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Six airport runway lights disappear

– search unearths other stolen items in squatter’s home

Six runway lights at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) were discovered missing on Thursday night and even though the Timehri police conducted searches at several homes in the nearby squatting area, up to late last night the lights had still not been found.

Ramesh Ghir

The lights are said to be worth some US$1,000 each.

However, the searches uncovered other items, which were stolen from the airport some time ago, including several feet of runway cable and fuel and up to last night several persons were in police custody assisting with investigations.

Speaking with this newspaper yesterday, CJIA Chief Executive Officer, Ramesh Ghir, said that over the last few months the airport has been a target for thieves. He said there had been several break-ins, people have sabotaged equipment, stolen fuel and broken into the airport’s main storage area and stolen a number of specialized cables.

He said the total loss to the airport as well as many of the ground-handling operators was in excess of $8 million over the last four months. On the issue of the stolen lights, Ghir confirmed that the six portable lamps were discovered missing some time around 9:30 on Thursday night. According to him, the last check was conducted about an hour before the lights were discovered missing. However, he said the lamps were replaced with some in stock and so no flights were affected. He said the joint services were alerted and several searches were conducted, but did not yield much. The lawmen continued their search and yesterday morning got word that there was a particular individual in the neighbourhood who was known for purchasing stolen items.

Stabroek News was told that the police went to the man’s house and during a search recovered several feet of 5,000 volts runway cable and another set of cables, which was the property of Guyana Power and Light Inc. Chainsaws and other equipment were also picked up by the police and are being held at the Timehri station since they too are suspected to have been stolen.

Several five-gallon containers of fuel were also seized, since fuel was stolen from the airport in large quantities.

The owner of the house where the items were recovered was not arrested yesterday but his family members were assisting police with investigations.

Subsequent to the discoveries yesterday, this newspaper was reliably informed that the drive to remove the squatters may be intensified.

Transport Minister Robeson Benn had last year met some of the squatters and explained that further development of the airport would mean extended runways, and more spacious airport facilities.

He told this newspaper last evening that to allow for this growth the squatters would have to move since squatting also posed safety and administrative risks.

A source at the airport also told this newspaper that many of the small shops in proximity to the airport have over time become permanent homes for some persons.

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63 Responses to “Six airport runway lights disappear”

sheik
on September 6th, 2008 6:43 am

Shame and scandal in the !!!!!!!!!.I would expect that at an Internatioal airport, security of the runways would have top priority.Is the NTSA hearing this.

[Reply to this]
torbo
on September 6th, 2008 7:27 am

unbelievable ……… fuel missing,cables missing .runway lights gone maybe
somebody building a next int*l airport they better check to see if any plane
missing???

[Reply to this]
Charriot
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 6:40 pm:
That’s next !! A plane will be missing.

[Reply to this]
StoneP
In reply to the above comment on September 8th, 2008 4:23 pm:
Newsflash…Ghir is now missing….Stolen from his office in the airport.

Raf
In reply to the above comment on September 9th, 2008 8:34 am:
to torbo comment, that is funny, lol.

[Reply to this]
Irreverend
on September 6th, 2008 7:35 am

In Forbes days he would have bulldozed the squatters shacks around the airport never mind of race and get back the lamps by hell or high water. Ghir too SOFT.

[Reply to this]
Satish
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 4:52 pm:
Forbes was not completely stupid.
There is much we can learn from him.
Irreverend has scored a bulls-eye here.
I would go one step further and bulldoze homes and land of criminals who deal in extreme lawlessness like pushing drugs and murderation too.

[Reply to this]
sandra king
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 6:17 pm:
thank god he is no longer here

[Reply to this]
Debbie
In reply to the above comment on September 7th, 2008 12:57 am:
It’s all well and good for you to say that. Should the Guyanese Government bulldoze anyone we would hear of “racism” and unfairness to the poor people that have no where else to live. The question is, why were they allowed to squat at the airport at the inception? Some folks have been there for years no doubt, I agree they pose a risk to the security of the airport and must be given land to relocate immediately.

