Customs week begins with Church Service

(ZIZ News) — The St. Kitts and Nevis Customs and Excise Department is this year celebrating International Customs Day with a week of activities.

Those activities got underway on Sunday when employees worshipped at the Wesley Methodist Church in Basseterre. The group was specially recognised by the church and representatives participated in the service.

Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, who has spoken highly of the department on many occasions, also attended the service. He spoke of the important work that that department performs.

He said, “They continue to ensure that international regulations pertaining to trade are adhered to. They are ensuring that the safety and security of our federation remain intact and for this, we are grateful to them.”

Noting that the work of a customs officer is neither easy nor simple, Prime Minister Douglas called on the customs officers to recommit themselves to their occupations.

“We pray that these public servants will continue to assume their responsibilities guided by a spirit of goodness and fairness and integrity. We pray that they will continue to assume their responsibilities having committed themselves…and services to our nation in order to guard our nation’s interest,” he said.

Dr. Douglas added that the Customs and Excise Department has forged successful partnerships with other organisations and government departments.

The World Customs Organisation, according to its website, is dedicating 2015 to promoting coordinated border management under the slogan “Coordinated Border Management – An Inclusive Approach For Connecting Stakeholders”.