The Ministry of Home Affairs and other security agencies yesterday signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with airlines establishing an inter-agency committee to stamp out narcotics trafficking through Guyana’s international airport.
The committee’s mandate is to assess security policies, operation procedures and practices within respective member agencies with a view to improving security at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). It is also tasked with targeting information collection and intelligence generation with agencies, through a structured manner.
The committee comprises the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Revenue Authority, TravelSpan, the airport, North American Airlines, Caribbean Airlines, Total Air cargo, Constellation Tours Limited and Laparkan Airways Company Limited. Speaking at the signing ceremony yesterday afternoon at his office, Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee said the agencies have committed themselves, personnel and resources to improving security at the airport as it relates to the policies, practices and procedures within their individual spheres of operation. He added that they will also collaborate in the sharing of information and intelligence in order to develop and implement plans to boost security at the CJIA.
According to Rohee, the agencies’ efforts will be aimed at suppressing trafficking in illicit drugs and firearms and protecting installations, aircraft, passengers, luggage, mail and cargo against unlawful interference. Additionally, the committee has committed to employing only persons who were closely vetted by security, reviewing their security status periodically and removing from employment any person known to have committed or facilitated any serious breach of airport security.
Rohee said his ministry took the initiative to establish the committee comprising persons from the highest levels of decision making within agencies concerned with activities at the CJIA. He said these persons must be committed to suppressing crime and corruption and to improving safety and security at the airport.
