The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

IMPORT-RELATED commerce came to a halt yesterday after Customs brokers complained they were shut out of the Electronic Single Window/Click2Clear goods clearance system for the entire day.

Simone Munroe, owner/ operator of Pinder’s Services, told Tribune Business she had been unable to submit any import clearance-related documents through Click2Clear since Wednesday night.

“I was trying to work with the Click2Clear all Wednesday evening and it shut me out,” she said. “I went on it again this [Thursday] morning. I understand they are trying to implement this integrated system and they didn’t provide any training.

“But now this morning if you had entries and you were trying to submit them to the Customs Department, no entries could have been submitted today and they didn’t even provide an update. The Customs Department didn’t even send out a flyer warning us of the problem. No one could get anything in through Click2Clear.”

The problems coincided with the deadline for Customs brokers, in-house brokers and major importers to begin submitting declarations and entries via software that better integrates with the Click2Clear system. However, Tribune Business was told this had nothing to do with yesterday’s woes, as the entire system was inoperable.

David Humes, owner/ operator of Integral Logistics, confirmed: “We couldn’t do anything today. They had internal problems. Nobody could do anything about today.” With manual Customs entries now discontinued, Mr Humes said the Customs Department yesterday forwarded brokers to a senior officer who would have been able to facilitate their requests.

Neither Customs nor Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, could be reached for comment before press time last night. Customs had previously mandated that brokers be fully “integrated” with its electronic goods clearance platform, Click2Clear, by January 2, 2023.

A flyer on the initiative, published last year, warned brokers, in-house brokers, retailers and wholesalers that all major importers “must submit Customs declarations via integration to Click2Clear. Bahamas Customs will not accept manual declarations nor documents. Only integration submissions will be accepted”.

The flyer named two suitable suppliers of the necessary software “integration”, Information Systems Ltd (ISL) and its SWIM product, and GAAC. However, rather than mandate that brokers and major importers use the services of either of these two entities, the Customs flyer said firms can “seek the services of an independent program developer”.

A subsequent January 3, 2023, notice warned that from Tuesday this week “integration is mandatory for the submission of declarations by all parties”. Previously, entries could be submitted directly to Click2Clear, but they now can only be processed through “integrated” third-party software - something that brokers have said adds to the cost of doing business.

Chris Lleida, Premier Importers’ chief executive, yesterday said his in-house brokers had difficulties submitting Click2Clear entries too. He provided screenshots of the rejected declarations.

He added: “The Ministry of Finance in an October meeting only provided two local companies as providers of this now-required SWIM software, ISL & GAACS. We are weighing our options on which company to use as there has been insufficient information or opportunity to properly research.

“The Ministry of Finance representative at the October meeting deflected most questions raised.... in a dismissive and unhelpful manner. For actual brokers there seemed to be very little belief that this additional software would be any type of upgrade to the latest upgraded Click2Clear. Rather it was seen as yet another expense that big, small, young, old felt was unjustified as well as being poorly timed, planned and executed.”