Training - ZJB Radio

Montserrat Customs and Revenue Service Officers Depart for Eight-Week Training Course

The Government of Montserrat has announced that a cohort of officers from the Montserrat Customs and Revenue Service (MCRS) has departed the island for an eight‑week training course in St. Kitts. The initiative forms part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening border security, enhancing revenue collection, and investing in the professional development of young public officers. The intense training exercise was coordinated by Comptroller of Customs, Derick Lee, who emphasized the importance of continuous capacity‑building within the Customs and Revenue Service. The officers were transported to St. Kitts on Saturday onboard the MV Heliconia, with support from the Royal Montserrat Police Service. The Government views this training as a strategic investment in Montserrat’s long‑term development. Customs officers play a critical role in: By equipping officers with advanced skills and updated knowledge, Montserrat strengthens its ability to manage increasing trade activity, especially as the island prepares for major infrastructure developments such as the new seaport. The training programme is expected to deliver several key benefits to Montserrat, including improved Border Protection as the officers will gain enhanced skills in inspection, enforcement, and risk management, helping to prevent illegal imports and protect public safety. There will be more efficiency in trade processing as it will support faster, more transparent customs procedures, benefiting businesses and encouraging economic activity and stronger revenue collection. The officers will be better equipped to apply customs laws and valuation procedures, ensuring that government revenue is accurately and efficiently collected. The participating officers represent a new generation of public servants, and their training contributes to building a skilled, confident, and future‑ready workforce. The Government of Montserrat says it remains committed to investing in its human resources, particularly within frontline agencies that safeguard the island’s economic and national security interests. It extends its appreciation to the Royal Montserrat Police Service for facilitating safe transport and to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis for hosting the training programme. The officers are expected to return to Montserrat upon completion of the eight‑week course, bringing with them enhanced skills and renewed commitment to service.

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Montserrat Focuses on Improving Standards to Boost Tourism Offerings

As Montserrat continues to boost its tourism offerings, more attention is being focused on improving standards. Parliamentary Secretary Hon. Crenston Buffonge says for this reason, the Tourism Authority has trained 46 public and private sector workers in customer service, and conducted tour and taxi training to strengthen their service delivery. This is the continuation of a process of developing the island’s tourism standards to ensure quality assurance across the board. He says the training is not limited to food and beverage, or the accommodation sectors, but also the quality of Montserrat’s cultural events and the conditions of tourism sites across the country. The Tourism Authority is also stepping up its marketing and promotion efforts. As a result, its marketing reach has expanded significantly, including on Facebook, which alone, has achieved 4.6 million views and 213,000 reach. The MTA has also partnered with major media outlets, including Mail Online in the UK, The Saturday Times, and publications across Canada and the United States. Looking ahead, the Parliamentary Secretary says they are launching new promotional videos highlighting St. Patrick’s Festival, and expanding its social media campaigns for Carnival 2025. Other initiatives are the Volcano Heritage Trail, and a collaboration with the Montserrat Volcano Observatory and the Montserrat National Trust in establishing the UNESCO Global and Geoparks initiatives. The MTA is also working with the Department of Environment on the Protect, Preserve and Prosper campaigns, including youth tree planting and beach cleanups across the country. Having established the natural tourism products, Mr. Buffonge says the focus now must be the introduction of man-made attractions that complements, not take away from, these national assets. In this vein, he announced plans for a forest zip-lines and a beach-side turtle hatchery, which would allow tourists to be a part of Montserrat’s conservation drive.