KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Customs Agency says it is in a full state of readiness to handle the expected increase in cargo shipments during the festive season.

Senior director of the entity’s Kingston operations, Selina Clarke-Graham, said the agency is already seeing an uptick in the volume of imported items and measures have been implemented to facilitate clearance of goods.

“We have moved quite a number of our officers and placed them into mainline operations to assist with the influx of customers that we are seeing at this time,” she said at a press conference held at the agency’s Newport East location on Thursday.

“We are also deploying additional roving officers to our air and seaports to ensure that they are there to assist our customers with the completion of forms, especially the elderly (in order) to avoid undue delays,” she added.

Customer service officers will also be deployed in key areas at the sea and airports and opening hours will be extended in order to have a seamless process in the collection of barrels and other goods.

“As a consequence, the Collections and Accounts Unit, Customs House, New Port East will be opened on December 12 and 19 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm,” said Clarke-Graham.

Additionally, from December 7 to 23, customers will be granted an extra hour on weekdays to do business at the Collections and Accounts Units at Newport East and Montego Bay.

Closing time will be 5:00 pm instead of 4: 00 pm from Monday to Thursday, and 4: 00 pm instead of 3:00 pm on Friday, Clarke-Graham informed.

Commissioner of Customs, Major Richard Reese, reminded customers that scheduled bookings for the clearance of goods are available.

He pointed out that a day or half day to clear items is not necessary and is insisting that clearing goods can take a little over an hour.