[Reply to this]
GT,boy99
on September 6th, 2008 8:06 am

This what now how can people or person go an stole fuel from the airport this is an shame on the admin,of the airport,now if they face with cables being stolen from the airport why these cables not under ground ,second where is the security if there any at all ,third put an proper fence around the airport ,an put an second eye which is camera ,The government spend million on carifesta so spend some million on our air that be wise to do an ,u no the money well spend , the airport make money each day on ,tax s, even the chrildren pay the taxs $4,500 each pay so where all the money going

[Reply to this]
sandra king
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 6:24 pm:
the tax is 4000. and the money was well spent for carifesta the president did a good thing for guyanese who lives there by making every event free but yet there were people selling the tickets at the stadium while the police looked on

[Reply to this]
coolieman
on September 6th, 2008 8:18 am

Airports are supposed to have very tight security govt should launch an investigation since management knew things were being stolen sometime ago. Time for Ghir to go

[Reply to this]
decanadianCarlVeecock
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 9:20 am:
coolieman…ah surprised this coming from you ! Yea man !

“Time for Ghir to go”..? You are the replacement?
Hear man?…youhave to have he replacement before you send de boos man
packing. But Ghir not guilty of any wrong-doing.

Next what is an investigation going to do? Prove that Ghir was stymied in
getting corrective actions taken?

My concern is with the security of the runway for if people could get on to
the runway and steal lights, what else could they not do?

Shudderring thoughts !!

[Reply to this]
coolieman
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 11:45 am:
Carl,well Ghir is guilty because he said in the report that thieves targeted the airport for the past three months they even sabotaged equipment break-ins and more they could have sabotaged aircraft so what did he do for the past three mths in terms of security where are the camera’s

drumup_change
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 1:26 pm:
…………………………….transport Minister Robeson Benn, ………………Ghir…………and the authority need to take stock……………………..a poor education bread a poor community…………………..a poor community breads crime……………….think about it the airport should be let go to a private contractor, who renews his/her lease every three years, a bet you things would change……………………..airport facilitie management call for special service operation which include electrical, civil/structural, mechanical engineers, and skill craft men in place……………………….for an airport to function effectively…………..security is maned by government/private company…………………………..the whole airport environment needs a management make over……….if not things would get worse veecock………………..remember Guyana government refuse to think global ……………………..somebody gon teck something away …………………………………….

briantee
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 11:14 pm:
Carl u r quite correct. The way the world is today especially with terrorism you would think that airports in guyana and elsewhere would have tight security. But hey its guyana, -expect the unexpected

toronto girl
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 9:23 am:
some aircrafts are left there on the ground over night ….there are a lot of troubled minds around. The security of those aircrafts I am thinking about…

[Reply to this]
amen-ra
on September 6th, 2008 8:20 am

wow, if it aint one thing, it’a another incident, how come it’s mising could it be an inside job?

[Reply to this]
BigK
on September 6th, 2008 8:29 am

$1000US for one light?

hmmmmmmmmm maybe I should start supplying lights

[Reply to this]
sean
on September 6th, 2008 8:39 am

It is a frightening development to note that unauthorised persons can gain access to the airport runway, much less to thief items. Whats up with security? Is there any? The funny part is that the police are after the so called thieves, aren’t they looking at the persons responsible for preventing such act, like the security personnel. Are they waiting for a disaster to occur like a person, animal or objects coming into contact with aircraft. Is anyone using commonsense here. Brute force and ignorance by th police in recovering items will not solve the problem, this should never have happened in the first place. I ths an international airport or Stabroek car park?

[Reply to this]
MR, WEST.BANK
on September 6th, 2008 8:45 am

Are these the same light that Barbados lone to us ????.

The Joint Service need to get out of Boxton and
station at our only I’ntl airport before things get
worst.

[Reply to this]
wilboys
on September 6th, 2008 9:31 am

Why u guys always jump the gun always like a chicken with no head.

[Reply to this]
Ceddie
on September 6th, 2008 9:35 am

Well I guess if the GPO can steal my wedding invitation envelopes, these squatter can thief from the Airport.

