Recommendations from the inter-agency taskforce that investigated the theft from a private jet parked at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri earlier this year, include a list of strict security measures such as rigid screening of prospective employees and changes to access to secure areas by even joint services personnel, sources reveal.
“All the staff of the airport, including those that operate kiosks are now subject to security checks at a higher level and screening before employment. It is no longer a police clearance and you get a job…background checks on family and if any were involved in drugs [dealing and or usage]. Also, the access to the aerodrome, both at the fire service and the Guyana Defence Force points, has had changes,” one source told Stabroek News.
The report will not be made public due to the sensitivity of the security issues but government has directed that its recommendations be swiftly enacted.
In addition to screening before employment, a method of inter-force collaboration has also been activated, as per the recommendations, which highlighted gaps in communication among agencies operating at the CJIA. “It was recommended that there be greater and more effective communication among the agencies working at the airport. That has been activated and they are no longer working in silos. There is a joint collaboration between CANU [Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit], the army, the police force and the fire service,” the source added.
But while there is communication among the agencies where the Guyana Fire Service personnel and army ranks attached to the GDF Air Corps at Timehri had carte blanche access to their section of the airport, it is no longer that way and they will be subjected to coordinated checks.
For private aircraft handlers, some of whom charge their clients an additional fee for security, the CJIA has made it clear that its security protocol must be followed by all. “The airport authority has taken full responsibility of the aerodrome,” a source noted.
“They [private handlers] have been so advised of what their responsibilities are…” the source added. Periodic assessment of the rollout recommendations will also done to ensure that there is never a repeat of the incident or any other serious security breaches.
Last month, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill told the Stabroek News of government’s establishing of an inter-agency taskforce to investigate and provide recommendations, following the incident in October, for which a man has already confessed and been jailed.
Edghill had explained that the report presents a holistic view and evaluation of the airport’s security operations with the sole intention of improving these systems.
On the 26th of October, a private McDonnell Douglas MD-87 corporate jet bearing registration number N111RE landed at the CJIA with a delegation of business persons.
It is unclear why the business delegation was here but the plane is registered to Tampa, Florida real estate investor, Ramy Youssef El-Batrawi.
When the pilot and the delegation returned on October 28 to depart, they noticed that the door lock seal for the passenger door and the baggage compartment had been broken, and upon examination of the aircraft that a number of items were missing. These included over 15 bottles of wine and other high-end alcohol, clothing, a step ladder and small electronic items.
An alarm was raised and the police were called in.
Albert Rajram also known as ‘Bunny’, who lived not far away at Circuit Road, Timehri, was arrested and questioned, during which he reportedly confessed to committing the crime. He later appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond/Grove Magistrate’s Court Two and pled guilty to two counts of break and enter and larceny. He was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment on each charge. The sentences will run concurrently.
Civil aviation authority sources told this newspaper that while to locals it may seem as petty theft, the reputation of this country’s aviation sector has been brought into disrepute.
“The public may look at the items stolen and see it as small but the security breach is what really is serious. We will have IATA [International Air Transport Association], International Civil Aviation Organisation [ICAO], the US FAA [Federal Aviation Administration], Homeland Security and all other security agencies from other countries coming down on Guyana. This makes this country look like a joke,” a source noted.
Since the October 28th flight, the jet has returned to Guyana and sources said that “there were no problems whatsoever.”
