In a voice filled with passion and commitment to the tasks ahead, Anguilla’s newly-appointed Comptroller of Customs, Mr Travis Carty, has appealed to the men and women in his department to be “Customs Officers with distinction” – with no place for mediocrity.
The young Head of Department, whose fellow officers are deployed at the main office in The Valley and the branch officers at the Airport, Road Bay and Blowing Point Port, assumed his new post on January 13. He succeeds Mr Kenrick Richardson who has now retired. Carty made his first public statement when he addressed his colleagues at the observance of International Customs Day, on January 23, 2015, outside the Customs main office.
Mr Carty, obviously conscious of the need to protect and bolster the public image of the island’s Customs Officers, said in part: “In 2015, I believe in a Customs Department which strives for a culture of professionalism. You don’t have to scream at a trader, you don’t have to scream at the importer or the passenger to show that you are an authority. I believe that as Customs Officers we are resilient enough to be humble and patient in exercising our duties. I believe in a Customs Officer who is so passionate about his or her role in the development of Anguilla, that he or she is not afraid to share knowledge to customers who land on our shores and come before you. I believe in a Customs Officer who will be distinct, second to none, in the profession; who not only wears the uniform, but does so with pride.
“Colleagues, there is a difference and I am confident that you can do this. I believe in a Customs Department which values integrity, professionalism, honesty, the seven Cs of Customs and courtesy without loss of dignity. I believe in a Customs Department of the 21st century and beyond. I challenge you, as Customs Officers, to make a pledge to yourself that we can be better; we can be Customs Officers with distinction. We can serve our community without getting in battles and squables at our ports and borders. We can respect each other enough so that the perception of the public will change. We can respect our uniform; our co-agencies – the Royal Anguilla Police Force, the Inland Revenue Department and the Statistics Department. I believe that, with all hands on deck, and with the implementation of the technological advances in our department…that we can do it and I have seen it done before.”
Mr Carty took time to praise his Customs Officers for their general work and commitment. He paid tribute to those who, on occasions, had used their off days to serve seven days a week to ensure that trade was facilitated; and others who, having done their day’s duties, had volunteered to serve elsewhere in the department to ensure a smooth flow of customs traffic.
“It is such actions that give me the confidence that it is within us to serve, and that our motivational values are all the same,” he continued. “Let us go back to our value system. I believe in our Customs Officers and I assure you, as your new Comptroller, I will do my best to fight battles on your behalf. If you are right, the management team and I will support you but, on the other hand, there will be consequences for your actions [of indiscipline].Discipline begins with oneself. Do not allow yourself to get involved in mediocrity.” He assured his colleagues that there was “an open door policy at the Customs Headquarters” allowing them to share their problems and to receive solutions and encouragement.
“Let us continue to strive for excellence; let us continue to strive for professionalism; let us continue not only to be a Customs Department, but a Customs Department of distinction,” Mr Carty added.
The new Comptroller of Customs was congratulated on his appointment by his colleagues during the event. One of the Customs Officer, Mr Alexis Ryan, a noted upcoming poet, recited two of his recent poems – one a tribute to Mr Carty and the other a commentary on the work of the Customs Department. Both are published elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian.
To the young man or woman who dreams of one day becoming a Customs Officer in Anguilla.
To the young man or woman who dreams of one day becoming a customs officer in Anguilla Ten things I thought you should know.
One. This is more than just a job.
Two. Do not expect all your past friendships to last through the duration of your employment. Words like honesty and respect honestly become more like parallel lines never meeting equally once the exchange of money is involved.
Two. You are now their enemy because you are doing your job.
Three. When you look at your hectic work week on the day you collect your salary and you collect it…………… Smile and think positively, take deep breathes to calm you.
Four. You must learn to calm yourself and develop a control of self especially in instances when words will be hurled at you seeking to harm and diminish your integrity and forgotten is what is written in that customs act ………..at that point you just want to react because the officer inside your body has left and the human being is now here. This is where you take that breath, deeply and swallow, clench that fist, bite your lip, facilitate, count to ten and this is where you remember who you are.
Five. Little children will always call you “police officer “this is not their fault as Customs Officer is not a profession readily learnt in schools. On career day don’t be surprised when none of the kids want to look like you unless of course it is Halloween.
Six. No matter how you try to twist it, fix it or dress it up you are law enforcement but you will forever be conceived as a bill collector in a uniform most people fear upon arrival.
Seven. Through your role is important often you will be treated like a forgotten part of society no one talks or thinks about just ask your tourism officials who forget annually to invite you to their gala where they honor officers on the front lines.
Seven. Please do not get offended with the omission. Sometimes in life people are tasked to make difficult decisions and even they could not pick just one when there were too many extraordinary officers that go above and beyond the call of duty for a society that sometimes will under value their contribution.
Eight. Do not expect gratitude. A job well done from your colleagues, a pat on the back from superior officer sometimes will be the best you can hope for.
Nine. In moments you find this job dangerous, difficult and demanding remember why you joined, why you do this. Remember that the revenue you collect affords this nation’s children a free education. The borders you protect means that there were will be one less bullet , one less gun, one less casualty ,one less user , one less addict , one less mother to ponder why she cries unnecessarily.
Ten. If you still want to be an officer, if my words did not deter you, if you truly understand the value of what you will do and the sacrifice it entails then I salute you and I welcome you with open arms but if you are looking for just another mean to an end then this is not the job for you.
And just for your information I was not born a Customs officer, I was built one.
He is here
He is here.
From the book that has no face we have read about his arrival
He is here.
From the village that seem to never sleep a son was born
Destined for greatness
Clothed almost perfectly in humility
A garment he wears so well
He is here.
Destined to lead from 2015 until when the savior sees fi t
He is here.
And today he is the new Comptroller of Customs in Anguilla
Mr. Travis Cecil Gordon Carty
And today we bid you welcome .
By Alexis S. Ryan cc
