SLCAA, ONS & CISU Engages Aviation Security Stakeholders on NCASCP
07th October 2021
Sierra Leone Police Officers Mess, Kingtom Barracks
The Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), Office of National Security (ONS), and Central Intelligence Security Unit (CISU) have engaged Aviation Security Stakeholders on the validation of the National Civil Aviation Security Contingency Plan (NCASCP).
In his opening remarks, the ONS Chief of Staff, Dr. Ahmed A. Sannoh, started by recognizing the good work of the SLCAA: “may I recognize the presence of the Director-General of SLCAA for gracing this occasion. His passion for aviation has led to the new face that SLCAA has had in recent time, and if you interact with him you will prove that to be so,” he said.
“We are here today within the context of fighting a global scourge, that is terrorism. Terrorism is a global existential threat and therefore any country that is worth its salt should do everything it should to make sure that it has adopted the requisite strategies, provisions, legislations, and regulations to be able to deter the threat that may be posed by terrorism,” Dr. Sannoh maintained.
He ended that aviation security stakeholders should work hard to externalize this reality as they are meeting to validate such an important document that will complement the efforts towards fighting terrorism.
The SLCAA Director-General, Moses Tiffa Baio, in his short statement expressed profound thanks and appreciation to all in attendance for their participation. “As Aviation Security Stakeholders, we are here to review and validate the State National Policy document on Aviation Security, which the technical team has been doing behind the scene. A lot of consultations have been done, and we are still following the same process as we have been doing with other stakeholders,” DG Baio said.
DG Baio believed that the document that will be produced will be able to meet the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and that of our national requirements. He calls on all stakeholders present to participate fully and wished a fruitful deliberation and positive outcome.
Presenting the National Civil Aviation Security Contingency Plan (NCASCP), the SLCAA Director of Aviation Security and Facilitation, Kugbei Tucker, revealed that in both the 2013 and 2019 ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme Continuous Monitory Approach (USAP-CMA), the State had findings on this area.
“Since the event of 9/11, the world has witnessed a dramatic shift in Aviation Security, from small border control unit with limited systems and procedures to a comprehensive approach directed towards safety and security of passengers, aircraft, terminal buildings, and other facilities at major international airports,” Director Tucker underscored.
Director Tucker further added that as a logical step forward in addressing the huge challenges associated with: unlawful seizure of aircraft, terrorist attacks, sabotage, hostage-taking, and its attendant problems, the SLCAA has developed a draft Contingency Plan that can be used to respond to these incidents.
He concluded that ICAO recommends each contracting State to ensure that contingency plans are developed and resources made available to safeguard civil aviation against acts of unlawful inference and that the contingency plans shall be tested regularly. ©SLCAA COMMUNICATIONS
