St. George’s: Monday January 26, 2009 will once again be celebrated around the world as International Customs Day. International Customs Day marks the anniversary of the establishment of the World Customs Organization, some 55 years ago, whose mission it is to facilitate trade and travel of the world’s Citizen. More importantly, however, International Customs Day is the day when the efforts of men and women working in customs organizations world-wide are recognized. Although celebrated throughout the world in many different ways, the message is always the same - Our employees do valuable work, perform an important public service and their efforts are truly appreciated. The work of customs’ officials world-wide is making a significant contribution to the safety, security and prosperity of all communities. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Customs and the Environment-Protecting our Natural Heritage’. This theme is very fitting for us in the Caribbean, especially here in Grenada. Most manufacturers, inventors, policy makers and even the ordinary man are conscious of the need to keep our planet green. The responsibility lies with everyone to do what is necessary to protect and conserve our environment. The World Customs Organization Council has adopted several recommendations on addressing environmental crimes. The latest recommendation, approved in June 2008, calls for all World Customs Organization (WCO) members to continue their efforts to combat environmental crimes and to ensure that the environment remains a priority issue for Customs Organizations across the globe. One aspect of Grenada’s Customs Department mission statement is to assist in securing the Island’s social, ecological and economic environment. The Department therefore is one of the agencies, focused on the preservation of our environment as evident in the formation of the Green Customs Initiative Partners by the WCO. A few years ago training was conducted to facilitate the identification and depletion of Ozone Depleting Substance which falls under the Montreal Protocol. This was done in collaboration with the Energy Unit. The WCO is soon to release the updated Montreal Protocol Customs training manual, the Green Customs Guide and the WCO e-learning modules on the Montreal Protocol and Green Customs. From: Ministry of Finance, Planning, Economy, Foreign Trade, Energy & Cooperatives INSIDE GRENADA NEWS