Nuff Nonsense man, International Airport with No security?

[Reply to this]
COSMIKE
on September 6th, 2008 9:36 am

Can’t Blame Fineman & Skinny For This, And You Won’t See Bloggers Like “mackydog” Calling For Ramesh Ghir To Resign The Way They Were Quick To Say Erskine Should When Prisoners Escape, THAT IS BECAUSE WE GUYANESE HAS OUR OWN LEVEL OF RACISIM AND IT’S TIME TO STOP WITH THE RACIST MENTALITY AND ALL WORK TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR HOMELAND, It Is Indeed Shameful That People Are Stealing From The Airport And I Hope The That This Will Be The Last !!

[Reply to this]
mackydog
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 2:50 pm:
COSMIKE 99 ….
I don’t have a bias as to who in public office does their job good or who does their job incompetently on a basis of race. On the contrary. For one reason I myself am of mixed race (wha we kno as Dougla in GT) and so I can’t take sides, I cuss anybody, Black or Indian without reserve Ok. Secondly, I don’t see the government as a Black govt. or Indian govt. in Guyana like you do. You still believe that PNC means Black people since Burnham was a Black man who headed the PNC and got mostly Black votes and PPP means Indian people since Jagan was an Indian who headed the PPP and got mostly Indian votes. I see the govt. of Guyana as unbiased, yes I said unbiased because to me the government is STILL ran by a Black man with an Indian at the fore-front. I’m talking about Roger Luncheon as the MOST SENIOR PPP member, calling the shots for the govt. and Bharrat Jagdeo carrying them out as President. That is politics my friend, which you don’t understand but you can think off (sometimes it’s good to mess with mackydog so he can teach you something and make you go hmmm).
Next, I live in the US and if you not White…yuh Black. Incidentally, I ain’t white, neither is Jagdeo, nor Luncheon so in a nutshell, I see the govt. of Guyana as still BLACK for a second reason.

Finally, I did call for Ghir to resign sighting incompetency just like I did many times for Dale Erskine to go…not because they are Black or Indian, but because they have proven to be incompetent for their positions.

[Reply to this]
Charriot
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 7:04 pm:
Luncheon and Hinds are tokens, so stop with the crap. Jagdeo has the final say in everything. He is a dictator in a democracy!!!!

briantee
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 11:17 pm:
thanks for dropping some knowledge on us
COSMIKE
on September 6th, 2008 9:37 am

??

[Reply to this]
Susan
on September 6th, 2008 9:42 am

This seems to be an inside operation…but what happened security lights and cameras, does any of this even exist…we’re in the 21 Century people, get real…this is our main port of entry to our country. What are your solutions to the problem now Mr. Ramesh Ghir?

[Reply to this]
MACK
on September 6th, 2008 9:44 am

Put an electric fence around the airport. Is there anything Guyanese would not steal? And what about security to the planes and passengers? How inept is this Ghir guy? I cannot believe that in 2008 Guyana cannot secure the one large airport in the country.

[Reply to this]
Irreverend
In reply to the above comment on September 8th, 2008 11:09 am:
The squatters will connect wires to the fence and tief the current.

[Reply to this]
bess
on September 6th, 2008 10:02 am

THIS NEWS STRIKE ME SO MUCH. ARE THESE THE SAME LIGHTS THAT SISTER BARBADOS LOAN US? WELL SHAME ON GUYANA, SHAME ON GHIR, HE SHOULD PACK AND LEAVE. WHERE ARE THE SECURITY? WHEN THESE LIGHTS LEAVE THE PREMISES? WHERE WERE THE GUARDS, THIS IS SO QUESTIONABLE. THE REPORTER OF THIS ARTICLE WAS NOT EVEN TOO CLEAR ON THEIR REPORT, THE NEWS DID NOT EVEN STATE, WHETHER THE LIGHTS STOLEN WERE THE ONES FROM BARBADOS, THAT IS ONE THINGS I DONT LIKE A BOUT GUYANA, THESE FOLKS IN AUTHORITY, ARE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND THEIR RICHS, THEY DO NOTHING FOR THE NAME ” GUYANA” IT IS TIME TO START LIVING FOR GUYANA. HOW SHAMEFUL IT SOUNDS, THE OTHER COUNTRIES MUST BE LAUGHING AT US, SO SHAMEFUL.

