Tocumen International Airport. Photo credit Devina Samaroo.
GEORGETOWN/PANAMA CITY--The governments of Guyana and Panama have reached an agreement to eliminate the requirement for re-screening of passengers travelling between the two countries.
This landmark decision comes after a delegation of three representatives from the Republic of Panama Civil Aviation Authority conducted a comprehensive aviation security assessment at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Guyana.
The primary objective of this assessment was to determine whether the airport security procedures at CJIA, airline security protocols implemented by Copa Airlines, and aviation security measures and oversight by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), are comparable to those established in Panama.
The assessment team meticulously evaluated various critical areas, including passenger and carry-on baggage screening, access control measures for individuals and vehicles, hold baggage screening, aircraft security, onboard security and security measures at the terminal and boarding gates.
The Tocumen International Airport, Panama, is often referred to as the “Hub of the Americas” for air travel taking place within the Latin and South American regions, particularly for Copa Airlines, with connecting routes to North, Central and South America, as well as some European cities. Copa has been operating scheduled flights from Panama to Guyana for more than 10 years, since July 2014.
Panama has advocated for ease of travel amongst passengers for many years, thereby adding to the thrill of the passengers’ experience. However, given that there are always new and emerging security threats that pose challenges to civil aviation systems globally, the ease of travel for passengers is often adversely impacted with the observance of strict security protocols, security screening of persons, baggage and cargo, etc. These measures are often necessary to ensure that States, airline operators and the travelling public comply with strict safety and security standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Against this backdrop, in this contemporary era, the ease of travel and the hassle-free experience for passengers are now best facilitated through mechanisms such as the One Stop Security (OSS) arrangement, for which Panama has considered and commenced a path of implementation at their Tocumen International Airport.
The OSS system, which ICAO endorses, is built on a system of equivalency and principles of reciprocity as it seeks to ascertain whether the level of security measures implemented by the participating Member States or State parties are equivalent to each other and adequately comply with ICAO’s aviation security standards. If there are significant differences, the parties must ensure that measures are sufficiently brought up to the required standards before OSS arrangements are operationalised or placed into effect, which often entails initial and reciprocal assessments conducted by the State parties.
The Panamanian delegation expressed great satisfaction with the findings as they presented a preliminary report to the GCAA, concluding that the security measures in place are effective and equivalent to those mandated by the Panama Civil Aviation Authority and implemented at Tocumen International Airport in Panama.
This favourable assessment signifies a significant step towards establishing a One Stop Security arrangement between the two countries. The successful implementation of OSS will greatly enhance the travel experience for passengers flying between Guyana and Panama, particularly on Copa Airlines flights, by eliminating the need for redundant security checks and streamlining the overall process.
The agreement is expected to be finalised with the submission of a comprehensive assessment report to Guyana, accompanied by a “Letter of Commitment” acknowledging Guyana’s participation in the OSS arrangement and its obligation to maintain the highest standards of aviation security measures.
The Panama Civil Aviation Authority has successfully engaged other countries in North America, such as the United States and Canada; South America, such as Brazil and Bolivia; Latin America, such as Mexico and El Salvador; Jamaica, Europe and Middle Eastern countries to implement a similar system. ~ iNews Guyana ~
