SI Customs successfully conducted Pre-Departure Briefings with the first groups of LMU workers/recruits for 2025.

The Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division (SICED) continues to reach out and successfully held its first Pre-Departure Briefing sessions for the first groups of Labour Mobility workers (locally known as “seasonal workers”) this year.

Staff from the Customs Communication and Outreach Team of the Customs Reform and Support Unit collaborated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) and successfully delivered the sessions with the recruits at their Pre-departure Briefing sessions.

The Pre-departure briefing sessions were conducted on Wednesday 22nd and Wednesday 29th of January (last month) respectively, at the SINIS Conference Room, East Honiara. The third briefing was conducted on Thursday last week, January 22nd, and Wednesday, January 29th (last month), respectively,

The awareness sessions aimed to inform and foster an understanding of the Roles and Functions of Customs and Excise regarding revenue collection, Border Protection, and Travel Restrictions at all points of entry for these travellers. This includes Goods and Passenger Declaration Checks at Pre-departure and pre-arrival, Duty Assessment and Valuation (CIF); Receipts for Duty Assessment and its calculation, Personal effects, Customs Requirements for Passovers, Declaration, and how to complete the mandatory passenger Declaration card.

Speaking in his closing remarks, Mr. Gracehome Mysic Filoa, 35, an ongoing LMU recruit, acknowledged the department of Customs & Excise for reaching out and educating them on such information that is important for them when they travel abroad.

Sometimes, when sending goods back home, we do not know what some of the requirements are to follow when sending goods home and when traveling abroad,” Mr Filoa explained.

“But now, I learn about some of the requirements, processes, and procedures to follow and comply with, when sending goods and when traveling. I also know now that the current Customs “tax concessions” is SBD 3,000. 00, a duty-free allowance for all travellers.

“I urge Customs and Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) to continue and maintain this kind of approach to help our people be well-informed before traveling,” Filoa concluded.

Another female participant, Jasmine Ofosi Joshua, in an interview also said that this kind of awareness program is important and helps her a lot when traveling outside the country.

“Now I have the basic knowledge of how to send goods, what to send, and the type of goods you should send into the country.

“Therefore, this awareness session is really important and will help me a lot when traveling outside the country”, Ms. Jasmine expressed.

Under the Customs & Excise Act (cap 121) section 233, it states that it is a legal requirement that all goods subject to the Customs laws may be subject to examination. It also stated that it is the role and functions of the Customs and Excise to impose import or export duties upon any goods whatsoever that may be imported into or exported from the Solomon Islands and to revoke, suspend, reduce, increase, or alter any such duties, and to provide for the importation or exportation of any goods without payment of customs duty.

Established by the Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Act 2003 (CAP121), under the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT), the Customs and Excise Division plays a crucial role in collecting the correct revenue for the Government, Trade facilitation, and protecting our Borders by protecting our communities from prohibited goods and illegal movements, while ensuring compliance with Customs regulations.

The Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division (SICED) performs and enforces its mandatory functions through the Customs Act cap 121 (2003) and the Customs Valuation Act 2009.

Figure 2: Senior Customs Officer Brian Pitihage of the Customs Reform and Support section facilitating the Customs Pre-departure Briefing session.

Figure 3: Mr. Gracehome Mysic Filoa, 35, thanked the Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division, speaking at his closing remarks.

Figure 4: Some of the workers who participated in one of the sessions.

Figure 5: A participant asked a question during the “Question time” session.

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• Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division (SICED) Press