictest 99% of the time they will lock you up unlike some other places like guyana, jamaica or Trinidad.
Let us focus on the positves sometime . We have no Dudus Cokes here.
Why don’t you get some of your colleagues to visit BU and share their views on what is happening in Customs?
what a sweet deal , it gets better , thiefing galore thank god you are not a judge you have condemed the officers at every turn. It seems that you are enjoying youself. But you seem to be condeming all who work their.
You said something about 41 car . How many cars are cleared correctly during a 365 day period . How many new how many old , how many duty free ? Do you have the facts? Within the port there are several agencies who have access to the restricted areas. Are you aware that after hour there is virtually no customs pressence in the port . Yet there is the pressence of other agencies who exercise control over entrances and exits.
Years ago we used to accept only original documents. Now I do not know what if the official position. The introduction of the computer system a desire for speedy clearance seen to have resulted in loop holes. With the advent of the computer system one always have to upgrade your virus protection. Systems put in place will fail from time to time. Look at the oil spill in the states. Systems will fail. Importer will seek to find means to trick customs officers. Some are more crafty than the officers.
The Auditor writes what he sees . Officers do not have that luxary they have to work within the systems with the tools that are available in a ever changing world. There are about 500 customs officer yet the training allocation is less than 60,000 per year. We have officers who are on the front line who are not trained.
The Auditor general’s report is bad. Next year it could be worse. Stop bashing the officers and shouting about corruption as the answer for everything. LOOK AT THE SYSTEMS TRY TO STRENGTHEN THEM , TRAIN THE OFFICER BETTER , PAY THEM BETTER. The blog is anonymous. But lets us remember we are talking about the livelihood and reputation of human beings.
@the saint
Your excuse on behalf of the Customs is feeble at best. Items awaiting clearance should be locked down and NOT be accessed by non-custom officers. The fact however the official response by Customs to the AG’s audit exception was something about having to use a stamp which could have been duplicated by anyone.
@ the saint // June 1, 2010 at 7:46 PM
Based on what I’ve read, it’s what has been written in the AG report that people are commenting on. You and Custom Officers who are offended should contact the AG and explain, not make excuses; and call him out on his misinformation.
David they say having a little knowledge is dangerous . I respect your right to comment . However I can see by your responces that you do not have a clue about what you are talking about. I will reommmend that you check the Customs Brokers Association enquire about Mr Depeiza . This chap has an institute that conducts customs training I think the course is for a six months duration after doing the course you will have a little incite into the how customs functions.
@the saint
Keep dodging the issues. Why don’t you recommend training for the AG as well?
IN RESPONSE TO;
“Your excuse on behalf of the Customs is feeble at best. Items awaiting clearance should be locked down and NOT be accessed by non-custom officers. ”
DAVID:
Clearly you know not of what you speak
Again I advise you to do some research and when you do it please focus on the Barbados Port Inc. ( previous designation- Barbados Port Authority). Research how the Port operates and how the port is affected by the actions of some of its employees.
As a tax payer you have the right to query anything pertaining to Government Departments but you must not arrive at conclusions before you ascertain the facts or acquire a good working knowledge of, in this particular case, The Barbados Customs Department.
Your reference to the rubber stamp is a clear indication of your lack of knowledge and understanding of the situation and what would have led to the continued use of the rubber stamp (BTW, rubber stamps are used all over the world and like licence plates in Barbados, anybody can get one made) . In your research try to find out if the Customs Department is to be blamed for the tardiness of others in the implementation of the system that would have rendered the rubber stamp useless in the referred to situation.
In this day of post clearance auditing , trade liberalization and trade facilitation, goods are dealt with differently from previous times. The onus is on the importer to be honest in his/her dealings but failure to be honest will be dealt with harshly, The penalties are very severe. The advice to importers is to comply because the emphasis these days is to get the goods to market without delay but if importers want to take advantage of the situation upfront and be dishonest , then they will be ‘hooked’ after the fact so they should not think for one moment that they are getting away with anything. The reason the AG can do the work he has done is because of the ASYCUDA ++ which is a system designed to increase the speed at which you can get your goods but allow for discrepancies to be dealt with after the fact so those importers who want to be dishonest fools can go ahead but retribution will catch up with them.
