Substantial security upgrades at Family Islands Airports Ministry of Transport and Aviation In fulfilment of its mandate and the countrys obligation to bring Bahamian airports in line with international standards for safety and security, the Minister of Transport and Aviation, Glenys Hanna Martin advises the public of the following security and safety upgrades at selected Family Island Airports to date. The Department of Civil Aviation has successfully installed recently acquired security equipment at selected Family Island Airports at a cost of over $1.3M. These security equipment upgrades have substantially advanced the security status of the following airports: · Rock Sound Eleuthera Airport · Governors Harbour Eleuthera Airport · North Eleuthera Airport · Moss Town Exuma Airport · South Bimini Airport · San Salvador Airport Additionally, security equipment in the form of hand-held detectors were delivered to airports on the following islands: · Matthew Town, Inagua · San Andros · Fresh Creek Andros · Congo Town, Andros · Treasure Cay, Abaco · New Bight, Cat Island · Stella Maris, Long Island · Great Harbour Cay, Berry Island The Department of Civil Aviation and The Airports Authority identified selected Family Island Airports for security equipment upgrades based on priority and need. The upgrades included Walk-Through Metal Detectors (Portals), Hand-Held Metal Detectors among other equipment. The installation exercise commenced on 18 February, 2014, and concluded on 4 March, 2014. Commenting on these recent upgrades, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said that “the work of reforming our aviation transportation industry, this is important because the aviation sector is one of the critical engines for our economic strength and key to our social health as an archipelago.” Speaking about the country’s international obligations, the Minister expressed confidence that the country is on the right track by continuing to review and reform the sector. “These important security upgrades place The Bahamas one step further in its efforts to modernize the safety and security protocols at numerous airports, thereby ensuring that the country consistently meets International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended industry best practices relative to aviation security” she said. Outlining the policy objectives of the government, Minister Hanna-Martin said “the policy objectives of the government include a program of comprehensive reform of the existing institutional and regulatory structure; targeted investments in safety equipment and the implementation of a new institutional and legal framework with arrangements for financing and infrastructure management.” But the vision for reforming the industry doesn’t stop there: “Additionally,” said the Minister, “other major components of our plan include a comprehensive Optimization Study for these Family Island airports which is currently under way inclusive of environmental guidelines, health and safety standards, Emergency Preparedness Plans, Hazardous Cargo Management Procedures and energy and water conservation for all airports in The Bahamas. This will aid the Government in making informed, strategic and pragmatic decisions and policy-making for a more efficient airport network in The Bahamas ”
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 18:22:33 +0000