The Custom Brokers and Freight Forward Association has gotten an injunction to stall Jamaica Customs Agency contactless clearing, which was slated to begin on April 2.
The ruling was made today at the Supreme Court, where the injunction has been granted until April 25.
A source from the association told Freedom Come Rain Online that after assessing this move to go contactless, they realised people were going to end up losing their jobs.
“A good portion of the job losses would be females who are already struggling to take care of their families,” the source outlined.
Efforts were also made to have communication on the move with Jamaica Customs Agency and the Finance Ministry, but to no avail.
The source is urging Jamaica Customs and the Ministry to carefully examine the impact it will have on those who are already vulnerable.
The association was represented by Kings Counsel Georgia Gibson Henlin.
Contactless clearance is the process by which Customs conducts inspections of non-commercial cargo with a cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value of under US$5,000, without the importer or agent needing to be present for the exercise.