TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNMENT CONTROL AGENCIES UNITS 6 & 7

What is a port community system ?

What is the need for such a system?

PCS

A Port Community System is an electronic platform which connects the multiple systems operated by a variety of organisations that make up a seaport, airport or inland port community. It is shared in the sense that it is set up, organised and used by firms in the same sector – in this case, a port community.

PCS

According to the European Port Community System Association, a port community system (PCS) is a neutral and open electronic platform enabling intelligent and secure exchange of information between public and private stakeholders in order to improve the competitive position of the sea and air port's communities.

PCS PCS will optimise, manage, and automate port

and logistics efficient processes through a single submission of data and connecting transport and logistics chains.

PCS will provide to all logistics stakeholders a collaborative platform to manage all their Business to Business (B2B), Business to Government (B2G), and Government to Business (G2B) logistics operations for import, export, and trans-shipment.

Key features of PCS will be:

end-to-end transport and logistics chain management

* real-time tracking and tracing of all cargo operations

* discrepancies management of all cargo data* key performance indicators (KPIs) for all

stakeholders* secured e-business platform

ASYCUDA — Customs management system

ASYCUDA World promises to significantly improve the Customs IT system used for assessing declarations on imported and exported goods. ASYCUDA World is a further development of ASYCUDA++ and ASYCUDA R2 launched in the 80s using Web-based technology.

ASYCUDA World automates handling of all the steps of the clearance process for all types of Customs procedures and regimes, as well as accounting and supporting the application of modern operational principles:

effective management of the Customs clearance process;

* selective examination practice;* trader compliance;* anticipated or guaranteed payment schemes

to facilitate trade and secure duty collection;* control of trade routing to approved Customs

clearance offices.

The Port Security Corps was incorporated in 1989 to safeguard all publicly owned ports and airports throughout Jamaica. A primary function of this Agency is to reduce the trade in illicit goods through air and seaports and to implement a program for restricted access to these sensitive areas.

Over the years the services of the corps have been expanded to include the provision of security services to the major tourist resorts of Negril, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio and Montego Bay, Government Residences, and the Jamaica Urban Transit Company.

AIRPORT SECURITY

Just over 400 officers have been assigned to provide security at both International Airports. Their responsibilities include:

Pre-board screening The provision of anti-

harassment security services

SEAPORT SECURITY

PSC Officers provide security services (access control, static surveillance and foot patrols) for Port Bustamante, Gordon Cay and Montego Bay Cargo & Cruise Shipping Ports on a twenty-four hour basis

FREE ZONE SECURITY

Officers assigned to the Kingston and Montego Bay Free Zones provide access control at    pedestrian gates,    do static and foot patrols, carry out mandatory and routine building checks and monitor the closed circuit camera system used for surveillance of the perimeter fence

SECURITY FOR BUSES

The Corps provides twenty-four hour security for all JUTC bus depots in Spanish Town and Portmore and on Ashenheim and Lyndhurst Roads, by maintaining access control and perimeter patrol.

RESORT PATROL SERVICE

The Resort Patrol Service (RPS) employs approximately 185 officers, recruited and trained as Special District Constables.  These officers are committed to combating the illegal drugs trade, ensuring that resort areas are clear of squatters, enforcing anti-litter statutes and monitoring water sports operations to ensure safety.

IMMIGRATION

The movement of people into and out of a country is normally monitored by immigration authorities, under a variety of names and arrangements. The immigration authorities normally check for appropriate documentation, verify that a person is entitled to enter the country, apprehend people wanted by domestic or international arrest warrants, and impede the entry of people deemed dangerous to the country.

CUSTOMS CONTROL

Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods, including animals, transports, personal effects, and hazardous items, into and out of a country

Each country has its own laws and regulations for the import and export of goods into and out of a country, which its customs authority enforces. The import or export of some goods may be restricted or forbidden

In most countries, customs are attained through government agreements and international laws. A customs duty is a tariff or tax on the importation (usually) or exportation (unusually) of goods. Commercial goods not yet cleared through customs are held in a customs area, often called a bonded store, until processed. All authorised ports are recognised customs areas.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RED AND GREEN CHANNEL

In some countries, customs procedures for arriving passengers at many international airports and some road crossings are separated into red and green channels.

Passengers with goods to declare (carrying items above the permitted customs limits and/or carrying prohibited items) go through the red channel. Passengers with nothing to declare (carrying goods within the customs limits only and not carrying prohibited items) go through the green channel. These passengers are subject only to spot checks to save time.

 

However, if a passenger going through the green channel is found to be carrying goods above the customs limits or prohibited items, he or she may be prosecuted for making a false declaration to customs, by virtue of having gone through the green channel.

WHAT IS A FREEPORT?

FREEPORT

Free trade zone encompassing an entire port area such as Hong Kong, Isla Margarita, Panama, and Singapore, where imported merchandise may be stored duty-free pending re-export or duty-paid entry into the importing country.

INTERMODAL TRANSPORT