[Reply to this]
8R-DAW
on September 6th, 2008 10:17 am

I guess we’ll soon be guided in to timehri by flambos, or candles maybe!

[Reply to this]
Total PKG
on September 6th, 2008 10:24 am

Man this is disgraceful. This is our INTERNATIONAL airport.

[Reply to this]
fitz-lawrence ben jnr
on September 6th, 2008 10:49 am

THEY BETTER WATCH THE PLANES THAT STAY OVERNIGHT.tHEY MIGHT BE NEXT IN LINE

[Reply to this]
Leisalle
on September 6th, 2008 11:02 am

thats a damn shame. i mean who steals from an airport.. i dont know what people be thinking.

[Reply to this]
Charriot
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 7:07 pm:
People need the portable lights to compensate for the constant blackouts.

[Reply to this]
briantee
In reply to the above comment on September 6th, 2008 11:20 pm:
very funny Charriot

mister_merv
In reply to the above comment on September 7th, 2008 12:05 pm:
who steals from an airport? The employees, off course. In this case at least 4 employees were arrested and their homes searched. By the way why use this incident to intensify the attempts to remove squatters. This is not adequate reason.

[Reply to this]
Arnold
on September 6th, 2008 11:27 am

An international airport, with a little or no security, it’s a FREEWAY for TERRORIST(S)
WAKE UP AIRPORT ADMINISTRATION and SECURITY !!!!!!

From the air it’s an eyesore to see those shacks near an Itn’l airport, but the government have to find a solution before ejecting them.

[Reply to this]
mister_merv
In reply to the above comment on September 7th, 2008 12:08 pm:
I agree and I would suggest regularizing them which may result in decency and order.

[Reply to this]
bgsbny
on September 6th, 2008 12:45 pm

…… ehhh ,, wats up doc ?…. chomp,, chomp,,,, so they steal the lights and fuel from the a/port,,well this pair of long antenna that i have with my fuzzy l’il tail tell me that the GPF need to look into this ,,,,

the place where the stolen ? items were found ,, the “buyer ” might have bought them from the “things” or as many,, like the agonseeya guy say,, african resistance fighters !,, according to reports they were “seen” in the area for two whole weeks ? does anyone know how long they were there b4 they became conspicious,,,,, tie in the time of disappearance ,, and find the link,, the buyer may have ties with them making him an accessory to not just buying of ,, stolen goods ,, but of knowing the where abouts of men “wanted by the nation ” !……

so is just a theory ,, and why i feel this is so ,, is,, b4 their appearance in the area ,, nothing was stolen ,, at least from the a/port to the extent that is alarming ,,,, “skinny” because of his beanlike physique may have been the one who with snake like stealth may have been responsible for the missing ak47s ,, from “ayangana” and their next target for ammunition may well have been the army base at timehri ! ? and yes ,,, it may sound like conjecture and an opportunity to blame it on the dead ,, but there is a pattern ,, they were known criminals and thieves ,,of course we must never,,, ever,, forget that they were,, too ,, MURDERERS !…..

[Reply to this]
shocked
on September 6th, 2008 1:49 pm

I really don’t know how this guy still has his job. This is really very serious. A airport runway is supposed to be off limits even to birds, yet someone steals lights !, landing lights?

Didn’t this guy…Ghir know that he was supposed to secure the runway?

This is just another example of the PPP putting a person in a job, regardless of their competence and experience.

[Reply to this]
mackydog
on September 6th, 2008 2:14 pm

What a shame, an International Airport losing its lights to thieves, fuel, wire…what next? And to think that this has been going on for three months? And from the main storage bond? And what has Ghir done or been doing about this?

These and more questions need not even be answered…it should not have happened in the first place…WHERE IS THE SECURITY?

