.jpg)
Managing Director of the Roraima Group, Captain Gerry Gouveia, had directed that an independent commission be convened to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the illicit drug during the delivery of catering escorted by a Roraima Airways Security Agent (AVSEC) at the CJIA.
Attorney-at-Law James Bond, who served as Chairman to the Commission, lauded the Roraima Group for undertaking such an initiative, noting that the problem affected not only Roraima itself, but Guyana as a whole.
“The Cheddi Jagan International Airport is the major airport in which the face of Guyana is exposed, and when we have incidents such as these, it places not only Roraima, but Guyana in a bad light,” he stated.
He pointed out that though it may not be possible to stop narcotic trafficking from happening in its entirety, because traffickers have found unique and unusual ways of breaching the systems, it is good that some of them are being caught.
In addition, Bond highlighted that the commission was able to fulfill its mandate with all of the terms of reference with the exception of two.
It was successful in establishing the sequence of events, time and place of the incident; methodology used to provide AVSEC examination and escort for the catering from point of preparation to the aircraft; methodology used to schedule examining agent for catering duties, specifically and all other deployments; and the details of agent Sidney Matthews employment.
It was also able to examine the established role and SOPs of AVSEC with specific attention to catering examination and escort and to examine all required records and documents as relates to AVSEC examination and escort for the catering.
However, the commission was unable to examine the methodology and SOPs of the Water Chris Hotel and to determine the disparity between the AVSEC and catering company’s SOPs and the events that transpired on the day of the incident.
The Commission of Inquiry lasted 25 days, from September 5 to September 30, and, according to Bond, officially met 20 times during which eight persons were interviewed – six AVSEC agents and two Water Chris employees.
In addition, a complete review of all AVSEC personal files was conducted and the commissioners were able to witness the entire catering process, starting at Water Chris and escorting services to CJIA.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RK Security Services, Roshan Khan, on behalf of the commission, presented a total of 15 observations and recommendations in the report.
The commission noted that access to the metal canister used to transport the catering seals is easily gained without breaking the plastic seal and without evidence of entry. It therefore recommends that the canister be secured with paper seals or modified to allow the use of a plastic seal.
It also recommends that the Water Chris Hotel install more cameras throughout the preparation and loading areas which will offer wider coverage of the said areas, and that the monitoring of these cameras is shared jointly between AVSEC and the catering company.
In addition, the commission pointed out that the parking lot west of Gate 4 at the CJIA has no security cameras, and recommends that cameras be placed in this area.
It also urges that supervisors be trained intensely in staff profiling and recommends that any AVSEC personnel absent for any period longer than two days should not be immediately deployed to any area that does not require supervision.
In its report, the commission also noted that it found one agent, Lawrence North, to be incompetent and recommends that his employment come under immediate review.
“His personnel file reflects a very poor work record and a disinterest in his job. Also, within his file, there are several documented incidents of misconduct, negligence and dereliction, for which he was not censured,” it stated.
The commission also recommends that the forklift used in the transport of the catered food be checked for unapproved foreign and potentially illegal paraphernalia, and additionally, that detailed SOPs for vehicle search be implemented.
It further recommends that files of all AVSEC employees be made available to all supervisors and managers of VSEC/Roraima Airways to be studied and restudied in detail regularly.
The commission suggests that there should be no pre-packing of food trolleys without the presence of AVSEC personnel, and that escort of the catering should be done by two AVSEC agents.
It also believes that Roraima Airways should employ additional AVSEC personnel and that adequate communication be implemented in the form of two-way hand held radio sets so that supervisors can know the whereabouts of the escorted catering at all times.
It also recommends that the size of the catering bin be modified to allow the forklift operator to have unimpeded visibility, noting that presently the operator has to depend on the AVSEC agent, who should be focused on the catering bin, to give him directions.
Lastly, it recommends six month recurrent training sessions for AVSEC personnel.
Meanwhile, General Manager of the Roraima Group, Mrs. Debbie Gouveia, revealed that the company is taking the recommendations that came in from the Commission of Inquiry seriously and have already made all the changes that were recommended for Roraima Airways.
In addition, she noted that they have also amended their SOPs to accommodate most of what was discovered; and with regard to Agent Lawrence North, she stated that he has already been summoned to the Human Resources Department and his case is being studied.
Gouveia also related that they can only recommend that CJIA consider the commission of inquiry recommendations, and assured that the report will be sent to the airport within a week.
