The notice was delivered to Belau Airport Security Company (BASCO) yesterday.
“Please note that our proposal is clearly driven by the notion that the national government is solely responsible for the national security of its residents and visitors and that as a matter of policy, it is adamant that services entailing these responsibilities be properly delegated to the national government,” Minister Jackson Ngiraingas stated in the letter.
Nakamura operates Basco which provides screening at the airport and also Belau Transfer security services at the seaport.
Ngiriaingas explained that that Palau is taking a pro-active approach in the transfer to any liability and risk potential.
He said that the government is now serious in taking over and initiate the transition phase of transferring the passenger and baggage security screening services to the security division of the Bureau of Aviation.
The minister said he hopes that Basco will be cooperating with the government and that they are also considering hiring the current Basco security screeners who are Palauan citizens.
He said that Basco is lauded for its past records and its commitment to the airport security operation.
Ngiraingas also said that the government is not questioning BASCO’s capability or competence in providing security screening services at the airport and seaport, but explained that his ministry is the arm of the government that should ensure that the country’s point of entries’ are secure and safe.
Basco, under a presidential directive issued by then President Tommy Remengesau Jr. in 1998, granted the company the exclusive right to provide passenger and baggage security screening services at the airport for a period of 10 years.
