Government will spend US$2.2 million to refurbish four scanners donated by the US Government last November for use at the Point Lisas and Port-of-Spain ports.Minister in the Ministry of Finance Vasant Bharath made the announcement after first of a series of quarterly meetings of State agencies at the Trinidad Hilton and Conference Centre, St Ann's.
He said an order has been placed for another scanner for the Port of Port-of-Spain.NADALEEN SINGH"I have just placed an order for a scanner through a grant agreement that the Chinese government. That was actually dealt with last year when the Chinese Vice Premier came to T&T and that has not been utilised–the note has just been taken to Cabinety.Bharath said the scanner will be able to process 200 containers per hour.Commneting on the Customs Amendment Bill which is scheduled for debate in Parliament next week, the minister said: "The two major amendments on that bill are the presentation of advanced manifests which will ensure that documents are presented prior to their goods arriving, which means that Customs will be in a position to do all its checks and balances prior to their goods arriving.
"Therefore, other than security issues, there ought not to be any problems."Bharath said the much anticipated merging of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) and the Single Electronic Window will soon be completed and will to be shared electronically across five different agencies."Certification will take place almost instantaneously," he said.
