The Guyana Government yesterday began implementing increased security measures at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri for flights to and from North America at the request of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, told reporters at a post?Cabinet press briefing yesterday that though the measures would cause additional delays, longer check-in times and some frustration, the public would have to tolerate them. He said that there were no added security measures at the local airstrips and the Ogle Airport for internal flights. However, these had been beefed up earlier this year following a knife attack on a pilot mid-flight in January.

According to a release from the Ministry of Public Works and Communications, the added security measures are:

* No knives, scissors, nail files and any potential weapon will be allowed in carry-on luggage aboard any aircraft. Passengers are now required to declare all such implements and to remove them from their carry-on luggage; any of these restricted items found during searches will be confiscated.

* Passengers and their luggage will be subjected to additional and more rigorous searches including pat-downs prior to boarding the aircraft.

* Checked luggage will also be subjected to manual searches.

* Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport three to four hours ahead of their scheduled departure time to ensure that the checks are carried out, no exceptions will be made for late arrivals.

* Only bona-fide passengers and crew members will be permitted beyond the screening point and the departure lounge.

Dr Luncheon also explained that Guyana was fully supportive of the efforts of the international community to combat terrorism and said that the support offered by President Bharrat Jagdeo at the commissioning of the GDFS Essequibo was to be taken in that context. However, he said that Guyana had not been asked for, nor had it given support for any military response by the United States to the attack on the World Trade Center complex in New York and the Pentagon, just outside Washington DC in Arlington, Virginia.

He observed that some consideration should be given to having some time elapse to allow for a mature response by the US to the September 11, attacks and the reaction to that response.

Dr Luncheon observed that a military response could very well expose American citizens to further attacks and set in train a series of tit-for-tat engagements as now obtained in the Middle East.