The Caribbean island nations confront distinctive trade challenges while simultaneously presenting unique economic opportunities. Saint Lucia Customs is actively pursuing international cooperation to address these challenges and capitalize on opportunities to boost regional economic development.
In a significant development, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), visited Castries, the capital of Saint Lucia, from February 13-14, 2020, at the invitation of Mrs. Anita Montoute, Acting Comptroller of Saint Lucia Customs. The visit focused on addressing challenges and exploring development opportunities for small island economies in the Caribbean region.
High-Level Meetings: Charting the Course for Trade Development
Dr. Mikuriya participated in high-level discussions at the Saint Lucia Ministry of Finance, attended by Hon. Bradley Felix, Minister for Commerce, Industry, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs, along with other senior government officials. The meetings centered on improving the business environment, fulfilling international trade obligations, and implementing Saint Lucia's sustainable development strategy—a model with potential applications across the Caribbean.
The discussions emphasized customs' pivotal role in trade facilitation, investment attraction, and sustainable development support. Participants unanimously agreed that strengthening customs capacity and improving efficiency are essential for driving economic prosperity throughout the Caribbean region.
Customs Reform: Enhancing Efficiency and Security
During productive meetings with Saint Lucia Customs' management team, Dr. Mikuriya reviewed progress on customs reforms, focusing particularly on risk management implementation, technological adoption, and organizational restructuring. Saint Lucia Customs remains committed to employing advanced technologies and management approaches to boost operational efficiency and border security.
Risk management emerged as a cornerstone of the reform process, enabling more effective resource allocation through targeted risk assessment of goods and passengers—reducing unnecessary inspections while accelerating clearance procedures. Dr. Mikuriya also engaged with young customs officers, soliciting their perspectives and encouraging their active participation in reform initiatives to support regional trade development.
Regional Cooperation: Collective Solutions for Shared Challenges
At the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) headquarters in Saint Lucia, Dr. Mikuriya met with Permanent Secretary Mr. Albert Sandy to explore enhanced cooperation avenues with WCO, including potential collaboration with UK Border Force and other international and regional organizations. As a vital platform for regional customs cooperation, CCLEC plays a critical role in combating smuggling and illicit trade.
The partnership between WCO and CCLEC significantly strengthens regional customs enforcement capabilities and enhances security. Notably, CCLEC hosts the WCO Caribbean Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO), which collects and analyzes regional customs intelligence to support member administrations.
Field Inspections: Ground-Level Perspectives
Dr. Mikuriya conducted on-site inspections of customs operations at ports, ferry terminals, and cargo facilities that connect the Caribbean's small island economies. These visits provided valuable insights into current operational realities and future development possibilities, including regional integration initiatives.
The WCO Secretary General reaffirmed the organization's commitment to supporting Caribbean customs administrations in addressing challenges and seizing opportunities to foster regional economic growth. The field observations will inform more targeted WCO assistance programs for the region.
Saint Lucia Customs: Progress and Persistent Challenges
Saint Lucia Customs has achieved notable reform milestones, including implementing new management systems, strengthening risk management frameworks, and enhancing enforcement capabilities. However, challenges persist, including limited resources, slow technological modernization, and threats from organized crime networks.
To overcome these obstacles, Saint Lucia Customs must deepen cooperation with WCO, CCLEC, and other international partners to secure additional technical assistance and funding. Simultaneously, internal capacity building remains crucial—enhancing officer professionalism to ensure effective customs operations.
The Imperative of Caribbean Customs Collaboration
Regional customs cooperation proves essential for advancing trade and maintaining security across the Caribbean. Many island economies face capacity constraints that limit their ability to independently address trade challenges and security threats. Through strengthened collaboration, customs administrations can share intelligence, coordinate enforcement actions, and collectively combat illicit trade while improving border security.
Such cooperation also facilitates regional trade by reducing costs and enhancing competitiveness. WCO continues supporting these efforts through technical assistance, training programs, and information-sharing mechanisms that build regional capacity.
Forward Outlook
With WCO support, Saint Lucia Customs and CCLEC are advancing regional cooperation to address challenges confronting Caribbean small island economies. Future collaboration will focus on enhancing trade facilitation and security to drive regional prosperity.
Dr. Mikuriya's visit has reinvigorated development efforts for Saint Lucia Customs and the wider Caribbean region, while opening new avenues for WCO-Caribbean partnership. Through sustained cooperation, Caribbean customs administrations will be better positioned to navigate future challenges and contribute more substantially to regional economic development.