The airport, like all airports should be completely fenced and lighted with a perimeter road on the inside to facilitate a security vehicle to patrol at intervals. The Bond should have security guards with bright like day lighting around and inside. Ghir does not need me nor anyone to tell him this…this is a no-brainer. Ghir has proven his incompetence to be Airport head since the situation with runway lights not working, generator sets bruk-up, landing tower problems, planes turning back to TnT, leaking departure lounge roof, etc, etc. This Ghir should resign, or the govt. find somebody else to run the airport.

The squatter situation is another problem and has been so since in BURNHAM ERROR. They should be removed immediately, even the ones who seem to have set up permanent “homes”. What next would we see, an aircraft vandalised? The FAA should be taking note here.

[Reply to this]
Senseman
on September 6th, 2008 4:06 pm

Ghir should employ his pensonal security before someone steal him.

[Reply to this]
natha
on September 6th, 2008 6:07 pm

i am not surprise at what has happen but this is a very serious matter and somebody has to do something about it or get someone else to take over ,i am not sayiny that things doesn’t happen but at the international airport where is the security ? mygod what else , i agree with some of the comments they better check to see if anyplanes missing,people can do anything they like at the airport and nobody knows what happen . who would want to go where it is not safe we often say a lot of good things about our country over here .The country is in a mess and no one is doing anything about it everyone is fulling their pockets and the country is going down hill thats why everyone want to leave that too bad and shame on the whole admin and the gov’t and it is true when u go home they give you the run around acting as if they are doing their job but i guess it is not so SHAMWe SHAME ON YOU GOV

[Reply to this]
UltimateW
on September 6th, 2008 6:22 pm

I’m speachless , stealing the fuel maybe , but runway lights !! That’s pathetic !!
Pleople’s lives are at risk .

[Reply to this]
Charriot
on September 6th, 2008 6:45 pm

It’s because of incompetent people running these institutions why the crime is so rampant. There is no forward thinking. This guy Ghir needs to be fired.

In Burnham time this type of lawlessness never took place. Burnham ran a thight ship.
Now we have a bunch of rookies running things.

[Reply to this]
Charriot
on September 6th, 2008 6:57 pm

No wonder the big airlines scared to land in Guyana.

[Reply to this]
Sanderson Rowe
on September 6th, 2008 9:30 pm

Not only ,CJIA but security at many of the caribbean airports leaves a lot to be desired. And I am speaking of the perimeter outfield. We concentrate mainly on the Check-In side of security, doing a good job, I might add. As a person with some experience , not criminal, I’ll have no problem in breaching the security at some of these airport.

[Reply to this]
good guy
on September 6th, 2008 10:28 pm

I wonder what are they going to do with the lights —-maybe for a runway in Buxton /Agricola for the Fineman gang .

[Reply to this]
bing
on September 6th, 2008 11:32 pm

I don’t think the CEO of the airport should take all the blame here. Where are all the armed and unarmed security at the airport. No wonder drugs leave guyana via our only intl airport.

[Reply to this]
Gyro
on September 7th, 2008 12:56 am

Quite amazing, a few weeks/months ago i can remember reading articles where the runway was without lights for some period. now the lights are missing. can’t no one see that the guy that is currently airport manager which looks like he’s in his twenty’s is not focused and capable to carry out his job.
managing an airport is not a shop, where you can close when and where you like. that airport is considered a military base, an Intl airport ad most of all the only way in and out of guyana………..my god ….

