13/03/2026
Happy Heavenly Birthday to a Father, Grandfather and Mentor, Edmond Hart (1923–2017)
Founder of HARTS Customs Brokerage — A Legacy in Trade and Nation Building
Edmond Hart was born on March 13th, 1923 in St. Joseph, the first capital of Trinidad, then moved to San Fernando where he developed the discipline, resilience, and sense of responsibility that would define his life. He later as an adult moved to Port of Spain, placing himself at the center of the growing nation’s administrative and commercial life.
His professional journey began as an Air Traffic Controller at Piarco Airport, a position that demanded precision, clarity of judgment, and calm authority. In an era before digital systems, such responsibility required exceptional focus and accountability, qualities that would later shape his leadership style.
He later joined the Trinidad and Tobago Customs Division as a Customs Officer. There, he gained deep institutional knowledge of import and export procedures, tariff classification, compliance standards, and the regulatory framework governing trade. He understood clearly that in a small island economy, efficient customs operations were essential to economic stability and growth.
In 1958, guided by experience and vision, Edmond took the bold step of founding HARTS a customs brokerage firm.
At that time, customs brokerage was built entirely on manual systems, detailed documentation, and personal credibility. There were no automated platforms, only expertise, integrity, and reputation. Edmond established HARTS on principles that would endure for generations:
Integrity. Accuracy. Reliability.
He believed that a customs broker was more than a service provider; he was a professional entrusted with ensuring lawful trade between business and State. Every declaration mattered. Every classification required precision. His name stood behind every shipment cleared.
Through discipline and consistency, HARTS earned a reputation for professionalism and sound trade guidance. Edmond built not just a company, but a standard, one rooted in compliance, structure, and respect for the law.
Nearly seven decades later, HARTS Customs Brokerage continues to operate under the leadership of his daughter, Aixa Hart, and his grandson, Daniel Bertie. The systems have evolved from paper documentation to ASYCUDA and digital trade processing, but the foundational values he established remain intact.
Beyond his professional life in trade, Edmond was also the co-founder of a Carnival Band, alongside his wife, Lil Hart. Their contribution to Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural landscape was significant, and in recognition of this impact, he was awarded the National Award, A Hummingbird Gold Medal for his service through Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago
While that honour reflects his cultural contribution, his enduring professional legacy remains firmly anchored in trade facilitation and institution-building.
Edmond Hart passed away in 2017. What remains is more than memory.
A respected firm.
A trusted name.
A multigenerational legacy in customs brokerage.
In a nation where commerce depends on efficient gateways, Edmond Hart helped build one and it still stands today.
