CEO and Commissioner of Customs, Velma Ricketts Walker (centre), collected the ISO Certification on behalf of the Jamaica Customs Agency on November 9, 2023 at the Jamaica Pegasus. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill (second right) handed over the certification on behalf of the NCBJ while others looked on.
Just over a year, since the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) received its ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certification, the agency has implemented numerous mechanisms to ensure the certification is retained and most importantly, that staff and external stakeholders can experience an exceptional quality of service delivery as they interact with the agency.
The JCA received its certification on April 18, 2023, having successfully completed the two-stage certification audits conducted by the National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ).
Sean Barrow, Quality Assurance Manager within the JCA, highlighted some of the various measures the agency has implemented in achieving this. “The JCA, in an effort to underscore its unwavering commitment to maintaining and operating a robust and effective Quality Management System, ensured that it bolstered its capacity to continually improve the system through effective Management Reviews and the engagement of ongoing capacity building initiatives/trainings for the Internal Quality Auditors, to equip them in effecting professional and objective quality audits,” he shared. This he said, “will ensure that the JCA remains buoyant in a dynamic and ever-changing business environment with customer focus a priority by always seeking to improve service delivery in keeping with international standards and best practices.”
Leon Smith, Managing Director of GOMax Customs Brokers and stakeholder of the JCA for over 30 years, gave his perspective of how advancements such as the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certification has tremendously impacted the service outputs of the Agency. “In my over three decades of experience as a Customs Broker, I have observed the great strides in the Agency's efficiencies across the gamut of its operations, in particular, it's operations at the Sangster International Airport…” he shared.
He further stated that, “the quick turnaround time in moving visitors and goods through the airport [and ports], has been nothing short of remarkable. It is a testament to the Agency's capacity to translate quality systems and processes on paper, into practical, high-value customer services; values that support lifelong relationships in Jamaica's world-leading Tourism services industry, bringing well- needed income and fame for our island home.”
Mr. Smith also complemented the Jamaica Customs Agency’s efforts in improving and advancing its services for all stakeholders. “GOMax Customs Brokers is pleased to acknowledge the exemplary performance of JCA in implementing and sustaining quality management systems in Jamaica's Customs administration, and wish the Agency the very best in its efforts at continuous improvement and service excellence,” he stated.
The JCA will always continue to seek ways to improve its systems, processes and procedures that will ultimately result in its customers receiving excellent service delivery, consistent with international standards and best practices.
For more information on this initiative, or any other agency-based initiative, you may email public.relations@jca.gov.jm, call 876 922-5140-8 or visit or website at: www.jacustoms.gov.jm.
