Airport security to get boost

SECURITY at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) is undergoing a substantial $7 million overhaul. It will not be business as usual at the Christ Church facility, following the adoption of new standards by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in response to the growing security threats facing the international air transport industry.

According to recent information obtained by the Barbados Advocate, the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport and the GAIA Inc., have joined forces with other entities, to boost all areas of security at the islands only airport.

As part of security upgrades at GAIA over the past two years, Barbados spent an estimated $4.4 million on the sourcing and installation of a new integrated security system. This system included X-ray baggage inspection systems and carry-on luggage inspection systems.

Now, in partnership with Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a private sector finance source run by the Inter-American Development Bank, $1.3 million ($911 474 from the MIF and $390 650 from Barbados) is to be invested to enhance and strengthen airport security in Barbados through an improved regulatory framework, the implementation of new administrative support systems and training of security staff.

Additionally, during the next two years, the airport was scheduled to benefit from the $1.4 million purchase of in-bound luggage scanners, mobile bomb-threat scanning equipment and cargo x-ray scanners.

The MIF project overview said the goal of the new initiative in which it is involved, was to contribute to a safer and more efficient air transport sector so that the country can capture the economic benefits derived from access to world markets.

Officials explained that in light of the security threats confronting the worlds aviation sector, ICAO had adopted new standards for airport security by strengthening Annex 17 Security Standards through the implementation of new Standards and Recommended Practises. ICAO also introduced an aviation security audit programme to determine the compliance of member states.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, develops the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.

It adopts standards and recommended practices concerning air navigation, prevention of unlawful interference and facilitation of border-crossing procedures for international civil aviation.

As a result, all signatory countries to the Chicago Convention, including Barbados, need to upgrade and modernise their airport security processes, systems and equipment to assure the long-term health of the air transport industry, the document stated.

The new Annex 17 Standards include the development of a National Civil Aviation Security Programme, a system of regulations, procedures and guidelines to meet the international standards, a cadre of experienced and trained inspectors to oversee the operators and the installation of equipment required to prevent criminal acts against civil aviation, it added.

These standards in question applied to airlines, airports and the air traffic systems, and all the personnel involved in the provision of aviation services. Compliance with the new Standards have important operational implications to the countrys aviation sector, in that unsatisfactory results can lead to reduced capacity to reach high profit markets or to interruption in operations. The project will support the institutional and regulatory reforms now necessary to meet the new ICAO standards. It is expected that the results of the project will help to maintain and improve the competitive advantage of the countrys tourism sector and underscore the Banks role in the maintaining and expanding the private sector activities of Barbados, the report noted.

The upcoming technical assistance project was deemed critical because the role of civil aviation, both the transportation of cargo and passengers, has become increasingly important to the development of all the sectors of the economy, particularly in island states such as Barbados.

The transport of cargo and tourists is a pivotal part of the economy, and any interruptions would be devastating for the country, as had happened in 2001. For businesses that deal with time sensitive and perishable products that use air transport as the only means of access to high resource markets, timely operations and adequate capacity are vital.

As a tourist destination, a reputation for safety and security in arriving and departing from the airport is critical for the entire tourism industry, the project outline stated.

Making it clear it was Governments responsibility to ensure there was a secure, safe and economically viable environment in which aircraft may operate, it said authorities had to ensure the airport always has a sufficient number of adequately trained personnel to carry out the security functions at the airport.

Barbados Advocate