CARICOM border officials participating in the Barbados leg of the Border Officials Attachment Programme now have a better idea of the operations of this island’s port of entries, which would assist them in the implementation of the Free Movement for All initiative.

The participants from Belize, Dominica, Haiti, and Jamaica, consisting of Customs and Immigration Officers, and CSME Focal Point Officers, toured the Port of Bridgetown, Port St. Charles, and the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA).

During the tour of the GAIA, which was overseen by Quality Assurance Officer, Orlando Neblett, the group got a first-hand look at the operations of Customs, Immigration, and Port Health Officers.

Immigration Officer II, Valerie Rouse, who demonstrated how the kiosks in the arrival hall work, explained the procedure that would be in place if the machines are inoperational. 

She also described the process for the different lines (fast track, CARICOM nationals and all others) for arriving passengers, the Compliance Section, the secondary interview, and detention areas.

Health Sister, Kim Rock, spoke of her role in assisting any passenger who may experience medical issues during a flight, and assessing any alarm raised regarding an infectious passenger, for example, someone travelling from a destination which may have an outbreak of measles.

The visit to the customs area involved seeing where luggage is scanned and loaded before being placed on the belt for collection; the rationale behind a luggage search, even if the person has joined the ‘Nothing To Declare’ line, and other procedures conducted by customs officers carrying out their duties at the GAIA.

The border officials also heard from the Agricultural Quarantine Port Health Officer, Faith Williams, about her role, which involves examining animal products, food items, and seeds or plants found on a traveller for pests and diseases. 

Ms. Williams said her section is vital to protecting plant health and biodiversity in Barbados. She also explained the process for clearing an imported pet.

Following the GAIA tour, Customs Officer from Dominica, Nigel Martin, and CSME Focal Point Officer from Haiti, Kemissa Trecile, shared how they found the programme so far.

Mr. Martin said: “The course has been very informative. Barbados is very far in the CSME movement. There is a lot we need to adopt to follow them…and a lot to take back and learn from.” 

He also noted that the procedures for customs in Barbados are the same as in Dominica, but on a much larger scale, adding: “But we don’t have the capacity to do it at this level.”

Ms. Trecile stated: “Everybody was very welcoming in Barbados, and I’m happy to be here. This programme has been very informative. I am really impressed by how customs, immigration, and other entities are very advanced in implementing the process of CSME here in Barbados, and that will definitely inspire me to make a lot of suggestions back home in Haiti.”

Regarding the tour, she said: “It was very interesting to see how every department works, how they organise themselves, and of course, I noted a lot of best practices that I would suggest back home.” 

The Border Officials Attachment Programme is being facilitated by the CARICOM Secretariat with financial support from the 11th European Development Fund, under the “Strengthening the Framework of CARICOM Integration and Cooperation Process” Programme. (PR/GIS)

Caption: CARICOM border officials, participating in the Barbados leg of the Border Officials Attachment Programme, tour the Grantley Adams International Airport yesterday

Entrepreneurs will soon get another opportunity to learn about critical legal matters that are key to the operation of their businesses.

FundAccess will be hosting The Legal Clinic Workshop, which will commence on Tuesday, May 13, and continue each Tuesday, until May 27, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The workshop will be facilitated by Attorney-at-law Ondene Kirton and participants will discuss Understanding Business Legal Structures; Contracts & Agreements; Employment Law & Compliance; and Examination of the Various Laws Relating to Small Business.

During those sessions, the participants will be exposed to sole proprietorship, partnerships, corporations – pro and cons; how to choose the right legal structure for a business; the importance of contracts in business operations; avoiding common contract pitfalls; and employee rights & employer responsibilities, among others.  Some of the pieces of legislation to be examined include the Employment Rights Act and National Insurance and Social Security Act.

Interested persons may attend the workshop in person at FundAccess’ Pinfold Street, Bridgetown location, or online via the Zoom Platform. To register, click on the following link: https://bit.ly/3Fu09Jv.