Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest (pictured at left) recently launched the new look and operation of Customs with announcement of the Bahamas Customs and Excise Department’s public education campaign for the Customs Modernization Initiative, and the User Registration Drive for Click2Clear, the new Customs Online Portal.

The Deputy Prime Minister said: “What we envision is a revenue collections agency that performs its function in a secure, modern and convenient way. Technology is at the heart of this transformation process and Click2Clear represents all the ways that technology is going to take Customs into the future.”

The launch took place at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, August 14, 2019. The Deputy Prime Minister also announced that Bahamians can look forward next year to a mobile app that will transform Customs clearance at baggage claim into a fast, paperless and online process. Customs is currently collaborating with a local software developer to launch a mobile app for Customs declarations at baggage claim. He said that with this technology, it is anticipated that Bahamians will be able to file their Customs declarations in advance of arriving at the airport.

The system will calculate any duties owing and facilitate online payment before passengers arrive in The Bahamas. The Exempt App is part of the next phase of the Customs Modernization Initiative, and later in the year a specific timeline for its launch along with additional features will be announced.

 

(BIS Photo/Derek Smith)