| A lead agency in the E-Government
thrust is the Jamaica Customs. In its role of
applying duties and tariffs to imported goods,
checking export documentation and passing shipments
for clearance, Jamaica Customs administers a total
of 127 Laws and Acts, in addition to those directly
related to customs. This department is responsible
for some 30% of the country's total tax intake.
Systems Modernization
A member of the Jamaica Trade Point e-partnership
at, Jamaica Customs has effected a major
modernization of its systems and procedures. Key
initiatives include:
- Trade facilitation, which includes
simplification of document procedures;
automation and use of
technology; and modernization of border-crossing
administration,
- Revision of customs procedures in line with
computerization, standardization of procedures
across
customs sites and benchmarking of international
customs organizations
- Ongoing staff training, and
- Client focused operation.
Benefits
The new system at Customs allows clients to:
- Go directly to the Jamaica Customs website
and retrieve information about Customs
procedures and requirements
- With the recent introduction of a new
e-form, pay duties for their C78 entries online,
using credit cards, eliminating manager's
cheques and long delays for processing
- Check entry status online, with greater
transparency between Customs, brokers and
importers
Enhancing Efficiency
This E-Government project integrates and
web-enables the systems of Government Agencies (such
as JAMPRO, Trade Board and Jamaica Customs) to
eliminate duplication of effort and reduce the
number of places importers/exporters have to visit
before their goods can be processed and leave the
ports.
With the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME)
coming into force by the end of 2004 and the Free
Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) by 2005, Jamaican
businesses are now challenged to respond to the
needs of a wider market place and increased
competition for market share. Cross border trade is
expected to escalate, and will be facilitated by
advances in Information and Communication
Technologies.
Automation
The Electronic Processing System allows:
- Pre-Arrival Processing, a Fast Track
Facility with a turn-around time of 3 hours
- An E-Export system which is a component of
the Jamaica Trade Point
- The E-Manifest, for electronic submission of
the Carrier's Manifest, 24 hours before arrival
of the vessel.
- Efficient auditing, processing and filing of
documents
- Access to shared relevant data in other
customs jurisdictions
- Improved intelligence gathering on tax and
import duty evasion
Customer Focus
The department has established a special advice
service for returning residents. A world class
Customer Service Unit is now being developed, to
guide users through the new business processes.
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