Dear Editor,

I wish to highlight a security issue at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport which is causing much distress to passengers. Last Thursday, I departed Guyana on Caribbean Airlines flight#424, connected on flight 600 in Trinidad then continued on to Toronto.

Upon checking in at the Guyana Airport, my check in luggage was searched and I then personally locked all three zippers on the suitcase with padlocks. This was deliberately done as I have been hearing stories from fellow passengers of breaches to their luggage when coming out of Guyana. To my surprise, when I arrived in Toronto, I discovered that all three locks were opened. Since I knew the suitcase was secured before being checked in at Georgetown, I conducted a quick search of my luggage to see if items were missing or added. Fortunately, neither was discovered.

However, I was still shaken up that my luggage was opened by unknown persons and felt very insecure as items could have been planted without my knowledge. I contacted the airline and the Trinidad Airport officials to enquire if it is customary to open luggage without having the passenger present and was told that this was not the case.

Instead, they pointed the finger at the Guyanese airport staff and suggested that the luggage was breached in Georgetown. This does not make sense to me as the luggage was already searched in my presence, prior to being checked in at Timehri.

Prior to travelling to Guyana, I was cautioned about the security issue at the airport in Guyana. Persons advised me not to check in any luggage but to instead send my belongings via sea or air freight to avoid having airport staff tamper with my luggage for drug related activities. This is an issue of concern and should be addressed by the airport management. Innocent people could fall victims to unscrupulous employees at the airport.

Yours faithfully,

Shameer Ali