The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Customs is aiming to implement electronic duty payments before year’s end, its Comptroller telling Tribune Business that it planned to phase-out the manual submission of documents from importers and brokers by end-May.

Charles Turner said these initiatives were all part of Customs’ efforts to modernise its operations. He added that Customs would no longer accept manual submissions from commercial businesses and brokers on New Providence after May 31, with the policy to be implemented in the Family Islands as early as July.

Mr Turner said that while the number of businesses currently submitting documents to Customs electronically was not large, the process had proven extremely efficient.

Calling on more Bahamian companies to join the effort, the Comptroller said Customs is offering free training sessions on the electronic submissions process each Saturday.

“The electronic submissions is with respect to Nassau at this time. It’s not for individuals at this time, but for commercial business places,” Mr Turner said.

“For greater efficiency we are encouraging them to submit their entries electronically; not only goods being imported but temporary imports and transshipment entries. Customs would review it, check it and approve it. You don’t have to wait on long lines. We are bringing it into effect on June 1.”

The Comptroller added: “Business persons as we speak are doing submissions on-line. One or two of the major importers are submitting their entries electronically. There are not a significant amount of businesses using it right now, but people, as they use it, are finding that they are getting their business done in a much more timely fashion.

“The electronic submission system is much more efficient. We really want to eliminate all of the hand copies. Also, hopefully before year’s end, we will move towards electronic payments with one of the clearing banks.”

An Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report for the five-year, $16.5 million Trade Sector Support Programme, claimed that the Government is losing $66 million in revenues annually due to inefficiencies at Bahamas Customs alone, the situation also placing tourism industry profitability and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows at risk.

The IDB warned that Bahamas Customs’ current problems also threatened the nation’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) accession and implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed with the European Union (EU).

Mr Turner said that the while the Customs modernization process was going well, there was still much work to be done. “A large portion of the loan was for the replacement of the Department’s computer system,” he added.

“I would say that things are going well as we move to modernise Customs, but there is still a lot to be done. The new Customs Management Act was passed but has not been enacted as yet. I’m advised that it will come into effect on July 1, as well as the new Tariff Act,” said Mr Turner.