Roraima Airways urged to review food handling for Delta flights

-after internal probe into cocaine bust

An internal probe done by Roraima Airways to investigate the events surrounding a drug bust at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri (CJIA) last month has recommended that the company re-examine its food handling procedures for Delta Airline flights.

Roraima Airways is contracted to carry our ground handling services for the airline, including airside operations at the CJIA as well as food handling preparations for all flights operated by the North America-based airline.

Sidney Matthews, an employee of Roraima Airways attached to the Aviation Security (AVSEC) Division, which provides services to the airport, and Mark Fredericks, 51, a driver attached to the Waterchris Hotel and Restaurant, which provides the catering service for all the major airlines, were jointly charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking as a result of the bust.

At a briefing held on Monday at the Duke Lodge, in Kingston, where the report of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the bust was handed over to Roraima Airways CEO Captain Gerald Gouveia, commissioner Roshan Khan said that several shortcomings were uncovered during the investigation. He said that the COI, chaired by attorney James Bond, made several recommendations in the report, which will be forwarded to the airport management, Delta Airlines and the law enforcement agencies.

The commission’s Terms of Reference were wide, including a comprehensive review of the Standard Operating Procedures employed by AVSEC, a company which operates under the umbrella of the Roraima Group. The COI was tasked with making recommendations as regards necessary improvements, and it had unfettered access to all Roraima Airways staff, records, and systems relating to airport operations.

Khan said that the inspection and sealing of food was one area which has to be re-visited.

Gouveia told the media that before the food leaves the city in the mornings, a security agent would inspect the food prior to it leaving for the airport. He said that the team recommend that two agents be on hand to inspect the food. He said that six months ago, the company established a system where the food would undergo further inspection at the CJIA prior to its being loaded onto the aircraft.

Although the system was in place, Gouveia said airport employees continue to be lured by persons who give them money to break the law. “This matter is still before the courts… let the police and court system deal with that,” he said.

Gouveia noted that the security systems at Roraima’s airport offices benefitted from training from Delta Airlines, whose officials trained and accredited local staff. He said too that each member of staff had to undergo security and background checks prior to being issued an airport pass by the CJIA.

“Every person who is employed gets a total background check of where they live… where they worked… that information goes to the airport and they double check the information, then they would give approval and only then they would be issued an ID card,” he said.

Khan stated that a person could be working for many years at the airport and may have experienced many security checks but at the spur of the moment “an evil thought “may overwhelm the individual.”

“These things are possible, even though the company has very rigid screening systems, the airport gives its approval and the airline as well, we still have these things… it happens at any part of the world,” he said.

It was alleged that on September 3, at the CJIA, Matthews and Fredericks had in their possession 1.855 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The men, who appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, both pleaded not guilty and the case remains before the court.

Other members of the commission were Dale Ibbott    (Management Consultant) and Roraima Airways’ staffers Learie Barclay (Operations Manager) and Gerald McKenzie (Administrator).