For Immediate Release: Castries, St. Lucia, January20, 2025
PRESS RELEASE
The Chambers Successful Executive Luncheon Featuring the Custom & Excise Department
January20th, 2025- On Thursday January 16th,the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce hosted its first Executive Luncheon for the year 2025, featuring the Custom & Excise Department at the Coco Palm resort from 12:30pm. The luncheon was a resounding success, with over 60 attendees from the business community coming together to hear from the Comptroller of Customs & Excise, Mr. Sherman Emmanuel. The event took place at the Coco Palm Conference Room and provided an insightful and informative presentation on the transformative efforts underway within the Customs & Excise Department.
Mr. Emmanuel was joined by his senior team viz; Ms. Keiran Jospeh Acting Deputy Comptroller Operations, Mr. Valentine Caesar, Assistant Comptroller Revenue Compliance, Mr. Cletus Thomas, Acting Assistant Comptroller for Trade and Mr. Adrian Dominique, Information Systems Manager.
The Team along with Digitized Solutions Limited a Consultingfirm providing the Customs & Excise Department with support for ASCUDYA andIT Support, provide details on the department's ongoing efforts to enhanceservice delivery, improve efficiency, and modernize the operations and servicebeing provided by the Customs and Excise Department. The initiative is in keepingwith the government’s commitment to improve revenue collection, collectingoutstanding monies owed while expediting the movement of goods, and reducingthe bureaucracy often encountered at the border.
Under the theme “TransformingOur Customer Journey: Faster, Smarter, Greener Trade,” Mr. Emmanuel’s team outlinedthe new tactics to be implemented. The Comptroller indicated that 14recommendations have been made by the Consultants and have been accepted andwill be implemented in the commencing 2025. The Comptroller committed toaggressively start implementing but made a promise that at least half of therecommendations will be implemented by June 2025. Among the recommendationsdiscussed were, the reconfiguration for Customs Release Order, introduction ofE-receipts & Assessment Notices, a Pilot Trusted Trade Program, and revising e Warehouse Bond Forms, amongothers.
Mr. Fabian Joseph and Mr. Jude Charlery of DSL alsoaddressed the Luncheon on the subject matter and the recommendations Mr. Joesphended the presentation with a demonstration of a soon to be introducedweb-based computer programs to make the interface between customers and theCustoms & Excise Department and all its processes easier and take advantageof digitalization opportunities
The luncheon provided the opportunity for attendees toengage directly with key stakeholders and ask questions during the interactiveQ&A session, allowing the business community to better understand thechanges that will directly affect them and also to express some of the concernswith current practices.
The Customs & Excise Department and the Chamberreaffirmed their commitment to continue working together and dialogue on theissues that arise all in the spirit of improving efficiency and lowering coststo the business community while securing Government Revenue as part of theobjective of moving towards a sustainable and shared prosperity in St. Lucia.
For further information and more details on informationshared at the Executive Luncheon and to remain on the “Inside Edge” on businessissues and future Chamber events, please contact the St. Lucia Chamber ofCommerce at 452-3165 or visit our website at www.stluciachamber.org.
For more information contact: Mr. BrianLouisy, Executive Director
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