Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TEGUCIGALPA2388
2005-11-25 20:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:  

Disgruntled Former Employee Alleges Damaged

Tags:  EAIR HO ICAO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002388 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR HO ICAO
SUBJECT: Disgruntled Former Employee Alleges Damaged
Perimeter Fencing Compromises Airport Security; Improvements
Ongoing

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002388

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR HO ICAO
SUBJECT: Disgruntled Former Employee Alleges Damaged
Perimeter Fencing Compromises Airport Security; Improvements
Ongoing


1. Summary: In a written complaint submitted to Post, Fabio
Carias, a former airport supervisor, alleged that the
perimeter fences at the international airports in San Pedro
Sula, La Ceiba, and Roatan are in severe disrepair,
compromising the security of the airports by leaving them
vulnerable to infiltration and trespassing. Carias claimed
that he repeatedly brought these security vulnerabilities to
the attention of senior officials at airport management
concessionaire Interairports, but that they ignored his
reports and eventually had him fired. Carias also warned
that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
had not held Interairports accountable for the security
problems. Post brought the complaint to the attention of
Honduran civil aviation authorities, the manager of
Interairports, and TSA representatives. End summary.


2. For more than two years, Fabio Carias worked in the
office of the Superintendent of Concessions and Licenses at
Honduran airport concessionaire Interairports, as a
supervisor of the ongoing construction at the three
international airports in northern Honduras. In a written
complaint submitted to Post on September 23, Carias alleges
that the security fences surrounding the three airports, and
particularly the airport in San Pedro Sula, have been
overgrown by vegetation and damaged by trespassers, leaving
the airports vulnerable to infiltration. Carias says that
he repeatedly brought the security lapses to the attention
of his supervisor, Miriam Yasmina Deras, and Interairports
manager Elida Howell, but that his reports were ignored.
Furthermore, he claims that Deras and Howell colluded in
having him dismissed from his position this past summer.


3. Carias attributes some of the responsibility for the
security lapses to the TSA, alleging that TSA officials who
inspected the airports were not shown damaged sections of
the perimeter fences, as Interairports officials sought to
impress them by showing off only new and repaired fencing.
Carias also claims that when TSA made recommendations for
security improvements to the fencing, they did not follow up
to ensure Interairports' compliance. According to Carias,
the airports continue to be vulnerable to intrusion and
unlawful activities by gang members, among others.


4. TSA representatives visiting Honduras the week of October
10 met with Econoff to review Carias' complaint. According
to the TSA representative, Interairports and the GOH are
aware of potential security problems, and are working to fix
them. TSA has directly addressed deficiencies and
inadequacies in airport perimeter fencing with Honduran
civil aviation authorities during previous inspection
visits. (During a TSA visit in July 2005, Econoff
accompanied a TSA representative to a meeting with civil
aviation authorities in which damaged fencing was a topic of
discussion.) TSA is also in regular contact with the GOH
National Aviation Security Manager regarding airport
security and necessary improvements to the security systems.
TSA's recommendations for improved airport security include

SIPDIS
construction of secondary perimeter fencing, increased
security patrols, and installation of closed circuit
cameras. TSA continues to follow up, and will investigate
further as warranted.


5. Econoff also spoke with Elida Howell, the Interairports
manager, regarding the question of damaged perimeter
fencing. Howell says that airport fencing has been repaired
and the most heavily damaged sections are being replaced.
The airports have also implemented more frequent foot
patrols, which have succeeded in capturing potential
intruders. Howell agrees with TSA that a CCTV system would
be most useful for monitoring distant sections of the fence,
but she says that because of lack of funds, the proposed
system will not be in place until March 2006.


Ford