Customs completes three-day workshop

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Division of Customs Services director Jose C. Mafnas, Finance Secretary Larissa Larson, Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Anthony Benavente, OCOS operation manager Tevita Tupou and OCO trade and revenue manager Laisian Tugaga are surrounded by officers and personnel of the Division of Customs after the certification ceremony at the National Workshop at the Pacific Islands Club Saipan.
(Bea Cabrera)

The Division of Customs completed yesterday at the Pacific Islands Club Saipan a three-day workshop on the Revised Kyoto Convention that was intended to bring CNMI customs practices up to par with world standards.

The RKC training, conducted by the Oceania Customs Organisation Secretariat, was to give the CNMI a global perspective on customs laws and be a part of the world trading system in terms of main trade facilitation.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, who gave the participants their certificates, said the training is particularly important to the Division of Customs as they are at the forefront of safekeeping and protecting what goes in and out of the CNMI.

“My belief…is to give the Division of Customs what they need now. …I support additional trainings, new programs and enhancing the programs we already have to strengthen everyone’s ability,” Torres said. “The more training we give Customs, the less likely contraband and illegal items will come into our community.”

Customs director Jose C. Mafnas reiterated that the goals of Customs are to remove bottlenecks, improve practices and procedures, and be more efficient. “We value our taxpayers who contribute to the economy, so we have to make our services better for them.”

The participants were in high spirits. Lt. Jesse Atalig said, “Our mission after this workshop is to be in compliant with the RKC, strategize and elevate procedures that will help simplify legislation, customs regulations, standard operating procedures, directives and memorandum to be business friendly with new investors and most especially, not to jeopardize the security level in a timely manner.”

Customs faces challenges when it comes to equipment and manpower but, according to Mafnas, the governor’s support is much appreciated.

“In my many years of service in Customs, I have never received a call from the governor offering to provide equipment. Gov. Torres called me last week and asked what equipment we still need. He asked me to do research on the mobile scanner, the one that can scan a container van and I thank him for that offer.”

According to Torres, the mobile scanner is important. “If you’ve got a warehouse where you can scan four different containers in one hour, then we will be able to reduce the need for several manpower.”

Torres wants the global stage to know that the CNMI is a very peaceful place, a family-oriented community, and is tourist-based.

“We want peace and we want to protect that peace and the safety of the community. By doing so, we have to be aggressive in trying to stop illegal contraband that come into the islands, illegal drugs, items that violate U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations, and encourage them to just follow the law.”

Although the three-day workshop is done, the Division of Customs will still meet on Sept. 15 at PIC to have an internal meeting and report on the outcome of the workshop. The next Division of Customs training by OCO is scheduled in November this year.