Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has unveiled a transformative airport security initiative that will introduce specialized baggage scanning technology across the nation’s airports. The announcement was made during his keynote address at the 2026 Guyana Police Force Annual Officers Conference on Wednesday, February 11th.
The groundbreaking system will enable passengers to self-declare their baggage through automated scanning processes, fundamentally changing how customs and immigration procedures are conducted. President Ali emphasized that this technological advancement will eliminate the common practice of travelers blaming airport officials for declaration issues, stating, “You don’t have to blame a customs officer anymore. You don’t have to blame an immigration officer anymore.”
The government has established stringent penalties for non-compliance with the new system. Individuals found making false declarations will face substantial financial penalties for initial offenses, with subsequent violations resulting in imprisonment. “Every bag will be scanned,” President Ali declared, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the implementation.
In related developments, the President called for an urgent tripartite meeting involving executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. This high-level consultation will address the integration of a proposed police e-case filing and management system with the existing Court infrastructure, representing another significant step in Guyana’s digital transformation of public security services.
The baggage scanning initiative marks a substantial advancement in Guyana’s airport security protocols, potentially serving as a model for other Caribbean nations seeking to modernize their border control and customs enforcement mechanisms while reducing human intervention in declaration processes.