WORKSHOPS will be held next year to strengthen the relationship between the business community and the government department in charge of issuing work permits.
The head of the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service told a Chamber of Commerce lunch on Wednesday that the workshops, held with Jersey Business, would be a two-way process: for the service to explain what it is required to do by law but also for it to “better understand the frustrations and issues of businesses”.
Rhiannon Small – who became head of JCIS, as well as chief immigration officer, agent of the impôts and receiver of wreck, in February – told the monthly gathering of business leaders that one of her priorities was greater engagement and communication.
All persons who are not British or Irish require immigration permission to visit, work, study or settle in Jersey. Since Brexit, when EU nationals lost the right to work in Jersey, JCIS has seen an 821% rise in the number of permit applications, which was more than 3,100 last year.
Mrs Small said the workshops would build on sessions already held with JICS and Jersey Business to improve understanding, on both sides, when using JCIS’s CAESAR system, which allows importers to pay GST online.
At the Chamber lunch, which was held at the Pomme d’Or Hotel, Mrs Small explained the history, roles and priorities of the service. In a light-hearted but impressive introduction to JCIS, Mrs Small invited drug sniffer dog Stinger and his handler into the room.
With several lunch guests lining up – including Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham, Deputy Helen Miles and Police Chief Robin Smith – springer spaniel Stinger quickly identified Mr Smith, who promptly returned the training drugs package he had been concealing back to Mrs Small.
