Immigration CEO Responds to Reports of Sick-Out at PGIA

On Monday, reports surfaced that immigration officers at the Philip Goldson International Airport staged a sick-out.

Tanya Santos, CEO of Immigration, explained that some officers are currently unavailable due to illness and maternity leave. Despite these absences, there are still enough officers to maintain operations. However, a recent issue arose at Terminal 1, where only one officer was available due to a malfunctioning computer system. According to CEO Santos, this caused longer lines as passengers were redirected from Terminal 2 without realising the staffing limitations.

Reports also surfaced that the sick-out was linked to dissatisfaction with the new immigration leadership at the airport, following Dalia Mai’s recent appointment as the new immigration commander. It is expected that with Mai’s appointment, a crackdown on corruption will be swift and hard.

Santos acknowledged recent changes in management under a new commander, which have led to some adjustments in operations. She stressed that these changes take time for some staff to adapt to, but efforts are underway to address any issues.

The situation at Terminal 1 has since been resolved, with the necessary repairs made to the computer system. According to Santos, additional officers may be needed at the departure terminals.