File sent to DPP, changes made at airport
The Guyana Police Force have completed their investigation into the incident where a passenger was allowed to depart the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri with 12 rounds of ammunition in a magazine which was only detected by security officials at the Piarco airport in Trinidad.
Sources have told Stabroek News that the file on the report has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice even as changes have already being implemented at the airport to ensure that such a lapse does not occur again.
Dr Suresh Narine
The ammunition and magazine was found in a pocket of the suitcase of the Director of the Institute of Applied Science and Techno-logy (IAST), Dr Suresh Narine, on December 14 and according to Commis-sioner of Police (Ag) Henry Greene the incident was a “genuine mistake” on the director’s part.
Stabroek News contacted Dr Narine for a comment on the issue but while confirming the incident said he said he would prefer to await a public pronouncement by the police before commenting on the issue.
Stabroek News has since seen a copy of a letter, which Dr Narine sent to Greene and copied to several other officials, in which he apologised for the incident and promised to “exercise utmost care in the future before I travel, and in the securing of my licensed firearm and associated ammunition.”
In the letter Dr Narine explained that on the night before he travelled he had accompanied another government official to the east coast to inspect the state of the flooding with the view of preparing to distribute supplies to the affected residents in the communities. He said that subsequent to the visit he spent the remainder of the night at the IAST removing chemicals and sensitive equipment higher, where a potential flood would not have affected them.
“As a result, I returned home with little time to spare before I had to check in at the airport. I retrieved my briefcase, within which I had stored the loaded magazine for my firearm, and rushed to the airport, completely forgetting that the offending material was in a compartment of the briefcase,” the letter said. Dr Narine further stated that it was unfortunate that the scanner at the VIP lounge did not record the presence of the ammunition and as a result he boarded the aircraft with the items in his briefcase.
He said the scanner in Trinidad detected the item and he was asked to accompany officials for questioning. “Upon my explanation that this was a very unfortunate and serious mistake, but a mistake nevertheless, the Trinidadian authorities indicated they were willing to accept my explanation if my identity could be verified and if it could be verified that I was the holder of a licensed firearm which utilised the 9 mm ammunition…”
Dr Narine said in the letter that it was fortunate that Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett was on the same flight and she assisted by identifying him and facilitated a telephone call to the commissioner’s office.
“The Trinidadian authorities, upon verifying in this manner my identity and the fact that I could have made the mistake by dint of being a licensed firearm holder, were most helpful in enabling me to get on my connecting flight,” the letter said. It stated that the authorities in Trinidad were willing to accept his apologies and explanation that the situation was due to a grievous mistake and did not press charges but confiscated the ammunition.
Dr Narine offered to make himself available at any time if the police wanted to interview him in connection with the incident and provided contact details. He said he took full responsibility for the incident and assured the commissioner that he would “exercise intense care in the future in all matters related to the securing of my firearm and ammunition, and in the contents of my person and luggage when travelling and at all times.” He said he travels a lot and December 14 was the first time such an incident occurred.
Stabroek News has been reliably informed that Dr Narine’s briefcase was passed through the VIP lounge scanner and it is not clear how the security officials manning it did not detect the ammunition.
Case closed this will go no where FAST>
so where you want them to go with this?
GENIUNE MISTAKE ON PARTIES INVOLVED, SO I CANNOT SEE WHERE YOU WANT THIS CASE TO GO.
Lambada, wouldnt you want to know why the officers at the scanner at cheddi jagan airport didnt detect the amo? i know i would want to know because it means other people of questionable purpose could also slip by security at CJ airport. an investigation should be done maybe the results would show the scanner is malfunctioning either way the case has to go somewhere for us to know.
he is not a criminal, a bloody mistake.
case close.
dear dr marine
Implicit in you being granted a firearm licence is your utter responsibility to exercise total due care and attention.
You may consider your self a lucky individual whot is a big fish in the fetid little pond that is Guyana.
In a decent jurisdiction, your rather feeble excuses would have been viewed with incredulity, laughter, and a decent spell in jail..
Why does this man need a gun……..and why the hell did he take those ammo on a plane…….what kind of science man wouldn’t know that the sulfuric acids in the rounds can explode if treated at extreme pressure??
Who does these people think they are?
I would agree with you SandHurst and he should be dealt with as an ordinary citizen with no special privileges/arrangements.
I am however curious to know what changes have been implemented at the airport to ensure that such a lapse does not occur again because this would indicate that there was fault on the part of the airport system.
Look you know what, he should of landed at JKF. Then the Green and the Guyana gonernment could not use the word mistake. A word to the wise, Homeland Security ain’t making joke.
Take note “If you see something, say something don’t wait for something to havven because it cause lives”. That’s how we live in America now.This a warning to all Guyanese coming to the US.
In the Caribbean and Guyana when you big you are given a pass. However, these Government should rethink the way they treat law breakers big and small..you do the crime you do the time… no if or buts.
He should be jailed. No matter what you do when it is travel time, you search EVERYTHING.
