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Dear Editor,
Over the last few weeks, there have been quite a few letters about all the irregular things taking place at the airport. I wish to raise another issue to demonstrate that no one is in charge and no one cares.
The VIP Lounge has become a place of payoffs. From top to bottom, they are all involved. People are passed through the VIP Lounge in droves with no security and no customs checks.
Their luggage is collected from customs and exits through the lounge. No one knows what is in these suitcases and bags. But money passes.
Who is a VIP? How is a VIP classified? I would assume diplomats, persons with diplomatic passports and official delegations visiting the island. Not Tom, Dick, Mary and Eileen.
What is the system? Doesn’t Immigration and Customs question this process when the VIP officer clears someone? Isn’t it their responsibility to ask questions?
PM Gaston Browne seemed to excuse this type of corruption when he cited the garbage truck owners being paid even though the trucks have not worked for months, but the VIP Lounge is a matter of national security.
If these types of security breaches result in our airport being downgraded all American carriers will be affected and that will be the end of tourism. It takes a long process to get re-classified.
I believe the VIP Lounge falls under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so what is Chet Greene doing about this situation? Max Fernandez is Minister of the Airport, the blame will ultimately fall at his feet. PM Browne is Finace and National Security.
This scam is costing the country customs revenue and God knows what is in those suitcases.
These are the facts. Let’s see what happens now..
Faithful National D. Warner
What do you suggest, Mr Warner??
That the GOVERNMENT do the job they were elected to do — KEEP US SAFE!!!🤷
Warner is not a name but is just a figure of speech or dialect the Warner who is cautioning the situation
Maybe this guy wants a job so he can be on the take also? Better watch out before you get yourself in hot water making assumptions.
Wow this does not sound good at all.
I’m shocked
It is well known among regular visitors that if you contact the Manager of the lounge Ms. Shirlyn James ahead of your arrival or any of her staff directly, they would be happy to give you the full VIP treatment for as little as US$ 50…..Race you through immigration and Customs, without as much as a question asked….
It appears that persons involved in the Antiguan equivalent of Homeland Security apparently have expressed -for years now- their concern about certain activities in the VIP lounge that would likely merit attention. The frustration there is that often these concerns are acknowledged but never acted upon. They feel that the Lounge’s manager is a rather powerful person and that therefore nothing happens pertaining their expressed concerns…
Employees in the VIP Lounge, are said to often be working extended hours and appear to be assisting arriving passengers—especially from international flights—by personally escorting them through the exclusive VIP lounge.
As the other commenter said in some cases, these individuals are even being guided straight through immigration and customs, seemingly bypassing standard procedures.
Some have said that when certain non diplomatic individuals are leaving the country on an international flight, the security checks are done without the passenger present…The flight as well as the destination airport could be at risk if someone or something is on board without a thorough check. Not surprised that these actions raise concerns about potential breaches in protocol. Ya’ll really should keep Antigua safe..😀