SANTO DOMINGO. – Unidentified burglars have dismantled the Las Americas International Airport’s perimeter fence next to the town La Calera, despite being an area patrolled by Airport Security (Cesa) agents.
An investigation is underway to find the thieves who carted away 157 fence posts and the cyclone fence, which was cut to sell as scrap metal, while a sentry post was erected halt further pilfering.
A source close to the investigation quoted by diairolibre.com said the section of the fence stolen cost around RD$1.5 million, and presumably hauled away using a heavy vehicle.
The section of the stolen fence is adjacent to the Caucedo Multimodal Port, and the gapping hole poses a danger to aviation security, especially to planes which remain on the airport tarmac overnight.
From: United States
Please lets not give the security forces a bad rap by saying they are security forces..
These are gorillas in uniform. The other agency charged with security are chimpanzes in uniform.
From: United States
Jimmy you're so pathetic!
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
I agree with the article that it is a very dangerous situation to have potential sabotage of planes more easily undertaken and it is a most urgent project to have the fences rebuilt to a higher standard and to take very strong adisciplinary action against the security agents who permitted this to happen .Realistically , I imagine that it was only a grab for cash and not meant as a security violation .
From: Dominican Republic
I want to say something smart, but seriously, LOL. At this point, what do you expect?
Everything in this country is a joke or a mafia of some kind.
From: United States
Jim Haitianington sure is pathetic Chris2010 - him and the rest of the finger pointing Piti Squad !
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Look for guys wearing uniforms.
With a lot of bananas on the shoulders.
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... (Look, beyond the words)
WTF!!!...... Nah.... tell me it aint so.... This means that anyone can come in undetected at anytime and plant a IED where the airplanes are on the runway waiting to depart..... This is scary news, just the fact that someone was able to walk away with 1200 ft of fencing and post without a problem.... I think someone is underpaid.
This is only an example of how things are managed in the Dominican Republic
Written by: xwill7, 18 Jul 2011 2:18 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Santiago el Cibao is the greatest airport
Written by: anthonyC, 18 Jul 2011 2:26 PM
From: United States
UN-Believable!!!!
Written by: juanb, 18 Jul 2011 2:32 PM
From: Dominican Republic
A truly beautiful story.
And let's all thank Ricardolito for the positive spin.
Written by: generoso, 18 Jul 2011 2:42 PM
From: United States, Quisqueya
Better hire some outside security experts, like the Israelis, and have them take care of the perimeter patrol and security. This is funny because of the ineptness of the airport security operators, but not a joking matter as terrorists reading this, can sure make a mess and probably hurt our tourism industry if the damages are big, like someone else said, placing an IED in the runaway and blowing up a US passenger jet.
From: Dominican Republic, I dislike all politicians and their afiliated parties... "I simply say it AS IT IS!!"
I think Mr. Haitian Harrington is right. These security morons are a whole bunch of baboons. How in the world a country can protect its ports when the only surveillance is conducted by drunks, concerned about when they are making their next buck...
Get it!!
From: United States
Another positive spin is the unparalleled creativity of Dominicans.
From: United States, jackson heights ny
The airport security are getting theirs checks sitting at home,and the burglars has inside information.
Written by: telemeco, 18 Jul 2011 3:10 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Monte Plata
I though there were camera at the airport, specially after the Aila need to be certified for aircraft to travel to the USA...with the Talibanes running around and all
From: United States
The Government has to get real and quit playing the 'act like I don't know game' because the Airports HAVE to be given high priority, otherwise it will mean a VERY significant drop in tourism. smh
From: Canada
First. .. praise to DT for running this story. ..
Second. ... this is now one of the worst airport security failures by risk and ease of high value tourist target globally. ... did some one somewhere not hear there is a world wide war on conducted by americanos?
Third. ... the airport must be shut down immediately and a full security check of the entire airport property needs to be conducted. .... metal detectors and the rest. ...
Finally. ...this breach must be corrected immediately and vigoursly. ... the world tourism community needs to be convinced quickly that this extremely serious situation ...the damage to the tourism economy and the spectare of fear is now a very damaging concern. ...
I recommend no favors and life time prison sentences to all involved including both the seller and the buyer. ...
DO IT NOW!
From: United States
You pitiful people.
That's what you get when you hire your family.
Written by: Perez, 18 Jul 2011 5:02 PM
From: Dominican Republic
After reading this article, i was like "seriously???" It is very hard to take DR seriously after this situation.
Written by: Rainman, 18 Jul 2011 6:26 PM
From: United States
I wonder what good does it to to increase security around the world including all the US airports when you can basically have full access to restricted areas in the DR airport. Please this is just unacceptable is anyone at the helm in this country?
