Dear Editor,
As I was about to exit the terminal shed to board flight BW424 to JFK, a security person called me to carry out a search of my hand luggage and myself. He told me to put my bag on the table then searched me and asked what I had in my right pants’ pocket. I said money, and he told me to put it in my bag, which I did. He then told me to sit on a chair and take off my shoes; as I was doing so he was searching my bag. He then pushed his hand in my shoes. He told me I could not take the soda which I had in my bag onto the aircraft, and he allowed me to take it back to the cafeteria for a refund. I then took my money from the bag, put it in my right pocket again and went to get my refund. As I was passing back, he was not at the table. I then boarded the aircraft and landed at JFK. When I went to purchase items and took out my money for the first time since leaving Timehri, I realised three US$100.00 and four US$50.00 bills were missing. I was very distraught and realised that the person who had searched me and my bag had stolen the money. I had to connect to two other flights to reach my destination in Oregon, where I sent an email to a friend and asked him to make the report to the security at Timehri, which he did.
He was in direct contact with Mr Hopkinson of Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc by phone and email. I was also in contact with Mr Hopkinson by email. I gave him a description of myself and of the security person and I also emailed a report to the Guyana Police Force. I told Mr Hopkinson I would be returning on March 17 by BW 425, and he said he would try to be there and have the same security working on that day. Upon my return I tried to contact Mr Hopkinson in vain at the airport. I was then asked to make a report to the police at Timehri Police Station. I did so and went back to the office of Secure Innovations and Concepts where I met with a supervisor, Mr Bagot, who was very straightfoward and precise and I was able to point out the person to him. After discussions with Mr Bagot I was told I would hear from them soon. I tried thereafter to get the name of the person to give to the police, but was told I could not have his name. So far I have had no correspondence from anyone at Secure Innovation and Concepts Inc, so I then sent an email to Caribbean Airlines and got a formal automatic reply.
This incident has cost me much as I was not able to conclude my business in the USA because of the theft of my money.
Yours faithfully,
Ganga Kishna
Editor’s note
We received a response to this letter from Mr Harold E Hopkinson, Chief Executive Officer, Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc (SI&C), as follows:
“Please be informed SI&C Inc has dismissed every employee found guilty by our investigators of any impropriety. I had reviewed the video footage and could not find any images that could implicate the employee. The name, address and phone number were given to Mr Ganga Kishna on March 29, 2009 at 11.42 pm. Mr Kishna was alleged to have called and threatened the employee’s family using vile language and obscenities. A report was made by the accused individual to the police station. The address of Mr Kishna was not known then so the police were unable to interview him; it is now. After the threatening language allegation, I emailed Mr Kishna on April 2, 2009 as follows: ‘Mr Kishna, you have lost my support by going to the employee’s house and threatening him. You were supposed to go to the police or send him a lawyer’s letter.
A citizen cannot threaten another without sanctions by the law. Please do not contact me any more; your indiscretion is appalling and disappointing. This is not a game!’”
