The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE government may have to make a significant investment in the aviation industry as it looks to bring the country's airports in accordance with new security screening measures announced by the United States last week.

Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D'Aguilar said yesterday equipment upgrades could cost the country $50,000 to $75,000 per apparatus, per airport.

This comes just days after Mr D'Aguilar warned that travellers would face increased screening time at airports once planned US regulations take effect.

The new security measures call for greater scrutiny of passengers entering the US, enhanced screening of electronic devices, and better deployment of canines that detect explosives.

Offering further insight on the issue Tuesday, Mr D'Aguilar said the US has received intelligence that persons in the Middle East have figured out how to put explosive devices within electronics such as laptops and those devices would now require additional screening.

"(US officials) have deemed it necessary now to request and require enhanced security measures," he said.

"So, not only (will) your electronic devices be swabbed, but you can also expect for more passengers to be subjected to additional screening," he continued.

Mr D'Aguilar added that the new screening techniques could force officials to either divert passengers coming from Family Island destinations not equipped with the correct technology to adequately screen passengers or, invest in additional apparatuses.

"Where it does affect us, however, is the Family Islands because not in every Family Island airport (do) we have this device to detect explosive material.

"So we are either going to have to divert passengers who want to travel with these electronic devices to airports where these detection devices are or purchase additional equipment for these airports.

"For example, one of those airports is Treasure Cay (in Abaco); they have one international flight a day on Silver Airways into the United States, and it is going to cost us $50,000 to $75,000 to buy additional equipment to put in place so we need to decide how best to proceed on that," he said.

Mr D'Aguilar also suggested that the security measures could result in "additional overtime" for aviation security staff.

In addition to New Providence, Abaco, Exuma, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera, there are occasional direct flights from the US into Long Island, San Salvador and Bimini.