Unless there is more in the mortar than the pestle, there is every probability the sore point over which Barbados’ Immigration officers have threatened strike action – as reported in the last SUNDAY SUN – could be amicably and speedily resolved.
Immigration and Customs services are vital to security checks at ports of entry, moreso these days when much advanced training and sophisticated technological devices have been made necessary to guard against those whose agendas conflict with a nation’s commitment to a safe and secure environment for its citizens and visitors alike.
In the circumstances, it is a pity to have learnt of the prevailing grievance, one of seeming discrimination, of Immigration officers at Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA), in relation to enforced security searches and checks from which their colleagues in Customs are exempted.
It is encouraging to know that the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), which we assume represents both these categories of workers, has moved with alacrity to have the stated grouse of the Immigration officers speedily addressed by the relevant authorities, starting with GAIA.
The GAIA has already made it clear that its own involvement in the issue was consistent with regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that have been incorporated into Barbados law and which insist “on one hundred per cent screening” at the airport.
However, if we understand correctly the bone of contention as raised by representatives of employees in the Immigration services, they are not complaining against the ICAO regulations. Their focus is on what they consider an act of discrimination being meted out against them when it comes to security screening, including for purchased drinks, as it is not applicable to Customs.
It should be noted, though, that an official of the Civil?Aviation department did say that police and Customs officers assigned to the airport by the Commissioner and Comptroller respectively would not be screened.
There is also another quite relevant factor for standardized “fair treatment” for both Immigration and Customs officers. Requests are often made at state-to-state level by governments for special treatment for such officers when travelling overseas on official business.
A question of interest: is it fair to institute different standards of security checks for these two categories of workers at GAIA from which they can be exempted while they are on official duties abroad? And why at this stage and without any prior notification to the NUPW?
Further, since reference has also been made to the Police Act and Customs Act in relation to justifying exemptions for both police and Customs officers, then a serious reassessment ought to be made to ensure uniformity in laws and arrangements applicable to operations at GAIA.
