Customs calls on politicians to find own money

By Gynnie Kero
PNG Customs Commissioner Ray Paul is encouraging politicians to generate revenue to develop their districts.
“If you are waiting for only Customs to provide revenue for you to develop your district – you now have to start generating your own revenue because the limited revenue that we (Customs) collect is what we get to share,” Paul told MPs during induction last Friday.
“You have to start incorporating that into your strategic plan and put internal revenue generation by investing into business, that is what you need to do.”
Paul said revenue leakages through devaluation, fraud and corruption were among Customs’ list of challenges.
Among other impediments Customs faced were increasing global trade, movement of people and conveyances across the borders, manpower challenges and border.
The PNG Customs has three main functions – protect the country’s borders and communities, facilitate international trade and collect revenue.
Paul said Customs collected K12.36 billion in revenue between 2012 and 2016.
“If we don’t protect the borders well, there won’t be any revenues coming in.
“So we have to facilitate legitimate border movements as well as protect the health and security of our people.
“We also focus on counter-terrorism, pornography, firearms, dangerous goods, counterfeit items, smuggling of illicit tobacco.
“That is a big challenge for us.
“Our second core outcome is trade facilitation, it refers to cargo, ships and planes. As much as possible we don’t want to delay cargo.
“Interesting, the National Trade Policy (recently launched). We (Customs) are 90 per cent ready to implement that policy.”
Paul further told MPs that Customs did not have the power to grant exemption or waive duties or taxes on imports.