Sixteen Aviation Security Officers (ASO) at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) are now better able at handling themselves in the area of self defence after successfully completing a two week training programme.
The programme which wrapped up on September 24, was the first of its kind, according to the CJIA, and demanded technical, professional and physical expertise in the area of martial arts as a defense against any threat.
Senior Aerodrome Officer at the Cheddi Jagan Airport, Alvin Majeed at the CJIA said that every ASO is required to demonstrate the level of his/her operational proficiency when confronted by a hostile airport user.
Majeed who also sits as Head of the ASO Unit, emphasized that the techniques taught are not to harm or injure anyone but to subdue the individual, further stating “these fighting and defensive techniques were developed and upgraded for our ASOs to help them during both routine and emergency exercises,” he further stated. “We are doing this type of training – fighting and defensive methods in order to protect civilians, airport users, passengers and even airport employees themselves.”
Several participants of the inaugural programme expressed delight at being trained to defend themselves and recommended that exercise of such nature should be held on a regular basis.
The ASO Unit was established in November, 2009. The mandate of the unit is to improve security at CJIA on a daily basis.
According to the CJIA, a second batch of ASO will go through the rigorous exercise by the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) on Monday, September 29, at Timehri.
Filed: 25th September 2014.
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