Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes is now pushing for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to be investigated, contending that information is being leaked to criminal elements, who have developed a trend of attacking overseas based-Guyanese, tourists and persons returning to Guyana – a situation she said could have reached a “crisis” stage. On Thursday, she told reporters that the issue was raised with the Cabinet, particularly the Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix, some two weeks ago. “Clearly there is some information trail that is existing within the airport,” she said noting that in addition to the Ministers, the issued has been raised with the Head of CJIA.
“I do intend to speak with the Commissioner of Police from a tourism perspective and as I said, we raise it in Cabinet that an investigation has to go into the different departments within the airport whereby this information seems to be collected and passed on to unscrupulous criminals,” she said.
She added, clearly there is need for more “policing mechanisms” to be put in place to deal with this issue. “One of the biggest things I face when I travel, you can’t sell Guyana sitting in Guyana and it is extremely challenging going to destinations and a large percentage of the time you have to spend, I spend reassuring people that we are doing all that we can.”
In addition to the leakage of information, Hughes said some persons traveling back to Guyana have developed the habit of sharing too much information. “I ask that people be more concerned and careful with the information.”
Just last Wednesday night, a policeman who was transporting some relatives from CJIA came under fire at Barr Street, Kitty, Georgetown. According to the Police, one of the ranks had sought assistance after he suspected that he was being trailed by the motor vehicle from the CJIA, where he had collected his relatives.
The police ranks came under fire from the occupants of the motor vehicle and returned fire wounding Shawn Thom, 37 years, of National Avenue, SRP, to his left foot. He has been admitted a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital where he is under guard. His accomplice managed to escape. An unlicensed .38 revolver with 3 live rounds and 2 spent shells has been recovered and the motor vehicle seized by the police. Investigations are in progress. However, this is not new issue as the previous administration was grabbling with, and at one point had sought to increase the presence of ranks along the route from the airport to central Georgetown.