"Bahamas Faces Int'l Deadline For Airport Security Upgrades"

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Bahamas Faces Int'l Deadline For Airport Security Upgrades
By Bianca Symonette
The Bahama Journal


Airports in The Bahamas are expected to heighten security measures as the
country prepares for a January 2006 deadline for screening equipment to be
in place that will have the capability of scanning both checked and carryon
baggage.

Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna Martin told The Bahama
Journal earlier this week that her ministry is engaged in a series of
projects to ensure that The Bahamas' security provisions are up to the
standards of international airports.

"This is a new dimension to airport security screening," she said. "It is
something that every country throughout the world is being challenged with
in a very short period of time to meet. It involves the acquisition of
screening equipment including some that are very costly."

Minister Hanna Martin said one of the other security projects that her
ministry has implemented includes the beefing up of security training for
seven airports in The Bahamas.

These include Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay, North Eleuthera, Governor's
Harbour, Exuma, San Salvador and New Providence.

The government and the Inter-American Development Bank are funding the
initiative, according to the minister.

Both the Airport Authority and the Department of Civil Aviation are expected
to benefit from the projects which will cost almost $700,000.

"We are engaged in the process of the requirements of each of the 16 ports
of entry to ensure that they are not compromised come January 2006,"
Minister Hanna Martin said.

"We are also in the process of reviewing the equipment required for the
airports and also the level of manpower recruitment that will be needed to
implement the new equipment."

The minister said for The Bahamas to remain in compliance with international
protocols a lot of resources will have to be exhausted.

"As a consequence the government is looking very carefully as this passenger
security charge. It will be introduced not only in the Nassau International
Airport, but at other airports that are deemed to have the traffic count
that can justify such a charge," Minister Hanna Martin said. 

She added that analysis is being made on the Family Islands to see where
such a charge can be added.

"It's the only way that we can realistically keep up with the growing
demands of capital expenditure that we are experiencing from time to time at
the airports," the minister said.

But she did not reveal how much the passenger security charge is likely to
be.


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