[Reply to this]
kanaima
on September 7th, 2008 1:23 am

I believe that the solution is a simple one. Simple invest in a security barrier (fence) at least 500 feet around the perimeter of the airport/airstrip’s boundary and have it surveyed by a number of motion sensitive CCTV cameras that would instantley convey imagesand/or an alarm to a 24 hr manned monitor in the security office. For those of you travel to Guyana as frequent as I do it would involve moving the family who lives right at the end of the runway

[Reply to this]
simonsez
on September 7th, 2008 6:44 am

Who is this Ghir guy, what are his qualifications that made him suitable to be head of operations at the airport? As for the squatters, no incoming passengers go there when they touch down…that is only a convenience for the mini bus drivers and people that are there on a daily basis. Hence, it is not needed there. They need more shops in the departure lounge, it’ll be nice to be able to purchase things other than rum and perfumes(which u get anywhere around the world), don’t know who would want to buy perfumes from there to bring back to the US or other countries. As for incoming passengers, people join whichever line they want. When I was there recently, after a long time, I asked an official standing at the door which line should I join, she just waved her hands and was in her own conversation with another staff and told me whichever one i want. Some guyanese people when they get up to the custom official booth, have the audacity to talk as they please and say what they want to that officer, but won’t try it with the customs officers in other countries…. if the guyanese going into the country behave that way, then they’re not helping either.

Does Guyana need to outsource now to find qualified and dedicative people to perform specific tasks. Mr. Ghir seems to be just there for the paycheck.

[Reply to this]
evileyes
on September 7th, 2008 10:16 pm

all security personnel ought to be fired pronto

[Reply to this]
8R-DAW
on September 8th, 2008 1:24 pm

Maybe they could hire people to stand guard over the runway lights, two guards per light should do the trick. During their tour of duty the guards would be chained to the respective light. It really is a pity that Ogle airport does not have a runway that can handle the heavier models that land at timehri, the private owners protect their properties that are within the boundaries of the airport because they spend a lot of cash to maintain it safe for aircraft operation. Timehri, poor timehri, is mismanaged by the government, this one and the last one. Timehri has to be privately managed, weed out all the corrupt people that make the airport what it is today, the national, and principal port of entry that causes so many shameful comments toward Guyana nowadays. When I fly into certain airports late at night and there is no one there, I use a given frequency to activate the runway and taxi lights from within the aircraft. Poor Guyana, can’t even keep the lights on its main airport’s runway there, on the runway. We can only lament. Please post suggestions on what should be done to solve this problem.

[Reply to this]
Richie
In reply to the above comment on September 10th, 2008 1:44 pm:
I agree with a few bloggers and their suggestion to build a high, secure fence with a perimeter so security can patrol and ensure the safe operation of the aerodrome. It’s such a huge safety risk yet the government seems to be taking a lackluster approach to the situation. It not only poses a security threat to the airport but it is a safety concern for airplanes parked there.

“…When I fly into certain airports late at night and there is no one there, I use a given frequency to activate the runway and taxi lights from within the aircraft.”

Delta, Alpha, Whiskey, I’m not aware if Guyana has those capabilities but it would sure make pilots landing there at night feel more secure. I fly out of CYKZ here in Toronto and whenever I’m landing at night outside of the control tower hours of operation I too use the ARCAL system to remotely turn on the airfield lighting system.

At the least, management should make a serious effort to install VASI and PAPI lighting systems.

[Reply to this]
StoneP
on September 8th, 2008 4:20 pm

Mr. Ghir, where are your security personnel located? Are they inside keeping cool and drinkings a few BANKS beer….(Sorry I had to say Banks…I have not had one since 1989). You guys should be patroling the area at all times. This stuff should not be taken lightly. Bottom line is more competent and properly trained security and proper CCTV coverage of all areas in and around the airport.

[Reply to this]
Ricardo
on September 8th, 2008 7:57 pm

Guess next thing you will hear that Ghir thief the lights or he should have been watching the lights all night.

[Reply to this]
Raf
on September 9th, 2008 8:37 am

maybe the next international airport is also run by ghir, ceo / founder.. i have to admit these comments are all funny..

[Reply to this]
Rowena
on September 10th, 2008 9:55 am

Kudus to security ……….world cup, good carifesta good and now the most important ,the CBJ ’s international Airport. better ,……..what you say ? …….Tourism? It is here we have to welcome our visitors?S E C U R I T Y?????

[Reply to this]
evileyes
on September 11th, 2008 7:26 pm

whats a few airport runways lights for thieves to thief when thieves are stealing pitbulls ehehehehehehe

[Reply to this]