The Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) yesterday commissioned over $400 million in new screening equipment that is expected to help to stymie criminal activity and improve customer relations at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
During the commissioning of the equipment on Saturday afternoon, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill said that he was pleased that Guyana now has state-of-the-art equipment that will improve aviation safety.
The machines commissioned yesterday include a CTX 5800 Checked Lug-gage Scanner ($290M), 2 Smiths HI-SCAN 6040-2is Hand Luggage Scanners ($64M), 2 Rapiscan 620 Dual View Hand Luggage Scanner ($36M) and a IONSCAN 600 Portable Explosive & Narcotics Trace Detector ($15M).
The equipment and its installation were funded by CJIA with support from the Government of Guyana. “We are removing equipment that [is] almost 60 years old and putting in more modern equipment,” Edghill said while noting the capabilities of the new technology.
He explained that the new scanners will help detect threats to civil aviation quickly and aid law enforcement in its fight against narco-trafficking at the country’s main port of entry. He added that the new machines have automatic detection capabilities and will allow the screener to manipulate and further examine anomalies detected in passenger luggage.
The minister also pointed out that there are now two new sets of screening equipment that will facilitate both Passenger In-transit and Staff Screening Points.
“In transit passengers will no longer have to clear Arrivals Immigration and be escorted to the departures terminal to board their connecting flights. These passengers will enter directly into the Departures’ Lounge after being screened at the In-transit Check Point. This is a much-needed and welcomed service and will assist the concessionaires in promptly scanning their goods/merchandise,” he said.
He spoke of a recent instance where a passenger from Guyana was caught with finches in the United States and posited that with these new systems in place it would be difficult for such illegal activity to pass undetected.
In a press release, the CJIA said the CTX 5800 explosive detection system, which is TSA-certified, quickly identifies threats in checked baggage. It noted that the scanner is a Computer Tomography-based system, which uses a single X-ray generator to provide high-resolution 3D images for quick and accurate threat assessment, making it ideal for airports, such as CJIA, to be fully integrated into a Baggage Handling System. It also offers networking solutions to link multiple scanners for efficient image distribution and system monitoring among operators.
The new system will also have the ability to automatically separate baggage from those that require secondary checks. Guyana is one of the few countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that have deployed this new technology at the airport. Edghill disclosed that with these new systems in place Guyana will serve as bridge between the world and South America.
It added that Smiths HI-SCAN Hand Luggage Scanner is an advanced dual-view X-ray inspection system for the automatic detection of solid and liquid explosives in personal belongings and cabin baggage, while the Rapiscan Hand Luggage Scanner is an advanced checkpoint screening solution designed for aviation and high-security applications. The Portable Explosive & Narcotics Trace Detector was described as a highly sensitive trace detector in a lightweight, portable desktop configuration. “It can be used to accurately detect and identify a wide range of military, commercial and homemade explosives threats and common illegal/controlled narcotics, including the highly potent synthetic fentanyl opioids that are rapidly spreading across the world,” the CJIA further noted.
According to Edghill, with these new systems in place, Guyana will be a less attractive transit point for drugs and other illicit activities.
During the commissioning Edghill also welcomed the services of fast food restaurants, including Burger King and Pizza Hut, and noted that there are plans for fine dining and many other services.
