Dear Editor,
On a recent flight by North American Airlines (NAA) from Timehri to JFK New York, I encountered one of the most grueling security experiences which was not only duplicitous but harrowing as well.
The agony began at the departure building where a security guard checked my ticket at the door for its authenticity before I was allowed entry. I was then directed to the NAA passenger line where my two suitcases were preliminarily weighed to ensure they were within the 50lbs allowance. If not, you were not allowed to proceed.
Having satisfied this requirement I was directed to another NAA officer who requested that I place my suitcases on a table and open them for inspection. After he inspected the suitcases inside out, I was told to close them up and place them next to a banding machine.
I then proceeded to the NAA ticket counter where the clerk booked me in, weighed my two suitcases again as well as my hand piece for compliance. Having satisfied all requirements so far, I then proceeded to immigration and thence to the X-ray machine where my hand piece was X-rayed and hand searched. I was taken aside, frisked and my pockets emptied.
I then proceeded to the waiting lounge but not before I was stopped on the way for examination of my passport, ticket and boarding pass which were found to be in order.
At this counter I was informed that security wanted to open one of my suitcases which were lying on the tarmac and that I should present myself for its examination. I then proceeded to the tarmac where a plain clothes police officer showed me his badge and informed me that a package had showed up in my suitcase which he wanted to examine. I complied by opening the suitcase for his examination. Having found nothing unusual, he instructed me to close-up the suitcase and leave it where it was. I then returned to the waiting lounge.
Sometime later there was a boarding announcement and I again joined a line where my hand piece was again searched before heading for the exit door where my passport, ticket and boarding pass were again examined. All being well I headed for the aircraft but before climbing the steps to board the plane I once again had to present my passport, ticket and boarding pass for examination. All documents having been found to be in order I climbed the stairs and entered the aircraft but not before I was requested to show my boarding pass. I complied and was shown the direction to my cabin seat.
The foregoing shows that there is an urgent need to overhaul the security system at CJIA to make it efficient and responsive to the concerns of the day.
There should be only one agency as in the USA and Canada responsible for security and not have each airline and the airport authority setting up their own security arrangements, delaying flights and harassing passengers at the same time. It could also result in a reduction of the airport tax since the wasteful duplication of efforts would be unnecessary.
Yours faithfully,
Charles Sohan
