History

As early as 1729 with the arrival of the first Royal Governor, Sir Woodes Rodgers, a collector of Customs was appointed. In an 1854 Act of Parliament, the Customs Department and Treasury Department, (the two (2) Major Collectors of Revenue), were one department under a Receiver General.

On the 21st March, 1914, an Act was passed to establish a Customs Department separate and apart from the link with the Treasury Department. It was in this Act that the establishment of a Comptroller of Customs was commissioned. His duties were:

1. The general management and administration of the Customs Department.
2. The collection of all revenue due for any duties of Customs and payments to the Treasurer.
3. The active supervision of indoor and outdoor officers of the Customs Department.

Her Majesty’s Customs Department’s name was later officially changed to The Bahamas Customs Department with the passage of the Customs Management Act 1976. In 1989 the Customs Regulations provided for the appointment of a customs seal and flag. The flag is designed with a gold background and the Customs Crest is in the top left corner with seven (7) blue stripes extending to the outer limits.