AerOceaNetwork Profile: Sonija Y. Edwards Customs Brokers Limited

The Caribbean area’s first Aeroceanetwork member, Sonija Y. Edwards Customs Brokers Limited has been offering import, export, customs brokerage and international logistics consulting services to a growing range of customers and international freight agents for over thirty years.

On August 7, 1974, SYE’s owner, Sonija Y. Edwards opened the doors on her first entrepreneurial venture and made history by becoming the first ever female customs broker in Jamaican history. The firm began with a staff of only two and were working with a few loyal clients but through the years the client base and this drove the growth of the staff size and services portfolio. Success breeds success.

What is Sonija’s recipe for success? “Sonija Y. Edwards Customs Brokers Limited is the place where the customer comes first” asserts Sonija, “we care about our customers and endeavor to earn the total customer relationship by meeting the complete customs brokerage and freight forwarding needs of our customers.”

Today the company has several departments including:

- Wharf Transactions Department (for shipments at the Kingston Port Authority)
- Airport Transactions (for shipments at Norman Manley International Airport)
- Customs House Transactions (for nationwide customs activities)
- Import Documentation, Export, Consolidation / Incoming Freight Department
- Courier
- Accounting

As an island nation, international ports and airports are the lifeline of Jamaica’s economy and because of this SYE maintains a strong presence at both the Kingston Port Authority and the Norman Manley International Airport, Jamaica’s major international cargo gateways. SYE’s presence at the sea port is important because the Port Authority is not only the main port of entry for ocean cargo but also because the port is responsible for the safety regulation of the cargo and tariffs charged on goods passing through the public wharves. Kingston’s port authority runs a very tight ship and proof can be found in the fact that in March of 2005, arising out of an official US government audit of the port, the United States Department of Homeland Security decided to adopt Jamaica's port security procedures as a world benchmark (international best practice) to be used by other ports worldwide.

SYE also maintains their prsence at Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport (KIN), the international gateway linking the country's major business city and capital by air to destinations worldwide. Given its proximity to Kingtson, one of the Caribbean's leading commercial and industrial centers, KIN is of significant importance to the Jamaican international business community and accounted for 72% of the air freight handled in and out of Jamaica.

Unrivalled convenience in terms of hours, flexibility, strong technical knowledge and exceptional customer service are only a few of SYE’s competitive edges. It is very important to know that SYE has earned the right to be a “fast track” brokerage. Known locally as “fast track”, Jamaican customs offers quicker processing of paperwork to established brokers with an excellent track record and a low error ratio. SYE is proud to note that they are fast track qualified and pass this service on to their customers. When SYE handles brokerage the shipment will sail though customs clearance with fewer time consuming checks to delay your customer’s cargo, which is a real value-added bonus.

To learn more about Sonija Y. Edwards Customs Brokers Limited please contact Sonija directly. Her contact details and website can be found by clicking here.