Goods at the Cyril B. Romney Pier Park are under a Customs bond and unless they are inspected by the Department and certified for export, the goods are not considered duty-free. Photo: VINO/File

The Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park continues to be a challenge for Her Majesty’s Customs as it is a HM Customs regulated area and there are no facilities for officers to operate from, according to Acting Commissioner (AgCOC) of HM Customs, Mr Leslie H. Lettsome, left. Financial Secretary (FS), Mr Glenroy A. Forbes, right, told the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) in April 2019 it was his first time hearing of the issue and noted he would ‘do his best to ensure that it is rectified.’ Photo: VINO/Linked-In/File

According to the Report on the Deliberations for SFC to examine the Draft Estimates for 2019, Member for the Third District Hon Julian Fraser RA inquired why the Department is concerned about the monitoring of cargo at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park if it is designated at a duty – free area. Photo: VINO/File

Mr Leslie was at the time appearing before Standing Finance Committee (SFC) back in April 2019 when he reported about the challenge.

According to the Report on the Deliberations for SFC to examine the Draft Estimates for 2019, Member for the Third District Hon Julian Fraser RA inquired why the Department is concerned about the monitoring of cargo at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park if it is designated at a duty – free area.

Mr Lettsome stated that the goods at the Cyril B. Romney Pier Park are under a Customs bond and noted that unless they are inspected by the Department and certified for export, the goods are not considered duty-free.

No stationary presence

Hon Fraser then noted that the issues faced by the Department have been ongoing since the establishment of the Cyril B. Romney Pier Park and asked if it means they have not been able to execute their duties.

To this, Mr Lettsome stated that they have been able to visit the Cyril B. Romney Pier Park from time to time and noted that there is no stationary presence at that location.

This led Hon Fraser to ask why the Department would need to be at the Cyril B. Romney Pier Park on a permanent basis.

The AgCOC, Mr Lettsome, stated HM Customs is unable to fully or properly execute its duties due to the lack of a facility for officers to operate from.

It was noted that responsibility for the Romney B. Romney Pier Park was recently assigned to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Member for the Third District asked if the Financial Secretary (FS), Mr Glenroy A. Forbes, could promise that the issue would be rectified.

Mr Forbes indicated it was his first time hearing of the issue and noted he would “do his best to ensure that it is rectified.”