Chuckie vows to bring in the cash
Charles Clifford, Cayman Islands Collector of Customs
(CNS): The former tourism minister, Charles ‘Chuckie’ Clifford, returned to government on Monday but back on the administrative arm as the new Collector of Customs. A qualified attorney and a former police officer who eventually became a permanent secretary before he entered the political arena, he has vowed to use his skills and experience to collect the duties owed to government. Speaking from his new office on the second day on the job yesterday, he said his main tasks will be revenue maximization for government and ensuring that customs remains a robust partner with the other law enforcement agencies of immigration and police.
Pointing to succession planning as another important area for the new customs boss, Clifford said there would also be a salary review for junior officers in the department, who are an integral part of the “excellent staff”, to ensure that their pay is in line with salaries received by their counterparts in immigration and the police.
After 23 years in the civil service, 17 of which was with the RCIPS, Clifford knows his way around government and enforcement. He was a popular choice for the post, which he secured following a competitive recruitment process after six attempts by civil service management to fill the critical job that had been vacant for three years.
Category: Customs, Jobs, Local News
CNS, why is this article placed in the ‘Crime’ Category?
CNS: Only because Mr Clifford is now ultimately in charge of the enforcement arm of customs. An article about a new head of immigration or police would also be included in the crime section.
So does this mean that the friend of the cousin of the customs officer now has to pay his/her duty as well? It is beyond annoying when you stand in line to pay your little duty on what you managed to pack in two suitcases while someone wheels a cart load of 6 huge duffel bags through the “nothing-to-declare” line and the custom officer doesn’t even bat an eye lid!
Yes indeed. While I am being apprehended and charged duty on a 1.5 litre of whisky, I watch people ambling past in the nothing to declare lane with trolleys containing 60 inch TVs and other bargains that paid for the trip back to check on the holiday home in Florida. Double standards being flaunted in our faces by Customs Officers and above the law Caymanians.
Chuckie, I hope you are up to it and manage to keep away from the “lodge and its denizens who are out to strip Cayman of any removable loot they can get their hands on.
Unfortunately, drugs and guns coming through our ports and corrupt officers are not on the list of priorities but I wish him good luck and success as he can make a difference if he truly put his mind and abilities to it.
2-days on the job and he’s already handing out raises? Sounds like a career civil servant alright. No wonder he is so popular.
excellent appointment and congrats to the FS and DG for not jumping the gun and appointing a light weight to the this key post. I head the DG say that he wanted superstars in the civil service and so far he has delivered. Good things happening in the civil service. Welcome Mr Clifford!! you will make us proud.
go after the drugs and guns please!!
Thanks for the laughs, Clifford will do a good job and I welcome him, however, he will get very little support from those two yes men. Some things happen because of people and some things happen despite people, just sayin
Erm, “superstars”?
The man fitted for the job; that is, to get the job done. Now, let’s do good work. Congrats!
Congrats Chuckie. Your honesty and integrity are unquestionable and you will bring honour to the position.
Happy to pay my duty. All of it. Now streamline the process that is does not take me half a day to clear a shipment.
I think this was the first round in which Mr. Clifford applied!
At least we know that a certain someone from The Republic going to be paying his duty now.
Let me get this right from the last paragraph.
The post had been vacant for three years. There were six other attempts to recruit but Mr.Clifford was a popular choice. Mmmm does this not make him the 7th choice, would love to see how they described the 1st choice.