US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA2388

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002388 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR, HO, ICAO 
SUBJECT: Disgruntled Former Employee Alleges Damaged 
Perimeter Fencing Compromises Airport Security; Improvements 
Ongoing 
 
1. Summary: In a written complaint submitted to Post, Fabio 
Carias, a former airport supervisor, alleged that the 
perimeter fences at the international airports in San Pedro 
Sula, La Ceiba, and Roatan are in severe disrepair, 
compromising the security of the airports by leaving them 
vulnerable to infiltration and trespassing.  Carias claimed 
that he repeatedly brought these security vulnerabilities to 
the attention of senior officials at airport management 
concessionaire Interairports, but that they ignored his 
reports and eventually had him fired.  Carias also warned 
that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 
had not held Interairports accountable for the security 
problems.  Post brought the complaint to the attention of 
Honduran civil aviation authorities, the manager of 
Interairports, and TSA representatives.  End summary. 
 
2. For more than two years, Fabio Carias worked in the 
office of the Superintendent of Concessions and Licenses at 
Honduran airport concessionaire Interairports, as a 
supervisor of the ongoing construction at the three 
international airports in northern Honduras.  In a written 
complaint submitted to Post on September 23, Carias alleges 
that the security fences surrounding the three airports, and 
particularly the airport in San Pedro Sula, have been 
overgrown by vegetation and damaged by trespassers, leaving 
the airports vulnerable to infiltration.  Carias says that 
he repeatedly brought the security lapses to the attention 
of his supervisor, Miriam Yasmina Deras, and Interairports 
manager Elida Howell, but that his reports were ignored. 
Furthermore, he claims that Deras and Howell colluded in 
having him dismissed from his position this past summer. 
 
3. Carias attributes some of the responsibility for the 
security lapses to the TSA, alleging that TSA officials who 
inspected the airports were not shown damaged sections of 
the perimeter fences, as Interairports officials sought to 
impress them by showing off only new and repaired fencing. 
Carias also claims that when TSA made recommendations for 
security improvements to the fencing, they did not follow up 
to ensure Interairports' compliance.  According to Carias, 
the airports continue to be vulnerable to intrusion and 
unlawful activities by gang members, among others. 
 
4. TSA representatives visiting Honduras the week of October 
10 met with Econoff to review Carias' complaint.  According 
to the TSA representative, Interairports and the GOH are 
aware of potential security problems, and are working to fix 
them.  TSA has directly addressed deficiencies and 
inadequacies in airport perimeter fencing with Honduran 
civil aviation authorities during previous inspection 
visits.  (During a TSA visit in July 2005, Econoff 
accompanied a TSA representative to a meeting with civil 
aviation authorities in which damaged fencing was a topic of 
discussion.)  TSA is also in regular contact with the GOH 
National Aviation Security Manager regarding airport 
security and necessary improvements to the security systems. 
TSA's recommendations for improved airport security include 
 
SIPDIS 
construction of secondary perimeter fencing, increased 
security patrols, and installation of closed circuit 
cameras.  TSA continues to follow up, and will investigate 
further as warranted. 
 
5. Econoff also spoke with Elida Howell, the Interairports 
manager, regarding the question of damaged perimeter 
fencing.  Howell says that airport fencing has been repaired 
and the most heavily damaged sections are being replaced. 
The airports have also implemented more frequent foot 
patrols, which have succeeded in capturing potential 
intruders.  Howell agrees with TSA that a CCTV system would 
be most useful for monitoring distant sections of the fence, 
but she says that because of lack of funds, the proposed 
system will not be in place until March 2006. 
 
 
Ford