The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) will be officially commemorating International Anti-corruption Day today at its head office, located at Newport East, Myers’ Wharf, Kingston — a precursor to a slew of activities to be undertaken by the agency as part of its anti-corruption efforts.

The agency will commemorate the day under the theme ‘Youth at Risk’ in collaboration with the Office of the Contractor General (OCG), the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), and the National Integrity Action (NIA) in the fight against corruption.

This event will serve to sensitise as well as raise the level of awareness of staff and stakeholders, and will comprise presentations, performances and an outside broadcast in the courtyard.

The JCA recognises that as a public sector entity, it has a duty to operate and conduct its affairs with integrity, accountability and transparency, and has instituted several strategies and measures geared at preventing, combating and ultimately eliminating corruption, including:

• Engaging in the security vetting of all employees

• Establishing investigative units (Investigation Unit, Internal Affairs Unit)

• Implementing a rotation policy for employees

• Implementing an Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) — allowing for the traceability of all transactions via the system

• Developing the agency’s Integrity Manual (2016)

• Offering open access by the public to report matters of corruption to the agency

• Establishing an Anti-corruption & Ethics Committee (chaired by external personnel)

• Collaborating with other government entities in identifying malfeasance. In support of its efforts, the JCA invites members of the public to report any form of corruption involving employees of the JCA at telephone 750-3020 or e-mail internalaffairs@jacustoms.gov.jm. Information provided will be treated confidentially.