Antigua and Barbuda has attained a first at the World Customs Organisation
(WCO) when it was elected as chair of the WCO Finance Committee, the first
Caribbean country to do so.
The Antigua and Barbuda representative at the WCO is Comptroller of Customs,
Raju Boddu, who will chair the proceedings of the Finance Committee over the
next two years, beginning in June this year.
Canada-nominated Boddu received overwhelming endorsement while support and
commendations were received from the United Kingdom, United States, China,
Japan, Sweden, European Union, Germany, and Portugal.
He sits on the Finance Committee representing the Americas region, one of six
regions with membership at the WCO.
“The Finance Committee will oversee the finances of the WCO, including
approving its budget and ensuring that all spending is being done in accordance
with the approved budget,” he explained. In a word, he added, the Finance
Committee serves an oversight function within the WCO management framework.
Boddu has been a member of the Finance Committee since 2018; two years after
he was elected vice-chairman.
While Jamaica has headed the Capacity Building Committee and Haiti has headed
the Enforcement Committee, Antigua and Barbuda will take up the chairmanship
of the Finance Committee as the first Caribbean country to do so.
“It’s both an honour and a privilege to be asked to serve as the Finance Committee
chair, and I am especially thankful for the confidence that has been reposed in me
by my colleagues drawn from different regions of the world,” he remarked.
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