Civil aviation suspends issuing of protocol passes in wake of questions around Charrandass Persaud departure

Following a security assessment surrounding the departure of Charrandass Persaud through  the Eugene F Correia International Airport (EFCIA), the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has suspended the issuing of protocol passes until the system is further reviewed.

This disclosure was made in a press release yesterday by Ogle Airport Inc (OAI) which said that there had been no security breach surrounding the departure of the former APNU+AFC MP Persaud.

It said that the Guyana Chronicle of Sunday, 6th January, 2019 had erroneously reported that there was a security breach.  OAI said it is unfortunate that the newspaper did not check the facts with the Airport.

It added that Ogle Airport Inc., in the administration of the Airport, is instructed and guided by its Airport Operations Manual approved by the GCAA. It stated that OAI is in accordance with its Airport Operations Manual, “responsible for the control of entry into the Restricted Areas and the Prohibited Areas of the Airport”.

OAI added “In the instance reported in the Guyana Chronicle and also in the Kaieteur News of Sunday, 6th January, 2019, Mr. Charrandass Persaud was a passenger on LIAT flight #LI 392 which departed the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at 6:17 a.m on 22nd December, 2018.Mr. Persaud arrived at the Airport accompanied by Mr. Richard Beliveau, Mission Security Officer of the High Commission of Canada, together with Mr. Peter Ramsaroop.

“Mr. Beliveau presented himself and his Ministry of Foreign Affairs ID Card to the Airport Duty Officer and requested a pass to accompany a passenger to the aircraft. Mr. Peter Ramsaroop also requested a pass saying he was part of Mr. Beliveau’s party. The Airport Duty Officer, in accordance with an established courtesy practice as is requested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended to diplomatic personnel, granted a Protocol pass to both persons. The passes were duly returned in exchange for their respective ID documents on their departure from the Airport.

“Both Mr. Beliveau and Mr. Ramsaroop, as well as Mr. Charandass Persaud, were subjected to full and complete screening before entering the Departure Lounge in accordance with the requirements of the Aviation Security Programme approved by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority”.