The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service has announced the appointment of Velma Ricketts Walker as the new Chief Executive Office/Commissioner of Customs for the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA).

A release from the ministry a short while ago stated that Ricketts Walker will assume duties on Monday, April 10.

In welcoming Ricketts Walker, the ministry acknowledged the “sterling” contribution of the former Commissioner of Customs, Major (R’td) Richard Reese and Pamella Folkes who served as Acting Commissioner from February 6, for her contribution.

Folkes will resume her duties as Deputy Financial Secretary, Taxation Policy Division in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service on Monday.

Ricketts Walker has over 17 years of experience in customs administration, trade facilitation, risk analysis, strategic planning, international trade, security, compliance and enforcement. In 2011 she served the JCA as assistant commissioner, compliance and enforcement.

She was previously employed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a revenue administration adviser where she assisted regional customs administration with the development and strengthening of their risk management programs and organisational strategic reform.

She is also an IMF certified and trained tax administration diagnostic assessment tool (TADAT) assessor.