Customs officers will reportedly be meeting at the Bermuda Public Services Union this afternoon to decide whether or not to proceed with industrial action, has learned.

Sources yesterday said the issue was not overtime pay or summer students, but an apparent lack of support from Government in Customs? efforts to stop the importation of illegal drugs and weapons ? particularly via the hiring of more full-time staff.

Last night Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Randy Horton said talks with the BPSU were going well, and that Government is standing firm in its goal of eradicating drugs in Bermuda.

Sources said the department is suffering from a staff shortage, with several points of entry already severely understaffed ? such as the cruise ship ports. Customs reportedly no longer has full-time staff manning the ports, yet visitors and crew can go back and forth from the port and the ship 24 hours a day. One source likened the situation to Customs officials showing up just for certain flights at the Airport, then going home and leaving the remaining flights unchecked.

And while Transport Minister Ewart Brown?s success at bringing new flights to the Island appeared to be appreciated, Customs sources pointed out that left officials working 14-16 hour days. The impending closure of the second stripping shed at the Hamilton docks, and the necessity for some importers to find alternative stripping sites, will also put more pressure on Customs ? full-time staff will have to be placed at all the alternative sites.

Hiring more part-time workers will not solve the problem, Customs sources said ? only more full-time staff will ease the pressure and show Government?s commitment to the fight against the importation of drugs and weapons.

However, last night Mr. Horton did not respond to questions about the possibility of hiring more staff, or about the specific examples listed above, revealing only that talks are continuing.

?I am pleased to confirm that mediation efforts in the current dispute between HM Customs and the BPSU are proceeding well,? he said. ?It is hoped that all outstanding issues will be resolved within the next few days. A 21-day strike notice issued by Customs workers will be up on Thursday. It is unclear as of yet whether or not workers will proceed with industrial action on Thursday. That decision is expected sometime today.