Caribbean Customs Learning Academy

To understand and highlight the role and responsibilities of Customs and Excise in the context of Government procedures and policies.

The aim of this programme is to equip Officers with the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities to improve communication skills with a view to facilitating the smooth and timely execution of their daily activities. It outlines the principles of effective communication and explains how to apply these principles in the workplace.

To understand the roles and responsibilities of Customs and Excise Officers in managing conflict in the workplace and to provide practical strategies for resolving disputes and diffusing situations with colleagues and clients.

To use the provisions available in the Customs Act and related legislation and enactments to effectively carry out your responsibilities as a Customs Officer. To consider the importance of Customs Legislation in protecting revenue, trade facilitation and in enforcing laws relating to imports and exports in general.

The aim of the lesson is to enable the Customs Officer to differentiate between goods that are restricted and prohibited and the role of Customs in ensuring the protection of society. In addition, the Customs Officer will become more aware of the International Conventions surrounding restrictions and prohibitions

To understand that in the performance of your job as an officer in Customs and Excise, you must remain free from any type of activity that could lead to accusations of unethical behavior, misconduct or unjustifiable enrichment in the execution of your duties. This includes overtly corrupt actions and the failure to act when your duty requires you to do so.

To understand that to deal effectively with people in a Customs environment, the correct initial contact with and processing of those in the system is the gateway to effective and professional public service. 

To develop a working knowledge of all the processes involved in receiving, delivering and processing cargo at ports of entry/departure (manually and electronically).

Apply the proper system and procedures in respect of the Warehousing of goods.

Outline and control the release of accounting of travellers baggage and commercial cargo.

The aim of this lesson is to examine is to introduce the concept of risk assessment of cargo and the methodology undertaken to verify and select cargo shipments for verification and examination using a risk based approach. This lesson is linked to Cargo Report, Processing and Release, and Accounting

This programme will assist the Customs Officers in quickly and effectively processing the legitimate traveller, while identifying for examination those travelers which are high risk for contraband and evasion of duties. This is akin to sorting the ‘’wheat from the chaff’’

Classification of goods is a core function of customs administrations. It is important that customs officers understand the concept of tariff classification to ensure that traders pay the correct customs duties and accurate trade statistics are captured. Incorrect classification can have a significant impact on government revenue and negatively impact society and the local trading environment.

Define the relevance of invoices in the Customs environment and outline the elements to be considered for review and acceptance.

This course will examine the core principles of Customs Valuation and the rules governing the use of the methods of valuation as outlined in the Agreement on Customs Valuation. Participants will have practical examples on the application of the various methods.

This lesson is designed to provide Junior Customs Officers with a basic knowledge of the Tariff and its objectives and the preferential tariff treatments that are in place. 

Whilst adhering to Health and Safety good practice, being curious and inquisitive in establishing areas of concealment, undeterred by the degree of difficulty in establishing the facts or overcoming practical obstructions, in order to discover contraband and gain evidence and defeat the smuggler..

The aim of this lesson is to inform participants on the different types of drugs and how to identify and handle drugs in a safe and proper manner. Illegal trafficking and transportation of drugs are major activities that can disrupt supply chain activities and trade. The role of Customs in interdicting and seizing contraband at the Borders is very crucial in stemming the movement of illegal drugs