-airport official says
aThe airport security scanner, which is manned 24 hours a day, should have detected the VIP who was allowed to board a plane with live ammunition in his possession, a Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri official says.
Captain Gerry Gouveia
The official told Stabroek News yesterday that it is unclear how the security officers on duty allowed such a major breach to occur. Persons who use the VIP and executive lounges at the airport are expected to go through the same security checks as regular passengers and serious questions have been raised as to what would have happened last Sunday when the man, the head of a state agency, was allowed to depart with the ammunition and magazine in his possession.
It was not until the man arrived at the Piarco Airport in Trinidad that the items were discovered and the Guyana authorities contacted.
Yesterday Chief Executive Officer of the airport, Ramesh Ghir, did not want to comment on the incident, saying that he is awaiting the report following the police investigation. Acting Commissioner of Police Henry Greene told Stabroek News on Tuesday that he had received a call from Trinidad informing him of the find. He described the man’s action as a “genuine mistake” since he lodged his licensed firearm at the airport. The man said he forgot to lodge the ammunition and magazine.
Meanwhile, Captain Gerry Gouveia, operator of the Roraima VIP lounge at the airport, yesterday described the incident as a major security breach. He said that sometimes Guyanese would get upset at the thorough security searches they have to undergo while stopping over in Trinidad but he said it points to the fact that the security officials over there have no confidence in Guyana’s security and that incident would only confirm their belief.
Gouveia said the incident makes Guyana look bad and he called upon all persons who use the VIP lounges at the airport to present themselves for thorough security checks, not only for security reasons but also for their own safety.
Gouveia had recently called on Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon to be more “specific” about breaches that he said were occurring at the VIP lounges at the airport. He explained that he only asked because he knows no breaches occur at his lounge, since persons who use it are always subjected to “one hundred percent security checks just like any other passenger.” He said Dr Luncheon has since said on television that he was only referring to the government-operated lounges at the airport.
Luncheon had told the media that the breaches may have contributed to cocaine trafficking among other offences and that the government had called for a review of the operation of the lounges.
Gouveia called on the government to urgently correct the problems and ensure that all persons go through the entire screening process at the airport.
SN-your constant referral to this man as a VIP seems to indicate that he is above the law. You need to publish his name as it is already in the public domain and his available on various GT blogs.There should not be one rule for some and another for others. You are losing your impartiality when you persist in this type of discriminatory reporting.This is not an allegation but an actual criminal offence for which an ordinary Guyanese would have been charged. Surely this is not democracy at work?
Which other blog publish his name??….tell me cause i wanna know
TRINIDAD SHOULD FINE THE GUYANA GOVERNMENT FOR LETING ITEMS OF THIS SORT BE CARRIED ON A PLANE.
Which security staff can search any govt official using the vip lounge without being transferred to Timbuktu the same day .. The man’s last name is Narine he runs a school in Guyana and is indeed close to the govt. Henry Greene position as a staunch defender of this individual will get him the promotion he so badly wants ..it is a sad day for this country when the head of police has to “grovel” to get promoted. He should have been more forthcoming on the state of his investigation of the Lindo Creek murders as he has been in this ammo case….The US embassy is watching for this promotion to take place will the US ambassador attend i think he will NOT.
Mr. Ramesh Ghir should be fired, and Captain Gerry Gouveia hired to run the airport.
What about me??? i need a job plus i am well qualified for most and most!!
sand u cant get that job bai..u over qualified….
Sandhurst – You can be Captain Gouveia’s second in command (head of airport security) to put these so called VIP’s in their place.
That would be nice but most people think or believe i am a criminal without getting the chance to know me.. and there is no way in the world now that Capt. Gouveia would want to work along with me. It would be nice though but it will never happen, remember the white ooman GOTTA pass and if i am there to hambug things they will get rid of me…so i might pass on this one.
The man is a big shot and probably did not even go through the security checks. How the heck did he expect to bypass the security in T&T with his ammo. He probably has diplomatic credentials for entering Guyana and think other countries are as slack as Guyana when the so called prominent officials show up. In Guyana the security move aside and dare not to stop or search them. Hope they all wake up and finally figure out where the Guyana borders end.
The security scanner does works, but only for certain people, the vip’s dont get search only the mcp[most common people] get searched.
the airport security probably knew he had the ammo but allow him to pass hoping he will be caught and jailed in the US.
IS there a special aircraft for Guyana government officials?They are endangering ordinary people lives some sikko could have easily wrestle the gun from him and create havoc in mid air.With all the narcotics consumption now in Guyana anything is possible.Another thing is any officials using the VIP lounge should only be incoming officials.I have travel international to several develop countries as VIP and only when entering is when you are using the VIP lounge but when exiting any develop countries you have to go through as a normal citizen.CHECK IT OUT GUYS.
I don’t think that VIP’s are scanned,,,,I think that they are “ESCORTED” AROUND the security detection devices straight to either the aircraft or the VIP lounge. Why, because they are above the rules in place for the ordinary traveling public, this type of behavior was created when they created first class and coach, even though you’re travelling on the same aircraft breathing the same air, and face the same danger should the aircraft go down. Cut out the VIP lounge and subject EVERYONE to the same treatment….
Security scanners should have detected ammo….fair enough….
for sure the person who is doing the scan turned a blind eye…
so scan all you want…you have lots of hear no evil see no evil speak no evil woking at yuh airport..you need evileyes to catch the scanners..
Remember what happen to Asgar Ally in Toronto during the late 90s. When he was found with his fire arm and that was before 9/11.