The United States Transporta-tion Security Administration (US-TSA) on Friday donated two state-of-the-art portable Explosive Trace Detection machines, which can detect a range of substances involved in the creation of explosive materials and devices, to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
Junior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson received the devices, valued at US$90,000 or $18.9 million, from Terry Steers-Gonzalez, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy at a brief ceremony at the ministry.
According to a statement issued by the ministry, the donation was made possible under the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed between the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, on behalf of the GCAA, and the US-TSA on November 16, 2015. The MoA allows for Guyana to access technical support and other expertise to assist the GCAA in developing and improving security related standards, procedures, policies, and modernising its oversight infrastructure.
The equipment is to be handed over by the GCAA to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to improve and maintain the airport security system. Personnel from both the GCAA and CJIA will be trained on the use of the equipment.
According to the ministry statement, Steers-Gonzalez thanked the Government of Guyana, the GCAA, and CJIA for the cooperation and collaboration shared “across the board and on this specific project.
“It truly is a pleasure to collaborate in this way and to provide these sensitive pieces of equipment and training,” he was quoted as saying, while adding that he looked forward to seeing the “state-of-the-art” equipment in use on his next visit to the airport.
“We’re thrilled that our experts were able to come here and share their expertise,” he further said, before underscoring his government’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with Guyana through capacity building and improved security.
The statement said Ferguson expressed her gratitude for the donation.
While highlighting the challenges faced by Guyana in the area of aviation security, it noted, she emphasised that the machines will be used for their intended purpose. She also noted the significant cost of the equipment and lauded the US government for its continued investment into the improvement of aviation security.
According to the statement, the donation of the machines comes at a time when the GCAA has committed to developing its aviation security policies and regulations to better regulate the aviation sector after Guyana underwent a security audit by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) during June to July of last year.
It added that the CJIA is taking bold strides to improve and modernise the airport security infrastructure, with plans to procure new security equipment to satisfy ICAO’s requirements and to match international best practices, which will essentially improve the effectiveness in passenger and baggage screening and the screening of outgoing cargo and mail passing through the CJIA.
“The CJIA will also continue to recruit and train new security personnel while improving the standard of performance of the security system,” it further said, while adding that these developments are concomitant with the ongoing airport expansion project.
Also present at the handing over ceremony were Lt Col (Ret’d) Lawrence London, Chairman of the GCAA’s Board; Abraham Dorris, Manager of the Aviation Security Department of the GCAA; and Alvin Majeed, Airport Security Manager of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation.
