Over 40 CIE Employees Briefed By Hewanorra Airport Security Personnel

Urban Clovis - facilitator

Over forty (40) employees from Construction and Industrial Equipment Ltd (CIE) gathered together at the Port Police Barracks Conference Room on Tuesday January 6, 2016 at about 3:00 pm for a briefing on airport security guidelines. The facilitator was Ag Superintendent Urban Clovis, a 25-year-old serving officer of the Port Police Division, who recently took up this new appointment.

Wikipedia states, “Airport security attempts to prevent any threats or potentially dangerous situations from arising or entering the country. If airport security does succeed in this, then the chances of any dangerous situations, illegal items or threats entering into aircraft, country or airport is greatly reduced.”

CIE employees at briefing

After welcoming everyone present, and introducing himself, Superintendent Clovis began by informing the gathering about St Lucia’s connections with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Transport Security organization (TSA). He went on, “St Lucia is a signatory to ICAO, and TSA  and is subject to the standards set by them. This briefing is one of the requirements set by the ICAO whenever you are introducing new persons into a restricted area of the airport. The ICAO sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency and regularity, as well as for aviation environmental protection while the TSA’s role is to communicate policies to travelers and assist in improving airport security among travelers.”

"Bearing this in mind, regular security audits are conducted at the Hewanorra International Airport by two aforementioned organizations to make sure those security personnel is in compliance with the standards set.” Clovis reiterated.

Works on  a section of airport apron

The restricted area mentioned here is the parking area or apron, which presently is under construction by CIE. Clovis continued, “The airport apron is a parking area where anyone can place a tool, an instrument, or a bomb that can cause an act of unlawful interference, an unlawful act, or something that can put the lives of persons using the airport or boarding an airline. Airport security serves several purposes: To protect the airport and country from any threatening events, to reassure the traveling public that they are safe and to protect the country and their people.”

The reasons behind this briefing for such a large number of workers at any one time, is that concrete and asphalting works are due to begin this week at the airport apron.

The facilitator went on to present to the workers the general conditions under which they must operate. The main feature of the briefing revolved around general conditions - prohibited items within the restricted area. Mr Clovis spoke to these various topics:

• ·         Tools security
• ·         Screening at the checkpoint
• ·         Firearms, controlled drugs and unnecessary items
• ·         Compliance with directives from port police and security personnel
• ·         Suspicious activities
• ·         Use of Port authority ID
• ·         Reflective vests
• ·         Boundaries within restricted area.

Throughout the session individual workers quizzed the facilitator on various issues raised in his presentation. Two notable questions pertained to the use of telephone and firearms on the premises – firearms are not allowed and phone calls are permissible.

At the conclusion of the briefing someone on behalf of CIE Ltd, moved the vote of thanks. The session lasted about ninety (90) mins.