The Government is to transform the Customs Department into an executive agency to improve efficiency and reduce the level of corruption.

Speaking yesterday during the consultations on the Customs Department, Prime Minister Bruce Golding said an executive agency status would enable customs to become more business-friendly.

"We are committed to transforming customs into an executive agency," Golding said, adding that this would give the department greater autonomy.

However, he noted that making the department more independent does not mean that it would have a licence to do as it pleases.

Golding noted that the playing field in the department has to be levelled, adding that an investor would not want to expand business in Jamaica if he feels that his competitor was being treated more favourably.

The prime minister said customs was usually seen by some people as primarily a department to collect revenue. However, he noted that there were other functions, including border control, which are extremely important.

He urged those at the Mona Visitors' Lodge to preserve and maintain integrity in the department, which brings in more than $20 billion in revenue each year.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said there were plans to reduce the number of concessions and waivers granted by the finance ministry.

According to him, the current system of granting waivers and concessions creates a potential problem for corruption and distorts business.