SIXTEEN Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Aviation Security Officers (ASO’s)successfully completed a self-defense programme on September 24, 2014, that demanded technical, professional and physical expertise in the area of martial arts as a defense against any threat.
The programme, the first of its kind, ran for two weeks.
A second batch will go through the rigorous exercise by a Guyana Defense Force Officer next Monday, September 29, 2014 at Timehri.
According to Alvin Majeed, CJIA’s Senior Aerodrome Officer and head of the ASO Unit, every ASO is required to demonstrate the level of his/her operational proficiency when confronted by a hostile airport user.
He emphasized that the techniques taught are not to harm or injure anyone but to subdue the individual.
“These fighting and defensive techniques were developed and upgraded for our ASOs to help them during both routine and emergency exercises,” he further stated. “We are doing this type of training – fighting and defensive – methods in order to protect civilians, airport users, passengers and even airport employees themselves.”

Participants’ feedback
Tonia D’Oliveira, one of the 11 females who participated, said the she feels more confident “as a woman and professional”.
“It was intense and the techniques I learn will go a long way in executing my duties. I am more focused,” she added.
Randy Shurry, who is an ASO for the past four years, said the training opened a door of knowledge for him and his colleagues.
“We now have a broader scope of how to defend ourselves. The only time I saw martial arts was on television, I am privileged to be part of the real time experience,” Mr. Shurry stated.
Meanwhile, Ivelaw McNaughton recommended that such as an exercise should be done on a regular basis. Similarly, Seon Sertimer, felt invigorated and wished the programme could have lasted forever.
“Apart from learning self defense all of us lost weight,” he admitted.
The ASO Unit was established in November, 2009. The mandate of the unit is to improve security at CJIA on a daily basis.