Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Other Qualifications
Certification
Timeline
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Kameela Yasmeen Francis

St Catherine

Summary

Pursuing opportunities to contribute to a people-oriented organization that fosters personal and professional growth while driving towards shared objectives.

Overview

27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Founder

Aleemak's Creative Designs and Decor
08.2023 - Current
  • Developed strong partnerships with other businesses to allow for collaboration and more significant opportunities for growth.
  • Built a positive organizational culture that fostered creativity, innovation, and employee engagement.

Customs Officer

Jamaica Customs Agency
04.2022 - Current
  • Enhanced border security by conducting thorough inspections and investigations of suspicious cargo and individuals.
  • Prevented the smuggling of illegal goods through diligent inspection of vehicles, luggage, and cargo containers.
  • Ensured accurate collection of duties and taxes on imported goods through meticulous record-keeping procedures related to tariffs classifications.
  • Assisted in the development of policies and procedures to improve overall customs operations and increase efficiency at ports of entry.
  • Streamlined customs clearance process for legitimate travelers, reducing wait times at ports of entry.
  • Improved inter-agency communication by maintaining open lines of dialogue with partner organizations such as the Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol, and Immigration Services.
  • Conducted risk assessments on incoming shipments, prioritizing those requiring further examination based on potential threat levels.
  • Provided exceptional customer service to international travelers while maintaining a professional demeanor during stressful situations.
  • Examined baggage and personal items upon entering or leaving country to verify adherence to customs requirements and identify suspected violations.
  • Validated immigration documents, asked questions and reported discrepancies to authorities for further review.
  • Evaluated shipments to determine duty and taxes due, completed applicable paperwork and informed individuals of expected liabilities.
  • Located and procured undeclared items or contraband and processed according to protocol to prevent entry into sovereign soil.
  • Safeguarded economic interests by monitoring compliance with trade agreements, identifying potential violations, and initiating appropriate enforcement actions.
  • Supported national security objectives by enforcing import/export regulations and ensuring compliance with trade agreements.

Customs Officer (Level 4)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
01.2016 - 04.2022
  • Company Overview: Passenger Terminal, Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA)
  • Process arriving passengers at the airport
  • Detain and release cargo
  • Detailed examination of cargos, entries and supporting documents
  • Assessment of Customs Duties when/where applicable
  • Ensuring proper classification (permit where required) and that appropriate duties are calculated and paid
  • Cargo properly examined and released within one hour of vetting the documents and presentation of cargo
  • Address customer queries with regards to duties payable
  • Passenger Terminal, Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA)

Acting Senior Customs Officer (Level 5)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
08.2019 - 09.2019
  • Company Overview: Passenger Terminal, Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA)
  • Prepare work schedules for staff
  • Assign staff and delegate responsibilities
  • Record and authorize incoming and outgoing flights
  • Passenger Terminal, Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA)

Acting Customs Supervisor (Level 6)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
04.2017 - 07.2017
  • Company Overview: Refunds Branch
  • Balancing of Cashiers
  • Delegate duties to junior staff
  • Approves authorization letter where applicable
  • Refunds Branch

Customs Officer (Level 4)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
01.2015 - 01.2017
  • Company Overview: Kingston Wharves Ltd and Refunds Branch
  • Accurately check Queens Warehouse Sales, Denovo entries, Refund Applications, Payment Vouchers and Special Refunds Vouchers
  • Dispatching of authorized Vouchers to Revenue Accounts and Internal Audit daily
  • Record and maintain entries in the Refunds System, GCT and SCF vouchers
  • General enquiries from stakeholders
  • Processing of Transshipment Bills, Temporary Import Entries
  • Kingston Wharves Ltd and Refunds Branch

Acting Customs Officer (Level 4)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
01.2014 - 01.2015
  • Company Overview: Passenger Terminal, Norman Manley International Airport
  • Process arriving passengers at the airport
  • Passenger Terminal, Norman Manley International Airport

