STILL PENDING

There should be some word soon on the planned transition of the Customs Department into the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA).

So says Finance and Economic Affairs Minister, Christopher Sinckler. Sinckler said his Ministry will make an announcement as soon as Cabinet, possibly as early as this Thursday, is apprised of the new way forward that is being contemplated. He made the disclosure as he also gave the assurance that they will continue to engage the various partners, including the trade unions, on the matter.

The revelation came yesterday morning as he addressed the Barbados Customs Brokers and Clerks Association at the Barbados Small Business Centre. Though not delving into details, the Minister indicated that Government is committed to having the issue resolved as soon as possible, noting that some matters, including a few appointments, are still to be settled.

“Some of the other issues, I thought, were issues that whilst there was a divide that we could get past them, because they were not issues that were essentially fundamental to the new system that would be put in place. Issues pertaining to the name change from Customs officer to Border Control officer… Those are issues of nomenclature… Issues such as that I thought we could have moved past and I hope we are able to move past from those issues,” he said.

The Finance Minister made the point as he said that the delay in the transition has in fact pushed back the agenda for improving the levels of efficiencies within the Customs Department. Adamant that this needs to be addressed, Sinckler said it “has to happen now” as the delay is costing the country considerable amounts of money.

“And it is costing our public increased fees and charges and prices in their day-to-day exposure to commercial trade in Barbados and it can no longer continue… So I encourage you to agitate for this process to be completed. I think it is important that we get that done, because for example as I said it caused the ASYCUDA World thing to get pushed back almost more than a year, and we can’t have that stalemated situation exist. It is not fair to anybody. It is not fair to you; it is not fair to the people who you work for, your clients; it is not fair to the public of Barbados, who eventually bear the brunt; it is not fair to the Customs officers themselves or to Government, because the Customs officers and the department will continue in a state of suspended animation waiting to know what is going to happen… That is not the form of existence that any department should be in,” he stated.

Minister Sinckler’s remarks came as he explained that this policy decision by Government to create a central revenue authority was around since 2002 with the reform of Barbados’ trade and financial systems. Moreover, he contended it is not something new, as it has been done in several countries including Guyana, Canada and Malaysia.

“People try to make it out as something that Barbados was doing that has never been done. It has been done before and it has been thought to be done because it is an efficient way of bringing all of the major tax collection agencies under one roof, so that you can administer your tax system in an effective and efficient way,” Sinckler stated.

While admitting that change is never easy, the Minister said he was “personally a little surprised” at the level of resistance from the unions and some personnel to the move. Nevertheless, he said Government remains committed to putting Customs under the BRA. His comments came as he said Government has “bent over backwards” to support and try to pave the way for the transition. (JRT)