The government is taking steps to fill vacancies in the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) and Customs and Excise after the discovery of severe staff shortages across many public sector bodies.

The revelation came from Minister in the Ministry of Finance Kennedy Swaratsingh at a post-cabinet media briefing on July 17 at the Diplomatic Centre in Port of Spain.

Swaratsingh said recruitment had already begun for the BIR while a meeting was held with Customs and Excise to address the shortages.