Customs: Long Service Awards Presented
On Wednesday evening [Jan 26] the Minister of National Security Colonel David Burch presented long service awards to 54 Customs Officers who have completed a combined 795 years of service, including Collector of Customs, Mrs. Winniefred Fostine-DeSilva who has completed 40 years of service.
Minsiter Burch said: “Bermuda joins with many nations around the world in marking World Customs Day and this is an opportunity to reflect and pay tribute to the men and women whose daily work is founded in a commitment to law and good order. You, the men and women of HM Customs perform an invaluable role in the complex network of achieving secure communities for Bermuda.”
“In some ways yours is an untold story. In some cases a low or no public profile is a requirement for the work that you must do. However, that does not mean that your successes should not be shared and the results celebrated. The interdictive efforts of Customs Officers greatly reduce the amount of contraband and dangerous articles flowing into Bermuda and for this I thank you.”
Minister Burch and members of the Customs team are pictured below:
Minister Burch and Acting Financial Secretary Anthony Manders present Collector of Customs Winniefred Fostine-DeSilva with a long service award and gift:
Minister Burch’s full remarks are below:
US Consul General, Ms. Grace Shelton
Collector of Customs, Mrs. Winniefred Fostine-DeSilva
Members of the US Customs team
Good evening everyone;
Ladies and gentlemen, the creation of the Ministry of National Security has caused an important amalgamation of border control functions. The existing working relationships between the Police, Immigration and HM Customs will continue to be strengthened by having these agencies within the same organisational structure.
Bermuda joins with many nations around the world in marking World Customs Day and this is an opportunity to reflect and pay tribute to the men and women whose daily work is founded in a commitment to law and good order. You, the men and women of HM Customs perform an invaluable role in the complex network of achieving secure communities for Bermuda.
In some ways yours is an untold story. In some cases a low or no public profile is a requirement for the work that you must do. However, that does not mean that your successes should not be shared and the results celebrated. The interdictive efforts of Customs Officers greatly reduce the amount of contraband and dangerous articles flowing into Bermuda and for this I thank you.
I am aware that there are challenges and in some cases weaknesses. It is my responsibility to address those and I will be calling on you for assistance and a renewed commitment to do so. Make your criticism constructive, your approach solution oriented and together we will up our game and enjoy even greater success.
In simple terms, when HM Customs does well Bermuda reaps massive benefits. Those benefits are more than financial. The importance of seizures of firearms, illegal drugs and currency is self-evident. Bermuda needs you well deployed, focused and well equipped as a virtual front line organisation in the criminal justice team.
I want to take a moment to recognise the Collector of Customs, Mrs. Winniefred Fostine-DeSilva for her dedication and commitment to the public service and for her 40 years if service to Bermuda.
Let me close by also congratulating those long serving officers we recognise tonight. Thank you for your service and I look forward to working with you and I am encouraged by your professionalism at all levels. To borrow from your theme for this observance, you are the “catalyst for Customs Excellence”.
Thank you.
WERE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME!!! IT BADE FOR BERMUDA AND ITS PEOPLE MUST HAVE A MIX BLACK AND WHITE THERE WAKE UP PLP GOVERNMENT!!!
What?!
charlie, where the heck have you been for the last 50 years. the civil service have ALWAYS been 95% Black. White kids usually make their way into the private sector.
THAT IS NOT TREW WE HADE LOTS OF WHITES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE THIS GOVERNMENT MADE THE CHANGE WAKE UP BERMUDA MOST OF THEM WALK ABOUT HAMILTON TIME FOR A TIME CLOCK LIKE NOW!!!!!!
Charlie, you have what it takes to go far in Customs…
Do you EVER say anything on Bernews that makes sense?
Funny you say that Charlie. Yes there are White Customs officers. Look at the picture and you’ll see the head of the departent is white.
LMAO! Charlie must reside at MAWI.
Yes, there are whites in the Customs Department. You don’t see them because some of those few have been placed in cushy jobs on special projects and no longer wear uniforms. That’s why you don’t recognise them as being Customs Officers. They don’t have to struggle and compete for higher paying positions like the blacks do. The more things change, the more they stay the same!
I want to work for customs. Are they hiring? Their website doesn’t have any info. Someone contact me please
Are you black or white? LOLOL Joke…..relax
No they are not hiring – You haven’t heard
There is no money
Congratulations to all of the Customs Officers & Staff (especially to my cousin Eunice Wilson with 32 yrs service) on their long service to the island of Bermuda.
I wish the Collector of Customs all the best in her retirement!