Collections Officer (RMG/TA2)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
01.2008 - 01.2014
  • Company Overview: NMIA
  • Calculate and collect duties on items assessed
  • Balance all monies collected
  • Preparation of bank lodgment and submit to supervisor(s) daily
  • Produce monthly reports
  • Created programs and spreadsheets that assisted colleagues with tasks
  • NMIA

Records Officer (PIDG/RIM 2)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
01.2003 - 01.2008
  • Company Overview: Kingston Container Terminal and Collections and Accounts
  • Interacted with customers and assisted with queries
  • Filed and Closed Manifests
  • Tallying of Cargo
  • Manifesting of Documents
  • Prepared lodgement of overtime goods for the Queens Warehouse
  • Log entries into log book daily
  • Updated Customs Officer's daily logs
  • Verified gate passes, Customs Seals and Serial numbers for containers and vehicles leaving the compound
  • Prepared monthly reports
  • Kingston Container Terminal and Collections and Accounts

Cashier/Customer Service Representative

StarCom Cablevision Ltd.
01.1998 - 01.2003
  • Revenue Collection
  • Filing
  • Data Entry
  • Problem Solving
  • Other duties

Education

Drapery Making

Heart NSTA TRUST / NCTVET
01-2025

Event Planner

Heart NSTA TRUST / NCTVET
11-2023

Venue Decoration

Jamaica Venue And NCTVET
07-2023

Train The Trainer Certificate

ELP (EMPLOYEE LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS)
04-2022

Bachelor of Science - Tourism and Hospitality Management

University of The Commonwealth Caribbean
08-2021

Venue Decoration Course

EVENTS BY J.A.R.
06-2018

Ultimate Event Planning Workshop

IDEAL MADE REAL EVENTS
11-2017

Clarendon College High School
06-1996

Skills

  • Event Coordination
  • Event Venue Styling
  • Drapery Making
  • Experienced in Operating Sewing Machines
  • Team Leadership
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Organizational skills
  • Self-Motivated
  • Flexible Team Player
  • Collaborative Teamwork
  • Networking
  • Customer Service Coaching
  • Strong Customer Service Skills
  • Detailed-oriented
  • Strategic Thinker
  • Team leadership
  • Customer-Centric Approach
  • Continuous Improvement Focus
  • Networking
  • Computer Based Training (CBT) REDTRAC
  • Customer Service training
  • Excellent Customer Service skills
  • Highly organized
  • Detailed-oriented

Other Qualifications

  • C.X.C O' Level: Office Procedures, Mathematics, Geography, Principles of Business, English Language, Principles of Accounts, Caribbean History
  • Jamaica Customs Line Officers Training (Certificate)
  • ASYCUDA Training
  • Cashier Training

Certification

  • [Name of Certification] [Issuing Organization] [Year Month]

Timeline

Founder

Aleemak's Creative Designs and Decor
08.2023 - Current

Customs Officer

Jamaica Customs Agency
04.2022 - Current

Acting Senior Customs Officer (Level 5)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
08.2019 - 09.2019

Acting Customs Supervisor (Level 6)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
04.2017 - 07.2017

Customs Officer (Level 4)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
01.2016 - 04.2022

Customs Officer (Level 4)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
01.2015 - 01.2017

Acting Customs Officer (Level 4)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
01.2014 - 01.2015

Collections Officer (RMG/TA2)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
01.2008 - 01.2014

Records Officer (PIDG/RIM 2)

Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA)
01.2003 - 01.2008

Cashier/Customer Service Representative

StarCom Cablevision Ltd.
01.1998 - 01.2003

Drapery Making

Heart NSTA TRUST / NCTVET

Event Planner

Heart NSTA TRUST / NCTVET

Venue Decoration

Jamaica Venue And NCTVET

Train The Trainer Certificate

ELP (EMPLOYEE LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS)

Bachelor of Science - Tourism and Hospitality Management

University of The Commonwealth Caribbean

Venue Decoration Course

EVENTS BY J.A.R.

Ultimate Event Planning Workshop

IDEAL MADE REAL EVENTS

Clarendon College High School
Kameela Yasmeen Francis