Caribbean Times 52nd Issue - Friday 15th July 2016

2 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g
Friday 15th July 2016
More training in ASYCUDA for Customs
By Everton Barnes
The Customs Division
is intensifying its training in
the Automated System for
Customs Data (ASYCUDA)
which will go into full effect
from the first of August.
Comptroller of Customs,
Raju Boddu, said already personnel
from several government
stakeholder departments
have been trained on how to
use the system in preparation
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of its official launch.
He said the new system
will greatly improve the efficiency
of the Division as
it will allow for online processing
off all customs documents.
“We only need the banks
to come on board with us on
the use of this system in order
to facilitate online payments.
Overtime, this system will allow
us to move to a paperless
system of operations and in
the process save the government
thousands of dollars annually,”
he noted.
This week, a group of
customs brokers was the latest
batch of people to receive
training utilising the system.
Training for the police, the
courts and other government
departments and ministries
have been on-going as their
personnel are exposed to intensive
training on ASYCU-
DA.
“Our ultimate goal is to develop
a one-stop-shop for the
clearing of goods entering the
country through the port. All
the required procedures will
Comptroller of Customs, Raju Boddu
be performed online with the
new system,” he explained.
The customs official said
in the past clearing goods at
the port was a time-consuming
and inefficient system.
Over the past few years, he
reported, he has been able
to improve the system and
reduce the amount of time
it normally took to clear the
goods. “These are modern
times and time is money. We
cannot continue using a system
that wastes people’s time
and money,” Boddu declared.
The ASYCUDA System is
a web based platform which is
expected to make doing business
with Customs and Excise
Division much easier as most
transactions can be handled
via the internet, its available
24 hours/seven days a week
and has the capability of displaying
tariff and list of importers
online.
The system also has the
capability to interface with
other government agencies,
making all applications for
permits and licences electronic
creating a one-stop shop environment.
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Brokers being trained