SECURITY at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, will now be significantly beefed up to be on par with what obtains at airports within the Caribbean and outside the region, officials said yesterday.
This has been made possible with the acquisition of several pieces of state of the art security equipment which were formally handed over yesterday by Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn.
The minister acknowledged that aviation security in today’s world is of prime importance to ensure the safety of those who travel by air transport, reminding reporters of the recent terror threat against airlines coming into Guyana received through the internet.
Among the equipment handed over are walkthrough metal detectors, hand-held detector devices, radio communications units, digital cameras, explosives trace detectors, bomb kits, night vision binoculars, baggage scanner, computers, voltage regulatory devices and training packages.
However, Benn conceded that one area lacking is radioactive detection capability but said Guyana is not unique in this respect as no Caribbean territory has such capability because of the high cost of the technology.
He pointed out, though, that a collective initiative is being embarked upon to have such a facility within the region.
The provision of the state of the art security equipment, Benn said, is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to improving security at the airport and its high level of responsibility.
Equipment under this programme is also provided to the Guyana Civil Aviation Administration, Ogle Airport Inc., the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Public Works & Communications, the minister said.
Under an agreement between the government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a contract was entered into for the provision of aviation security, training and equipment with the firm Longport, Colombia, in June of this year.
Longport is an international aviation security company which provides the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)/Transport Safety Association (TSA) compliant security services to 26 airlines in eight major international airports in South America.
The project is being overlooked by the Work Services Group of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications.
It has also built on existing aviation security practices to ensure the safety of travellers and compliance with international obligations under the most recent version of Annex 17of the ICAO Convention and the procedures and guidance set out in Document 8973: Security Manual for Safeguarding Civil Aviation Against Acts of Unlawful Interference, officials of the ministry indicated.
It is intended to bring important economic impacts in the long term as air traffic increases as a result of harmonisation of aviation security in Guyana with best international practices, officials said, adding that the programme will also enhance the safe management of the increased traffic anticipated for Cricket World Cup matches here next year.
Under the training component of the project, about 250 persons from various agencies with responsibility for aviation security and emergency management are to be trained; about 25 persons from government agencies and private industry are to be trained on airport cargo security and known shippers programme; 20 persons from the relevant government agencies are to undergo training in the identification and detection of bombs and other incendiary devices; 10 trainers are to be trained to keep airport staff up to date on security regulations and procedures; a training course will be conducted on incident/hostage negotiation; and training in public relations/customer service for about 250 persons.
Benn also said new equipment is being purchased for the air traffic control tower at the airport as most of the current equipment is aged and outdated.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC), Mr. Ramesh Ghir, noted that CJIA is one of only two international airports in the Caribbean certified in accordance with ICAO requirements. The other certified airport is Princess Juliana in St. Maarten.
He said, too, that as recent as August last, the ICAO and TSA carried out audits of the airport but they have not submitted reports as yet. However, indications are that they will be favourable, Ghir added.
Overall facilities are also being improved and expanded and in this regard, a new $43M baggage conveyor is billed to be in operation by the end of February as the equipment has been ordered from Brazil to cope with increased traffic expected to peak during Cricket World Cup, Ghir said.
Work on the viewing gallery is near completion and should be reopened to the public within another two weeks, he said, pointing out that the refurbished structure will boast a host of new facilities, including air conditioning, restaurant and bar, gaming machines for children and flight information display screens.
Upgrading of facilities is being done as part of a $280M Air Transport Reform Programme, Ghir said.