The Customs and Excise Department has reported encouraging early results from the introduction of its online payment platform, with officials saying the system is already improving cargo clearance processes, enhancing transparency, and making transactions more convenient for businesses and individuals.
The initiative forms part of a wider modernization programme aimed at improving productivity, strengthening competitiveness, and advancing Saint Lucia’s ease of doing business agenda.
Comptroller of Customs Sherman Emmanuel described the online payment portal as one of several measures being implemented to modernize customs operations and improve service delivery.
“The online payment portal and platform is just one small measure amongst the many that Customs is implementing to improve processing times for the clearance of cargo, to create a more easy environment for the trader, and again, fulfilling that ease of doing business mandate,” Emmanuel said.
He noted that the platform offers significant convenience by allowing users to make payments at any time and from virtually any location.
“So this online payment portal created a facility so that persons can now pay 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from anywhere in the world,” he explained. “It also created a transparency which did not exist so much before.”
Senior Customs Officer Vedlina Polius-Modeste said the department is continuing to expand the platform’s use as part of efforts to streamline procedures for customers.
“We are streamlining our processes to allow persons coming to do the regular barrel clearance or small non-commercial aspects cleared through the, or paid I should say, through the online payment,” she said.
The platform has also been integrated with the Customs Department’s existing electronic processing systems, allowing for seamless record keeping and verification.
Senior Customs Officer Antonie Calixte explained that the payment system is linked directly to ASYCUDA, enabling users to access receipts electronically once payments are completed.
“It is linked to ASYCUDA. So once you do your payment online, you use it. It’s called on the AW web. Once you use that platform, you can also get your receipt in ASYCUDA,” Calixte said. “So the system is intertwined. It’s linked.”
The initiative has also received positive feedback from industry stakeholders.
President of the Saint Lucia Customs Brokers Association Sylvester Louis praised the convenience and efficiency offered by the online payment platform, particularly for those working outside regular business hours.
“I don’t think I can overstate the convenience of the online payment platform,” Louis said. “So those of us who work on the evenings or weekends or even holidays, we can make our payments and have our documentation ready to go for the very next working day.”
He also commended the responsiveness of Customs officials when issues arise.
“And if there’s any issue that arises, the Customs IT department is there to respond to you virtually instantaneously,” Louis added.
Officials say the online payment platform represents another step in Customs’ ongoing efforts to modernize operations, reduce processing times, and provide a more efficient and transparent service for the trading community and the wider public.