E-gates installed at CJIA to streamline processing of passengers

– will cater to facial recognition, security checks for watch-listed persons

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has installed new e-gates at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), which will not only help to streamline the process for passengers traversing the facility but also enhance security checks to international standards.
The announcement was made by President Dr Irfaan Ali, on his social media page, where he noted that these new electronic gates will “streamline processing for incoming and outgoing passengers” and will be up to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.
According to the Head of State, the key features of these e-gates include autonomous immigration processing that performs security checks on passports worldwide; validation of chip passports according to ICAO standards coupled with future support for Guyana’s e-ID and facial recognition technology for identity verification using an advanced algorithm.
“It is also integrated with the ABIS (Automated Biometric Identification System) for real-time passenger updates, with automated checks for ED form correctness. It can process six passengers simultaneously with oversight from a single officer,” the President said.
“The enhanced security measures will prevent unauthorised access and allow complete visibility for officers through glass panels. It also features a monitoring station for effective passenger flow management and automatic detention of watch-listed individuals. These improvements aim to reduce processing times and enhance overall airport efficiency significantly.”
The installation of these e-gates comes on the heels of the Guyana Government moving to have the CJIA go paperless as part of a broader digitalisation vision for public services across the country. Only last month, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed plans to implement an automated border management system at the CJIA and then at the other ports of entry across the country.
This automated border management system, part of the PPP/C Government’s digitalisation programme will allow persons entering the country to fill out customs and immigration forms online.
This system will be rolled out at the CJIA in the initial stage before being expanded to the other ports of entry across the country including the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle. Currently, a printed customs declaration form is used at all of Guyana’s ports of entry for arriving passengers.
But with the new automated border management system, all arriving passengers’ information will be directed to a central database which can be used to track foreigners who overstay their time or are seeking employment without a permit among other immigration-related offenses.
According to Jagdeo, this new system will further allow for self-check-in with the use of a new form of identification or passport to be issued to citizens and some visitors thus removing the hassle of joining long queues to clear immigration at the airport.
Back in March 2023, the Guyana Government signed a $34.5 million contract with German company Veridos Identify Solutions for the implementation of the electronic identification system, which was expected to be launched in the second quarter of this year.
Some $783.4 million was allocated in Budget 2024 for this project and it was reported at the time that the finalisation of the requisite policies and design was in progress. However, there has been a setback in the issuance of these cards with VP Jagdeo stating at a June 6 press conference that, “there is a delay with the issuance of the e-ID cards but it’s a project that is alive and it’s going well.”
This new electronic card will be issued to Guyanese residents for the conduct of a wide array of transactions as well as to monitor the issuance of work permits in the country. President Ali had previously stated that the rollout of this resident electronic ID card will promote the ease of doing business and personal transactions in Guyana. Key to these e-ID cards would be its internationally-recognised features.