By Thaimu Thullah
Sierra Leone Government is being criticized for the delays at the airport on landing and departure for cash payment of $25 airport security fee. This is evident from research and concerns raised by international Travelers.
The payment of the $25 airport security fee many believed could better be included on the air ticket price so as to avoid extra burden on passengers who might have exhausted their finances before embarking on traveling.
Reports has also shown that the payment of the airport security fee can best be realised when it is included on the prices of ticket. By so doing, government will no longer suffer criticism from passengers and will be a big relief to the passengers. It will also cut down and minimize the illegal collection of fees and stop the embarrassment of asking passengers for payment.
We must ensure that the system is in place to provide the much needed digital security to control international crime.
It is therefore important for the government to fulfill its contractual obligation by speedily giving directives to the SLCAA to include the fees on ticket price, which will help save the government from unnecessary burden, complaints and grumbling.
In countries like Senegal, Mali, Ivory coast, USA, UK, Europe etc, the Securiport service fees are included on the ticket price, which is why passengers hardly feel the burden of making the payment.
The airport security fee is a standard and universal policy which allow authorities to utilize cutting-edge border control technology tools to ensure the safety of passenger, airports installations, and other airport related hardware and equipment. Securiport serves as a credible and universal platform to ensure the airport is safe and secured.
Providing cutting-edge border control technology tools to ensure the safety of passenger, airports installations and passengers.
The following groups are the only people who are exempted from paying the fee:
– Members of Government of Sierra Leone Presidential Delegation
– Members of Foreign Presidential Delegation
– Foreign Diplomats, in line with Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961
– Airline Crew on Duty
– Infants (children under 2 years)
– Transit/transfer passengers within 24h
– Passengers from involuntary rerouting, e.g. due to technical problem or weather condition
It will interest readers to know that Sierra Leone Government has over the years been subsidizing the payment of the Airport Security Fee of $ 40 for arriving and departing passengers.
The Airport Security Fee is a standard charge, which is prominent in other countries. It is part of a network system that will connect Sierra Leone with other countries when screening passengers. The system on its own will prevent the influx of terrorists and criminals, who have been bypassing airports and other border crossing points.
Additionally, for the government to do background check to know those who are coming and living the country, the securiport evisa contract must be enforced as visitors applying for visa are electronically screen by the securiport system before the visas are issued. It’s also transparent and accountable as the system can generate precise report on numbers and revenue generated for evisas issued.
The paper visas still issued at immigration department and airport by NRA are obsolete and a recipe for corrupt practices as they cannot be digitally accountable. Therefore, it is of no reason why a contract for visas signed with a reputable company but not honored by some departments of government.