61 out of 78 students graduated as customs brokers

61 customs brokers have successfully completed the customs broker training. The graduation ceremony was held at the Lalla Rookh Building on Monday in the presence of Charda Girwar, head of customs, and Marita Lautan-Wijnerman, director of taxation. The training was provided by the Ministry of Finance and Planning in collaboration with the Customs Agents Board.

Customs broker training, also known as customs clearing agent training, began in January 2023 and was completed in July 2024. Gilwar expressed great satisfaction with the results of the training. “We are proud to report that 61 out of 78 participants passed the exam, an impressive pass rate of 78%. This result shows that the training is not only rigorous, but also effective in preparing future customs brokers.”

The most successful of the group, Anfernee Blijd, was hailed by his peers as an encourager of the class, a recognition of his support and commitment during the training, reports the Suriname Communications Service. Girwar is looking forward to the contribution of these graduates. Mahindernath Gobardhan, Director of the Training Center of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, presented the training. He highlighted the updated curriculum and the expertise in the training. “The curriculum has been updated with the expertise of senior customs officials and adapted teaching materials. This makes the training particularly valuable and of high quality.”

During the ceremony, Director Lautan-Wijnerman stressed the importance of the customs broker role. “You have a special mission, not only for yourself but also for your country. Your work contributes to the economy by ensuring that import duties are collected correctly and that the country receives the benefits it deserves,” she told the graduates. Lautan-Wijnerman also warned of the risks and responsibilities that come with the position. “You face risks that could lead to anti-money laundering problems. We are in an international battle and our country is under close scrutiny. Know these responsibilities and do your job properly.”