The Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica (CBFFAJ) was born out of an idea formulated by a group of customs brokers who were experiencing great difficulties in clearing goods through Customs. They saw the need for a cohesive body to represent their interests. Hence, on November 15, 1965 a group of customs brokers met to discuss the problems they were facing.
A major decision coming out of this meeting was the setting up of a steering committee with specific terms of reference. Its main task was to draft a constitution and spearhead the formation of the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica. It is important to highlight the fact that the CBFFAJ was not formed by the customs brokers for profit, but to guarantee effective representation of themselves as professionals. They also saw the need to have effective regulatory mechanisms governing their operations