COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS DEFENDS HIS OFFICERS AT COI HEARING

Commissioner of Customs -Wade Smith has come out in defense of his officers when he recently told the Commissioner of the Commission of Inquiry – COI not to make allegations against his officers unless he has evidence to support his statements.

Smith was being questioned about inappropriate relationships from an Internal Audit Report which made a number of recommendations.

Sole Commissioner – Sir Gary Hickenbottom said the Audit Report referred to the absence of a system whereby agreements and bonding mechanisms were continuously monitored and that gives rise to the risk of an inappropriate relationship.

The Commissioner further said in circumstances where officers   appear to have accepted that the system wasn’t being used as it was intended and that there were gaps in the system, the data was incomplete and this creates a risk of inappropriate relationships forming, or preferential treatment being given.