By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

THE Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency will now have more personnel to do the agency’s critical work after seven new graduates took their oath of office.
The addition of the new graduates augments the agency’s force level to 124 customs and quarantine officers.
The need for more customs and quarantine officers has become more urgent as concerns have been raised on the need for increased security in the island’s port of entry after the arrest of armaments traders trying to use Guam as a jump-off point to ship prohibited weapons to the Tamil Tigers terrorist group.
The Guam Visitors Bureau has also been asking for more customs and quarantine officers at the airport so that tourists transiting through the Guam airport will not be inconvenienced.
When there are not enough customs officers, GVB said tourists are being forced to spend extra time at the airport, especially during Sundays and holidays.
In the past, there was only an average of two to three customs personnel handling more than a thousand visitors who disembark on the airport during Sundays and holidays.
Acting Gov. Michael W. Cruz, who attended the swearing in of the new customs and quarantine officers during the 6th Cycle’s graduation ceremony held at the Westin Resort Guam, said each customs and quarantine officer is an integral part of the island’s security because of the agency’s important responsibility to protect Guam’s borders.
“You are Guam’s front line of defense in protecting the safety of our people and our visitors and you stand as symbols of Guam’s commitment to our nation’s security,” Cruz said.
The Camacho administration has been cognizant of the need for more customs and quarantine personnel.
Last October, a total of 28 officers from the agency were promoted, joining 15 other customs and quarantine officers who were promoted in July 2006.
Before 2006, the agency had not seen any promotions in 15 years.