…GCAA says examining appropriate sanctions for breach

THE protocol pass system at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport was implemented by Ogle Airport Inc. without requisite approval from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), GCAA Director General, Lt. Col (Ret’d) Egbert Field has disclosed.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Lt. Col (Ret’d) Field explained that GCAA, through its Aviation Security Department, regulates security of Guyana’s Aviation Sector through the regulatory framework established in the Civil Aviation Act and the Civil Aviation (Security) Regulations (2004). This, he said, is done in accordance with international standards and practices set out in the Chicago Convention which is administered by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). It is a requirement under the regulations that airports in Guyana submit their manuals for approval by GCAA.

“The airports, they submit their manuals to us with the various systems or protocols for their security operations. These procedures are then reviewed by us and if in keeping with the security regulations, they are approved. If they are not in keeping with the security procedures of the authority or of ICAO, they are asked to be amended until they are brought in line,” the director general explained.

In the case of the Eugene F. Correia Airport, Ogle Airport Inc. submitted a manual but failed to include in that document a protocol pass system. Only two pass systems were listed in the manual – a temporary pass system and a permanent pass system.

“Within their manual there was nothing about protocol pass system. So the civil aviation authority never approved the protocol pass system because it was not in their manual. This was a pass system which was implemented by Ogle Airport Inc.,” he explained.

The breach in regulation was detected late December, 2018 when reports surfaced that People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member, Peter Ramsaroop, and Canadian Diplomat Richard Beliveau were issued protocol passes to access the tarmac of the airport on the morning of December 22, 2018 without the requisite approval. At the time, they were ‘escorting’ expelled Alliance for Change (AFC) Member Charrandass Persaud, who was a passenger on LIAT flight #LI 392 which departed the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at 6:17hrs on December 22, 2018. Persaud left the country hours after voting with the opposition in the National Assembly to bring down his own government. GCAA had launched an investigation shortly after the matter was brought to its attention.

Stating that he is not concerned with personalities but rather systems of security, the GCAA director general said protocols must be followed. It was explained that permanent passes are issued to employees at the Eugene F. Correia Airport while temporary passes are issued to students and temporary workers.

“That temporary pass system when issued states one: it must be applied for before, and two: that individual must be escorted by either somebody with a permanent pass…and not to be left alone,” Lt. Col (Ret’d) Field further explained.

In the case of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the temporary pass system includes the issuance of protocol passes having been approved by the GCAA. The system clearly states the procedure which requires an approval letter from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The GCAA director general said upon the submission of the report on the investigation, the authority issued OAI with an order instructing it to suspend the protocol pass system on the basis that it was not approved.

Lt Col (Ret’d) Reid noted too that even the system established by OAI, though not approved by GCAA, had not been followed on December 22, 2018. He said according to that system, written approval was required from the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Ogle Airport Inc., however, has denied that there was breach, stating that its staff acted accordingly. The aviation authority, nonetheless, is now looking to sanction the airport.

“The Civil Aviation Authority is in the process now of looking at that breach in their manual to see what sanctions can be brought against the airport for instituting a system which was not approved by us,” he said. However, Lt Col (Ret’d) Field said GCAA will initiate discussions with the Foreign Affairs Ministry on the implementation of a system for use by diplomats on duty. It was on this note he underscored the importance of having strict systems carried by assertive individuals.

“If they put a proper system in place, these individuals would not be left alone to make such critical decisions. A proper system in place would state that the individual must refer to a senior personnel either a manager or a senior supervisor who would be more experienced to deal with such matters rather than having a low level person making such critical decision.”

“In going forward [with] the protocol pass system, we will discuss with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if the protocol pass system is required, and it is required for diplomats etc. but we will work together with Foreign Affairs in putting together a system which should be operational for such a pass system.”