Customs and immigration join forces to train new recruits
Class of 2018
(CNS): With government planning to merge the enforcement arms of customs and immigration into a new border protection agency next year, officials at the two currently separate departments have made a decision to start training their staff together. A dozen new recruits who joined customs last week, following the recruitment drive earlier this year, are being joined by four new immigration officers on the 18-week Customs Basic Training Course, which covers laws and conventions, investigative techniques, arrest and exhibit handling as well as revenue and law enforcement ethics.
During his address to the Class of 2018 at the official opening on Monday 4 June, Collector of Customs Charles Clifford said this last recruitment drive attracted well over 300 applications.
“The twelve new customs officers which emerged from that competitive process, collectively bring with them a good combination of skills, qualifications and experience that will benefit the department, and ultimately the public,” Clifford said. “The group includes four former police officers with substantial law enforcement experience and this will no doubt enhance the learning opportunities for the class and benefit the organisation as a whole.”
Acting Chief Immigration Officer Bruce Smith said joint training initiatives involving customs and immigration were not new, and that having immigration officers participating in the basic training for customs signalled the beginning of a planned strategy to introduce a single entity at Cayman’s borders.
“Similarly, there will be cross-training and sensitisation opportunities in Entry and Landing and other border control techniques and applications,” he added.
The Class of 2018 is expected to graduate this August and will then be deployed to active duty in the various sections of the Customs and Immigration departments.
Category: Jobs, Local News
300 applicants, most of whom are only qualified in saying, ‘it’s my island’ or ‘I’m Caymanian’. And exactly how many did the RCIPS or HMCIPS get? Oh yea, that’ll be because they’re cowards who can openly discriminate at a border post knowing full well they won’t get their house fire bombed by some retarded neighbour or family member for doing their job.
Perhaps an FOI should be readied asking exactly how many Caymanians are stopped, searched and items seized or individuals charged by Customs. And, how many Caymanians are arrested and charged for holding multiple work permits for people they’ve never met or off whom that take considerable amounts of money in return for said WP or business interest/Caymanian partnership?
The system and those manipulating it are crooked, as we see on a regular basis.
the blind leading the blind….
The ALL need a maditory annual fitness and be able to pass it. Or it will be heavy lunches and I’ll health and they will SLOW DOWN
No other option with half the workforce suspended and facing criminal trials
a bigger picture, would be nice.. you know! to see who is in it.
CNS: OK, you can now click on the photo to see a bigger version.
Sixteen more civil servants to add to the existing horde. I can certainly understand why there were over 300 applications, generous salaries/pensions, free medical, no accountability for poor performance,job for life,and you never have to answer your telephone.
Please you guys and gals, make us proud. Don’t fall into the same traps your predecessors now facing criminal charges, have fallen into. Be strong, ethical, serve your country, and do right by your people. Good luck and God speed.
And actually work faster than a snail’s pace unlike the rest