You like most people who pontificate on Customs matters know very liitle about Customs but you have the right to an opinion and you have to right to put questions, however, you must not jump to conclusions based on false premises: you start wrong , you end wrong.
Most people only see Customs Officers when passing through the Airport Arrival Hall, they know absolutely nothing about Customs but some persons make ill-informed or un-informed comments about the Department and its Officers. Some persons do not realise that Customs Officers are deployed at many varied places throughout the island , they believe the seaport or the airport is the only place. Some persons are unaware of the myriad functions performed by Officers, for example the boarding of Oil Tankers 7 miles out to sea off the coast of BARBADOS at three o’clock in the morning or some other hour when the likes of you are on cloud nine -may I add that these tankers are boarded with the use of a rope ladder and involves an Officer jumping from a small boat or launch to the Oil Tanker and might I also add that this is done without the provision of proper gear or without insurance –( something that has been requested by Officers for donkey years but not approved by certain people at certain minitries who want to take away every allowance from Officers) — but Officers do it for this country BARBADOS—-and somebody asked about ” protection”
Some persons cannot even distinguish between Customs Officers and Immigration Officers or Customs Officers and Port Health Officers. Many persons blame Customs Officers for taking away their fruits and their ‘MEATS’
etc , when in fact other agencies work at the Ports of entry and are responsible for various duties.
Persons come through the airport and trick or try to trick Customs Officers
all of time but such persons are not censured by the likes of you because if you can get away with something at the bottom of your suitcase , its ok, you go home smiling and laughing
My advice to you all is to read, please read the Customs LAWS -(available on line) not that you will understand all of the technical matters contain therein but you would get a good grasp of many things from the whole question of hours of work to how you should respond to an Officer when questioned. Unlike most workers in Government , the hours of work are stipulated by law and the whole question of overtime is stipulated by law so that when I hear people such as a certain moderator pontificating about matters to do with overtime and the Port and allowances and such matters , I find it amusing because of the ignorance displayed.One thing that you learn is not to argue with persons when you realise that they know not of what they speak. Such arguments are useless.
My advice to you all is to read and research , ask questions yes but do not pontificate on matters that you know nothing about.
abslunituo salik puntio facile
Thank you for allowing me to express my views . I am a Customs Officer and a proud one. I unlike the majority of my comrades will defend the great institution I work for. In the US the Customs play a very important role in the HOME LAND SECURITY. However there are those in the Ministry of Finance who have not given the Customs the respect due. Dispite this the Officer still try to play their role in national secuurity. The official secrecy act will restrict me from expanding on this topic.Finally let me say I think the Barbados Underground is doing an excellent job. Keep up the good work.
IS THIS PS FINANCE WHO WAS INFORMED IN 2006 THAT VEHICLES WERE BEING REMOVED FROM THE PORT WITHOUT PAYMENT OF DUTIES AND DID NOTHING?
IS THIS THE SAME PS WHO INSTRUCTED THAT ONE OF THE SAID CARS BE RESTORED TO THE OWNER?
IS HE ONLY NOT AFRAID BECAUSE HE HAS SUBMITTED HIS PAPERS FOR RETIREMENT.?
SAINT
Can you tell me if those receiving these cars without duty are indians as suggested by pudding and souse in the saturday nation,and who are these people,are they connected to some politicians.
Indian’s pay duties like all other people. The comment in the pudding and souse was totaly untrue and was just an attempt to slander a honest communities name
the comment by pudding and souse is untrue .THIS individual did not bring in any cars into the island during the period stated in a company name or individual names get your fact straightttttttttttttttttttttttttttttpleaseeeeeeeeeeee
come on top ranking constabulary your name is being CALLED
IT IS HOPED THAT THE PS BRINGS THE SAME ZEAL TO THE ISUES SURROUNDING THE CARS.WHILE THE PS HAS NO POWER UNDER THE ACT DID HE EXERCISE SOME POWERS WHEN HE INSTRUCTED CUSTOMS TO RETURN THE STOLEN VEHICLE.WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY.
how many cars are actually missing? why has the matter not been turned over to the police? what ever happened to the case where two men are on bail? will the matter be swept under the carpet?