The Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica (CBFFAJ) was born out of an idea formulated by a group of customs brokers who were experiencing great difficulties in clearing goods through Customs. They saw the need for a cohesive body to represent their interests. Hence, on November 15, 1965 a group of customs brokers met to discuss the problems they were facing.
A major decision coming out of this meeting was the setting up of a steering committee with specific terms of reference. Its main task was to draft a constitution and spearhead the formation of the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica. It is important to highlight the fact that the CBFFAJ was not formed by the customs brokers for profit, but to guarantee effective representation of themselves as professionals. They also saw the need to have effective regulatory mechanisms governing their operations. More directly, they felt duty-bound to ensure, by maintaining a high standard of professional customs brokerage service, that the interests of their clients, the government, and their members were well served.
A summary of the CBFFAJ's experiences over the last 30 years fully validates that altruistic ideas guided their development. But, even more importantly, the well-deserved recognition and prestige they have gained from government and the private sector clearly prove their wisdom and the correctness of their actions.
With the occasion having arisen for customs brokers to speak with one voice, the initial work was consolidated. A draft constitution was presented and adopted by a representative group of customs brokers on December 9, 1966. At this meeting the first officers were elected with Louis A. Williams as the first president.
Between 1966 and 1972, the CBFFAJ continued the struggle for national recognition. In 1972, the first draft regulation set to govern the operations of customs brokers was penned by government. They objected to several provisions of the draft, and resolved to work day and night to prepare and submit a more reasonable alternative. This work was completed in July 1973 and the draft document was submitted to the Collector General, the head of Customs at the time.
With the emergence of Caricom, a CBFFAJ delegation was invited to participate in the first regional conference of customs brokers. This meeting was held at Cave Hill, Barbados, in July 1975. Follow-up efforts failed to lead to a regional organization. Hence, this idea has remained dormant since then.
The customs brokers' struggle to have government recognize their vital input into industrial and commercial activities continued. These efforts led to the first regulation recognizing the practice of customs brokerage being enacted into law on March 4, 1976.
Again, the customs brokers thought that this new law did not meet all their requirements. Thus, they continued to lobby government. In the meantime, the day-to-day challenges they faced gave rise to a significant increase in their organizational activities. The structure of the Association evolved to meet the new demands. Several committees were formed thereby allowing the vital input by the CBFFAJ's membership to strengthen the organisation and, hence, contribute to its progressive development.
It is pleasing to say, after many years of lobbying and untiring dedicated work by the Association that many of their constructive proposals have been adopted by government. Among these, one can single out the government's decision to amend the Customs Regulations of March 4, 1976. The Customs (Amendment) Regulations of November 23,1988 was passed, fulfilling one of the Association's key demands allowing only licensed customs brokers to engage in the business of entering goods for import and export.
This important recognition meant added responsibility. The customs brokers found themselves having to ensure that a continuous stream of skilled personnel from their profession was made available to meet the needs of industry, commerce and the public sector. The training program which had earlier started for the membership had to be expanded. The assistance of the College Arts, Science, and Technology (CAST), now University of Technology (UTech), was sought to develop a proper training program. With the blessing of the Customs Brokers Licensing Advisory Board (CBLAB), the Ministry of Finance, and the Education Ministry, a committee from the Association worked with UTech to develop an appropriate curriculum for the training program. This training program was initiated at UTech in the Association's Silver Jubilee Year, commencing October, 1991.
One aspect of this program is to institutionalize the method through which future customs brokers will be trained. As a consequence, seven students have graduated with their diploma and, upon application to the CBLAB, have been approved as customs brokers. This approval is in keeping with the promise of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, working with the CBLAB.
A second program commenced in September 1995 with over 22 students registering at UTech. It is hoped that this will see the profession infused with more qualified people in customs brokerage, assisting Jamaica to meet the many challenges that will confront it as a trading nation in this global environment now and in the 21st century.