A
alexk
Guest
A $5 million robbery at the cargo dock at the Piarco International Airport, last December, could have been avoided.
This was the claim made by Airports Authority of T&T (AATT) security officers while addressing security concerns at the airport during a press conference held by the Estate Police Association at the Communication Workers’ Union Hall in Port-of-Spain, yesterday.
Vice chairman of the union’s AATT branch Kenneth Joseph said: “We are aware that there had not been any security officer posted at that location for a considerable period of time before that robbery.”
Joseph claimed that the union had highlighted the issue to the AATT management several years before bandits targeted the location and stole over $5 million in cash, which was due to be transferred to commercial banks in Tobago.
Four people were charged for the robbery but the stolen cash has not been recovered.
He alleged that the airport’s cellphone waiting lot and lax requirements for security clearance for certain segments of the facility were to blame. He also suggested that it could have been foiled if the AATT security team had an emergency response unit, which was only set up after.
“We are demanding that the AATT become more proactive and not reactive,” Joseph said.
Joseph also pointed out that there was limited CCTV coverage of the perimeter fence around the airport as he noted that the union’s branch chairman Videsh Bhagwandeen was injured while attempting to detain an intruder, who breached the fence earlier this year.
Joseph said that the AATT management repeatedly failed to acknowledge its concerns over security at the airport.
“The EPA is of the view that these actions or inactions could suggest that they (AATT) are wilfully allowing drugs and illegal items to enter and leave the country,” he said.
“Can we say that the guns that committed murders last night and last week did not pass through the airport? I think not,” Joseph added.
He claimed that the issues have a demoralising effect on its members, who were overworked due to staff shortages. “Some officers are dejected but because of their professionalism they continue to do their jobs under immense strain and scrutiny,” he said.
Joseph said that the union is seeking an invitation to appear before a Joint Select Committee of Parliament ( JSC) so that it could highlight the issues further.
“If we are not, we will hold another press conference, next week.
We may even seek the assistance of the United States Embassy and the United Kingdom and Canadian High Commissions as they all have a vested interest in the Piarco International Airport,” he said.