Author: Teu Teulilo

Suva, Fiji, 31 March 2021- OCO chairperson Salvador Jacob says there has been progress, but more work still needs to be done to ensure gender equality in Customs administrations in the Pacific. OCO ended its month-long celebration of the achievements of women through the Pacific Women in Customs series, which is a collection of feature…

Suva, Fiji, 30 March, 2021- The adage never judge a book by its cover holds true for Odelaffi Sato, the woman behind the Post Audit Section of the Palau Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. Armed with more than two decades of experience, she is your typical “no-nonsense” customs officer who has uncovered numerous cases…

Suva, Fiji, 30 March, 2021 – Sonia Lecomte is the deputy director of Customs in the French territory of New Caledonia, a position she has held in the last three years. She has worked for French Customs for the past 22 years, in various posts which included being head of the intelligence team at Le…

Suva, Fiji, 29 March, 2021. Palau’s Bureau of Customs and Border Protection relies on Joline Spesungel for any IT related work. Joline has been working for the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection for the last 21 years. She is now in charge of the IT section. Joline is one of those featured in the…

Suva, Fiji, 29 March 2021. The Cook Islands Customs Services (CICS) Trade and Revenue Assurance Section is an all women team. The seven-member team manages client services as well as trade and revenue assurance. Heading the team is Senior Customs Officer, Maria Matua Ioane who joined the service fresh out of college as an 18-year-old…

Suva, Fiji, 25 March 2021. Catherine Mori is the oldest female employee in the Customs and Tax Administration in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). And she may just well be the oldest female employee in the Department of FSM Finance, the jurisdiction under which her institution comes under. Beginning her career as a Revenue…

Suva, Fiji, 23 March 2021 – In an organization, there is always that one person who everyone goes to get things done. At the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO), that person is Stephanie Waqanivavalagi who is the “trouble-shooter” making sure operations run smoothly. This is her story. Life’s experiences Growing up in a family of six…

Suva, Fiji, 23 March 2021 – Jayvina Victus is a Customs and Revenue Officer IV with the Customs and Tax Administration under the Department of FSM Finance. In the 13 years of her career as a revenue officer and in her present role, she has grown both professionally and personally. She has had to take…