Chairman of the post office corporation (GPOC) Juan Edghill on Monday revealed that customs officials had thwarted several attempts to have a security camera in a part of the building aimed at stamping out drug trafficking by arguing that it would be an invasion of privacy.
In a statement, the Chairman of the Guyana Post Office Corporation also expressed grave concern on statements made by Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on the installation of the camera.
According to the Chairman, the press conference that he held recently – and which has angered GRA boss Khurshid Sattaur – was merely to identify to the public some of the security measures in place at the GPOC to combat narcotic and other prohibited substances trafficking and to indicate the GPOC’s frustration with the GRA on the current issue.
“There was no intention to personalise and/or attack any particular person on this issue,” Edghill said in a press release.
He said that the Commissioner General, contrary to availing himself and the public of the facts of this issue, has misrepresented and misguided the public on the facts as it relates to this matter.
Edghill said that one of the concerns that he has is the claim by the GRA that the GPOC depends on the GRA for rental of 80 per cent of its office space. He said that this amounted to a veiled threat on the GRA’s part.
The Chairman noted that following a number of narcotic finds at the GPOC, including sealed packets bearing the GRA’s examining official’s signature, Prime Minister Sam Hinds, who is the subject minister for the post office, suggested that the GPOC should meet with a number of law enforcement agencies to establish collaborative actions to reduce the flow of narcotics in the mail.
He said that the GPOC identified a menu of measures which included the requirement by the public to show secondary proof of address when posting parcels and packets, and the installation of cameras at the GPOC. “Such approval was sanctioned by the GPOC Board of Directors in May of 2007,” the Chairman said.
Additionally, in September of 2007 the security cameras were procured and installed at the GPOC and that on September 26 the GPOC attempted to install a camera in the customs examination room of the GPOC. This is when the customs officers stationed there refused entry for the installation to take place, saying that the cameras would be an invasion of their privacy. Edghill said that the GPOC subsequently met J. Hubbard, Assistant Commissioner General GRA (ag) and K.Cantzlaar, Director of Private Warehouses of the GRA on October 8 and stated its concerns on the GRA’s reluctance to have the camera installed.
On November 21, the GPOC again attempted to install the camera but was again refused entry by customs officials. The Postmaster General then again spoke to the customs officials over their refusal.
On December 27, Edghill said that he and the contracted technician again attempted to have the camera installed. “I was met with a hostile and abusive
Customs staff…” and “rude and disparaging remarks about the GPOC Management, Postmaster General and myself”.
Edghill said he immediately attempted to contact Sattaur but was told that he was unavailable and that he should make contact with Commissioner of Customs and Trade Administration Chabilal Ramsarup. He said he tried contacting Ramsarup but was told that he was not in office and that he should speak to a Mr Ali. Edghill said that he contacted Ali and told him that this matter had been outstanding for sometime and he intended to have this matter resolved in one hour from the time of speaking with him.
Edghill related that within an hour Ramsarup and Cantzlaar arrived at the GPOC and he outlined why the camera was necessary. “I was again met with resistance, and was told among other things, that the GPOC’s office that was in use by the Customs staff was akin to the `US Embassy'” and that express permission was required for entry etc. He said they also repeated that the camera would constitute an invasion of privacy.
Finally, a compromise was reached and this is to be reviewed on January 14. Edghill said that the GPOC is very grateful for the intervention of Minister Robeson Benn who paid an on site visit to the GPOC and met with both GPOC and GRA officials. “The Minister reiterated that the integrity of the post is paramount and that all sides should work to remove all encumbrances,” Edghill said.
The Chairman said that since 2006, the GPOC has been robust and proactive in tightening the security of the post. “I wish to place on record, with a clear conscience that my leadership at the GPOC is to ensure among other things, the integrity of the mail and postal services, and to root out narcotics trading in the mail,” Edghill said.
