Another airport security breach by federal minister reported

Another alleged breach of security at St Kitts' Robert L Bradshaw International Airport by Federal Minister of Public Infrastructure, Post, Urban Development, Transport and Energy, Hon Ian Patches Liburd is being reported.

According to a source the latest incident occurred on Tuesday 15th October.

"At approximately 12 noon, Minister Liburd again refused to be screened at the departure area of the airport," the source said.

According to another source, Minister Liburd went to the airport "to visit an associate who has a business in the departure sterile area. He refused to follow the protocol for the airport security programme and did not allow the officers on duty to carry out the mandatory screening that is required."

Tuesday's breach is said to be the sixth by Minister Liburd and comes one week after Minister of Aviation, Hon Mark Brantley confirmed that an investigation into a breach in April by Minister Liburd has been completed and the report sent to the Office of Prime Minister, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris.

Brantley said the ministry had received a video of the April breach.

"The experts have done their own analysis. They have come to their conclusions and in consistent with what I think my duty is, those conclusions have been passed to the Office of the Prime Minister," said Brantley, who added that he expects Dr Harris to bring the matter to the Cabinet.

Minister Liburd has publicly denied on several occasions that he breached security, although the video shows him walking past an airport security officer while she screens an airline employee.

It is reported that the April incident has been deemed serious and has already led to the downgrading of the Robert L Bradshaw Airport by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).

Leader of the Opposition, the Rt Hon Dr Denzil Douglas has expressed concern that such breaches at the international gateway could result in serious consequences for air travelers who currently enjoy direct service to North America and Europe.

The Bradshaw airport is served by American Airlines, US Airways and Delta Airlines from the United States; Seaborne and Air Sunshine from the United States Virgin Islands; Air Canada from Toronto; British Airways from Gatwick-London; WINAIR from St Maarten and LIAT, the regional airline.