Contraband detection equipment to be set up at ports

The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) will, this year, ramp up its efforts to detect contraband and 'uncustomed' goods through the procurement and deployment of cargo imaging scanners at various ports of entry.

This forms part of the overall plan by the JCA to drive economic growth through trade facilitation, revenue collection, and border protection.

Presenting the Throne Speech at Gordon House yesterday, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen said the JCA would intensify its trade facilitation programme to improve service delivery.

He said the agency would also further simplify, harmonise, standardise, and automate its rules, procedures and processes, particularly in the area of technology, to enhance service delivery and reliability.

On the issue of public sector transformation, the governor general said this exercise would continue this year with 18 public bodies slated to be rationalised.

The creation of a central database of all Government employees is also to be done to allow for evidence-based decisions.