The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Wednesday carried out a full-scale emergency exercise aimed at testing the country’s airport-security and emergency-response systems, temporarily triggering a controlled lockdown of parts of the terminal around 9:00 hours.
The simulation, conducted in the Arrivals area and other sections of the airport, formed part of a scheduled drill coordinated with major national security and emergency agencies. Officials said the exercise was designed to assess response times, inter-agency coordination, and the functionality of communication and command systems.
As part of the drill, an alarm was activated and the terminal went into lockdown while the Emergency Operations Centre was brought online. The controlled scenario allowed responders to test their readiness without disrupting routine airport activity.
CJIA’s Security Director, Manmohan Balram, described the exercise as a “tremendous success,” noting that it offered a critical opportunity to evaluate operational capabilities and strengthen coordination among agencies.
Deputy Superintendent Clifton Davis, Officer-in-Charge at the Timehri Police Station, said his focus during the exercise was managing the movement and deployment of teams on the ground. The drill, he added, allowed units “to test our response structure in real time” and ensure quick mobilisation when required.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Errol Watts highlighted the strong grasp of Standard Operating Procedures demonstrated by participating ranks, stressing the need for continuous assessments to maintain effective threat response.
Agencies involved in the simulation included the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Tactical Services Unit, Customs, Immigration, the Civil Defence Commission, the Ministry of Health, and other airport partners.
Airport officials said the exercise was conducted in keeping with international aviation requirements and supports national efforts to enhance emergency response capacity. Normal airport operations continued throughout the drill, and authorities emphasised that the public was never at risk.