(CMR) The Ministry of Border Control and Labour has announced the appointment of Bruce Smith as Director (Designate) of the Customs and Border Control Service (CBC). Smith, who will take over as head of CBC next year, will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of CBC’s operations, including border security, revenue collection, and trade facilitation.
He brings over three decades of experience in the Cayman Islands Civil Service to the Directorship of CBC with his recent position serving as Senior Deputy Director of CBC, where he was responsible for a wide range of operations, including intelligence, investigations, and border control in the Sister Islands. Before his current appointment at CBC in February 2019, his tenure included twenty-one (21) years at HM Customs and eleven (11) years at the Department of Immigration.
Smith is a highly respected leader with a proven track record of success. He is known for his strategic thinking, operational excellence, and ability to build and motivate high-performing teams.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Bruce Smith as Director (Designate) of CBC. He is a highly experienced and accomplished leader with a deep understanding of the organization and its mission. We are confident that he will lead CBC to even greater success in the years to come,” said Wesley Howell, Chief Officer of the Ministry of Border Control & Labour.
Smith will be assuming the role of Director of CBC on 1 August 2024 and will work alongside the current Director, Charles Clifford, until Clifford retires on 31 July 2024. The planned handover period is an important part of the leadership transition and will ensure that Smith is strategically prepared to assume the Directorship of CBC and effectively continue its transition to an intelligence-led risk management organization.
The handover period will also give Smith time, with CBC’s Senior Management Team, to review their 2022-2026 Five-Year Strategic Plan and make adjustments, where necessary, to counter new and emerging threats at our border. He will also use the transition period to build relationships with key stakeholders.
“We are committed to a smooth and successful handover of the leadership of CBC,” said CBC Director Charles Clifford. “I am confident that Mr. Smith is the right person to lead CBC into the future, and I look forward to working with him and our entire amazing CBC team to ensure a seamless transition.”
Smith is a graduate of Triple C School and has completed various leadership and management training courses over the span of his extensive law enforcement career. He has received numerous service, supervisory, and leadership awards, including Civil Servant of the Year.
Over the many years, he served as a valuable resource on various Boards, Tribunals, and Committees. For a period of five years, he served determinedly as Head of Marine (Marine Commander) of what was previously the Joint Police and Customs Marine Unit, now the Cayman Islands Coast Guard.
“I am honored to be appointed Director (Designate) of CBC. I am passionate about public service, and I look forward to working with the talented team at CBC to protect our borders, collect revenue, and facilitate trade. I am confident that together we can build a more secure and prosperous Cayman Islands,” said Smith.
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