Mr. Powery said he decided last year to retire after four decades in service. He has presided over a period where revenue collected by his department grew from a few million dollars annually in the early 1970s to over $150 million currently.
“We want to ensure that whatever revenue is due to government is collected,” Mr. Powery said. “And we have no extravagances here, being really prudent in our expenses over the years.”
Mr. Powery was one of nine customs staff members when he joined the department in February 1972. They were all housed in a small office located first near Hog Sty Bay, then the old airport terminal and a small unit located in the General Post Office in downtown George Town before moving into the Tower Building in 1984 and finally Customs Headquarters on Airport Road in 1993.
Through on-the-job training and experience, he steadily rose from clerical assistant at customs. Within a year, he was promoted to customs officer, then senior customs officer, followed by assistant collector and peputy collector. Mr. Powery became Collector of Customs in 1988.
He is the longest serving Collector in Cayman Islands history.
Mr. Powery led the department’s focus in evolving from merely collecting revenue to becoming one of Cayman’s major law enforcement agencies with equal emphasis on border protection and control, counter-terrorism and combating crime. The department’s marine and K-9 units are now among the Islands’ law enforcement resources.
The department’s infrastructure and technology improved substantially during Mr. Powery’s tenure. Improvements included a highly sophisticated, non-invasive inspection system for containers. When he joined, all cargo – even an automobile – was off-loaded manually, using a block and tackle and containers continued to be inspected manually.
“We have come a very long way indeed,” he said.
Penalties for import violations have been raised substantially to act as an added deterrent during Mr. Powery’s time as well.
The Collector also took a lead role for a number of years at the Civil Service Association Cooperative Credit Union and was involved in the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council.
Mr. Powery received royal honours when he was made a Member of the British Empire for his outstanding work.
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Well done, Mr Powery!
Enjoy a happy and well-deserved retirement.