Thursday, March 28, 2024

Customs to transition to BRA October 1

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THE TRANSITION OF Customs officers to the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) will now take effect from October 1.

This disclosure came today from acting head of the civil service, Sonja Welch. She made the announcement during one of two meetings for customs officers at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre to provide them with information on the transitioning to BRA. During the sessions, officers were extensively briefed and given the opportunity to ask questions and have them answered.

Senior public servants attending the meeting included Acting Director of Finance and Economic Affairs, Dr Louis Woodroffe; acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Avonda Carrington and the acting deputy permanent secretary, Betty Alleyne-Headley; permanent secretary in the Ministry of Civil Service, Alyson Forte; chief personnel officer, Gail Atkins and BRA’s revenue commissioner, Margaret Sivers. Also in attendance was the acting comptroller of Customs, Annette Weekes.

Welch said several meetings had been held, including some with the trade unions, to discuss the transitioning to BRA and a number of target dates had been set in the past. She stressed that “good progress” had been made and the Cabinet had agreed that the transition would now be on October 1.

She pointed out that meetings were held this week with officials of the National Union of Public Workers and the Barbados Workers’ Union to clarify any matters they needed addressed. She told those gathered: “During the course of the day, you will be getting information letters on the transition process and on Monday, September 5, you will receive a package, including an offer letter.”

Chief personnel officer, Gail Atkins, explained that the information letters would set out details pertaining to the transition. “You will have a lot of the key issues captured in that letter so that you can study it and have something in your hand which will assist you in making any decisions.”

Revenue Commissioner Margaret Sivers emphasised that the option letters would be issued on Monday, September 5, and should be returned to BRA no later than September 19. She explained that among the available options would be that of permanent appointment or secondment for a period of up to two years.

“We have a framework and a proposed organisation structure but we will not have the final organisation structure until we have in place a senior management team. Our belief is that while we may have a proposal, we feel that senior management should be involved in how the organisation is structured,”  Sivers pointed out.

She explained that there would be three main departments – Airport Operations, Bridgetown Port Operations and Mobile Operations. According to her, the mobile operations department would service all ports and locations that were not at the airport or Bridgetown Port.

Sivers stressed that the transition to BRA was only the first step in an entire reform process which would include training for staff. (BGIS)

 

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