The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

AVIATION and Transport Minister Glenys Hanna Martin has warned the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union that the government will not compromise on the security of the Lynden Pindling International Airport after air traffic controllers protested a new security measure, causing flight delays of up to four hours on Saturday.

Two morning flights were cancelled on Saturday as a result of the union’s actions, Mrs Hanna Martin said in a statement.

Yesterday, BATCU President Hinsey McKenzie said there would be no disruption in air traffic operations in the lead up to a meeting with government officials today over the union’s protest of newly implemented security protocols.

Mr McKenzie told The Tribune that air traffic controllers will show up for work as expected today, prior to the union’s meeting with Mrs Hanna Martin at 9.30am over Saturday’s protest. However, Mr McKenzie said the union’s stance, as well as its actions on the matter going forward would depend on the outcome of the meeting, adding that he would likely call a press conference afterwards.

Mr McKenzie said Saturday’s events were the end result of a lack of communication with the Civil Aviation Department (CAD), the Airport Authority and the union over the new policy, which he said the relevant parties previously agreed to review and discuss for 120 days after its implementation.

Mr McKenzie explained that members were protesting the new security policy by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) that mandates controllers undergo extensive personal searches at security checkpoints.

Before the policy, controllers were only required to show their work identification card.

Mr McKenzie explained that ICAO, a specialised United Nations agency that sets global standards in the civil aviation industry, had recently conducted an audit, and had presented the increased security measures as critical for the airport to pass the inspection.

The new policy was implemented on May 13, but Mr McKenzie said CAD, the union, as well as the Airport Authority agreed to a 120-day review period for the relevant parties to discuss and negotiate the particulars of the policy.

“None of (the discussions) occurred between the 120 days from May 13 (when) they instituted it until September 9,” Mr McKenzie said yesterday. “Nobody did anything. We had 120 days of nothing.”

He continued: “We went into a meeting at 9am (on Saturday) with management to see if we can have some resolution but they did not comply, so I agreed with the minister that we’ll have a meeting (Monday) at 9.30. We will continue to work on the weekend until we have the meeting (Monday).”

Nonetheless, Mrs Hanna Martin, in a statement over the weekend, lamented Saturday’s “unjustified industrial action,” the likes of which she said “negatively impacted” national and international commercial air traffic to the country for up to four hours in some cases.

Mrs Hanna Martin said the screening of air traffic controllers is a “direct mandate” by ICAO, which she said had advised the government of its “imminent intent to post globally” that this specific deficiency made LPIA a “vulnerable aerodrome” as it relates to security. She also said government officials were told that it “would seriously and negatively impact the economy and reputation of the Bahamas” if not corrected.

She also said those concerns were also documented by the United States Transportation Security Administration.

As such, Mrs Hanna Martin cautioned the union to be deliberate and fair in their actions regarding this particular issue.

“I wish to assure the Bahamian people that the government will not compromise on securing LPIA in accordance with international standards and in our own national interest and I am calling on the union to be responsible and proportionate in its actions so as to not cause undue harm to the Bahamian people,” she said.