From 5-9 November 2018, experts from the World Customs Organization (WCO) worked together with their counterparts in the Bahamas Customs and Excise Department (BCED) to review the organization’s Human Resource Management (HRM) and Integrity approaches. Particular topics of focus in addition to HRM and Integrity included Competency Management, Health & Safety as well as Training.
The working groups comprised members of BCED’s HR and Training Units, as well as representative from the Ministry of Public Service. Meetings were also held with senior members of the Bahamas WTO Accession Working Group from the Ministry of Financial Services, Trade, Industry and Immigration and a cross section of representatives from the private sector to gain different perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing Customs officers in the Bahamas today.
Using the methodologies and frameworks drawn from the WCO People Development Diagnostic Tool (PDDT) and the Integrity Development Guide (IDG), the working groups reviewed the extent to which BCED aligns with current best practices, any gaps, and identified priorities and recommendations for the way forward. Taking advantage of the timing of the mission, which occurred in the middle of the 18-month WCO-Bahamas Training Programme, a review was undertaken of the current status of activity under the Bahamas Mercator Implementation Plan, noting achievements and lessons learned to date and planning for 2019.
This was delivered as part of a wider program of training support to BCED, linked to the WCO-Mercator Programme aiming to help Bahamas align with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and under the umbrella of the IADB’s Bahamas Trade Sector Support Program. The week was very successful in providing a clearer view of the current priorities and needs for BCED, in conjunction with WCO principles for customs professionalism and integrity in the context of the country’s plans for future accession to the WTO.
For more information about this activity, please contact: capacity.building@wcoomd.org