Pstttt!!!!He is another businessman. Dey all in cahouts. Thanks to Fari that the name of the airport is, Dr. Cheddi Jagan International. See??? They are doing it to themselves.
The law is for ALL GUYANESE.
“keep it “LIT”
Well Sandhurst, you know how it is in GT, “Who gyeh money gyeh bargain.” So whether he knew that the rounds could’ve exploded, endangering innocent lives or not, NOTHING substantial will come out of it. I could also say if it were another LICENCED firearm holder, e.g. Mr Arokium made a similar mistake he’d have been imprisoned IMMEDIATELY. It’s just one of the realities of the PPP/C controlled system.
Pilots are allowed to carry firearms. With H2SO4 in the rounds I guess.
Mr. Hackett…i believe its the air Marshalls that are allowed to carry their weapons on board….but that’s for safety
But the H2SO4 (sulphuric acid)in the rounds, SHF, won’t it explode at extreme pressure, regardless of who fetching the gun?
the time we spend back biting each other. why dont we spend it and do a prayer for the inocent people that are bing kill in gaza at the hands of the israeli bulleys.thank you
mr man
did u say israeli bullies?
should have been american paid killers who are doing their dirty work for them in the mid east.the world watches and the world condemnes but they will not stop it..and look at how they are proud of their home land with their little flags blogging about guyana.
It should be for Guyana
Guyana need my prayer.
I wonder why his name wasn’t published when this incident occured, if it was the common man his name would’ve been plastered all over the newspapers the next day, but when you are a big fish your name is protected,anyway he got off with just a warning and slap one the wrist, when you big you big.
The BBC, CNN, ABC, The Washington Post, The N.Y Post
and others would of have this socalled big-zinc name and
picture flashing every half-hour. Folks in Atlanta, N.Y,
D.C and other parts of the U.S heard of Dr Narine name
two weeks ago, Stabroek New is two weeks late with this
man’s name and pictaure, I do agree with you AMEN-RA.
Henry Greene Tryed Dr Narine case two weeks ago in the press,
why send the files to the DPP ????, to wast more
time and tax payers money.
VERY frightening! See below for similar incidents.
UK MP unwittingly takes knife on plane
http://www.orange.co.uk/news/uk/33119.htm?linkfrom=feed_newsandweather&link=link_1&article=uk
Uniformed flight attendant takes gun on plane
Woman arrested at Dulles International Airport after flying from Atlanta
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17894203/
Pilot’s gun discharges on US Airways flight
http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-032308-sjf-gunonplane.1c4cabd1.html
Foreigner Takes Gun to Incheon Airport
http://koreabeat.com/?p=1174
they want us to believe that this only happens in Guyana…
Yeah, but it is still INEXCUSABLE! It is FRIGHTENING whenever and wherever it happens, mistakes or accidents or human error notwithstanding. It just doesn’t happen randomly; it’s caused.
It’s nice to know that research can & has been done to show how these “mistakes” are dealt with in countries where the LAW abides. Sadly, in our homeland, the laws are manipulated by those who have the ‘power’ to do so. I wonder what would’ve been the outcome if it were a lesser known doctor, without certain connections & numbers to call!?!?!
Up to August 2008 when I travelled out of Guyana via CJIA, the scanner and ’security’ inspectors were located at the Government Emmigration point, not at the entrance to the VIP lounge (which is approx 150 yards away.
I have been saying all along that you need to take ALL WEAPONS, you have individuals because of their political connections walking around armed, these individuals are not trained in the use and safety and security of weapons and should NOT be permitted to carry them. If the GUYANA GOVERNMENT insist on giving preferential gun permits, then they need to mandate the proper training in the use and carry of these firearms, and keep strict accountability of this training, for example, the holder of a REGISTERED firearm MUST complete 40 hours of safety training in a classroom and MUST be required to qualify quarterly on a certified PISTOL/ RIFLE RANGE, with the range keeping strict records of the scores and if the individual does not qualify for any said quarter, then he/ she cannot carry until they RE-QUALIFY. All records of training and qualification must be made available to the LAW ENFORCEMENT agencies upon demand, or have the POLICE conduct an annual audit of the range’s records.
you are so right lindenbana.
So true
“Keep it “LIT”
You leave out back ground check both local and overseas. A lot of them returning home did bad things while out of Guyana, and return home for a free ride under the PPP/C. The criminals and the criminal offence is very important to one carrying a firearm. However, thats for the police and the PPP/C.
when a socalled big persons travell out of guyana nobody check their
bags they bow to them instead, so lets not get angry about this, its
the system in guyana, just try and get yourselves hook up to the big
ones in guyana and you will enjoy the benefits.. happy new year to all
So true torbo, when you BIG in GT you do what you
want when you want, anytime any place, sad but true.
this happen all over the world what is the problem the man say its was a mistake dont you make mistake.at lease he make that mistake in he own country not like other big one from other country that bully there way in other people country. get over it haters
When uh large uh large …….do hope when the small man get his chance to simular incident hope he/she is treated the same way what’s good for the goose is good for the gander peace out