Written by: walnut, 18 Jul 2011 6:48 PM
From: Bouvet Island, Cayuga lakeside
Every week, another example of the despair and ignorance in the DR is exposed.
This time, we are given the news of a theft at the airport of the security fence purely for it's scrap value.
Brick by brick, the nation is being dismantled.
Morality is nowhere with greed and corruption overflowing.
The desperation of the population is all around, yet nothing is done except more looting.
I hate to say this, but the DR that I have loved almost 30 years is gone. Replaced by a sick society governed by thieves, populated by too many criminals and a country growing worse by the day.
A place that I used to live and love is now a place I want to avoid.
From: Dominican Republic
Perhaps they are using it at the border! My god...if they cannot keep an eye on a fence at an airport, can you imagine the Haitian border...where there is no fence?
Written by: Juango, 18 Jul 2011 7:42 PM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
These thieves should dismantle the fence around the Palacio Nacional. A much better scrap metal value !!!! Go for it fellas ! This is now the opportunity for all the potential stow-aways to sneak onto the AILA ramp, and crawl into the plane's wheel-wells. No need for yolas, hitch a ride to Miami, NYC or Boston ! e' pa lo 'tados unidos que vamos!
From: United States
That's just crazy the disrespect in our country there is no limit to the lawless!!??!??!?!??!?!?!??!?!?! wth/wtf.
From: United States, Port Washington, LI (New York)
Trujillo and Balaguer were the only Dominican presidents, everybody else is weak, data
and information will prove what I'm saying.
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
I'll raise a drink to these thieves, for they have exposed our security forces for what they are: "inept". What a freaking monumental embarrassment!
MJEV.
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
If the international aviation safety authorities (e.g. the FAA) were made aware of that, I'd be surprised any flight from SDQ would be allowed in the civilized world.
This is the break terrorist organizations are looking for.
Written by: zooma, 19 Jul 2011 6:49 AM
From: United States
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has an obligation and authority to deny flight rights of any flights planning on departing or arriving a US port - Las Americas because of this security breach. In short, international agreement between the US and the DR requires the airport to maintain security, safety, operations, and passenger convenience standards holding to US and International norms. Compliance to the standards allows the FAA to grant license to airlines to depart and arrive from US ports - Las Americas. Non compliance would force the FAA to deny flights. It is also reported in the Listin Diario that Air France and JetBlue have complained to AILA authorities of "theft and violations of luggage" in recent weeks, makes one wonder if the lack of a fence has made this type of theft more opportunistic.
An advice to the traveling public avoid AILA, if at all possible, for the near future; security is lax.
From: United States, Reality Check
Wow, incredible!
But I guess now the RD Gov now knows how poor folks feel when they get robbed but police do not show up... the poor dominicans (which are most) do NOT have any legal recourse!
For ex, thieves would always still cooper wiring from electric lines but 4 years cooper was a major DR export (even though they did not mine cooper in the DR). Politicians were azz-dragging around via NOT doing anything because it only effected "poor people in poor barrios". All long term DT readers know this history.
Well, this mayBe could be just a grab for cash but maybe not?
Given the RD proximity to the USA, it's a strategic point for both terrorist or drug traffickers.
It could be that others who hate our country (USA) paid street thieves to take the fence & make more selling it for scrap.
Who else really has the resources to pay off LAIA security & where in hell were they during the long project (take down & haul off)?
I DON'T TRUST IT!
Written by: hulls52, 19 Jul 2011 8:32 AM
From: United States
I have never seen anything like this with the lack of respect for property - it reminds me of Colombia during the times of Escobar when there was no law - What needs to happen is the Dominican people have to stop accepting this as "normal" and change things - what happens if Jetblue and the other US Airlines stop flying now due to this- how much money will the country lose- The people if and when caught should be tried as terrorists and the dominican people must say NO MORE- I love the country and plan to retire there but my god have some pride and respect for your country - Crime is accepted - and to me its nothing but an excuse - educate your people- and make them realize in a civilized society you just donot behave like animals - This has more far reaching implications than the idiots who did this can imagine - If the FAA says NO MORE FLIGHTS - then what- will they hold a parade for these clowns and give them a holiday in there name - FIND THEM PUNISH THEM HARD
From: United States, Washington, DC
Woooowwww .. If it isn't on fire then a dominican will take it!! Next the'll be taking the runway!!
Written by: nejunior, 19 Jul 2011 12:53 PM
From: United States
Those stuff like this ever ends??? piddy crime....desperate people ....what next??? still the light bulbs from the runways.....lol
From: Dominican Republic
Governed by crooks, managed by clowns. A laughing stock of a country.
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... (Look, beyond the words)
More like the " Peanut Gallery "
From: Dominican Republic, I dislike all politicians and their afiliated parties... "I simply say it AS IT IS!!"
Good point JD...
After posting yesterday, I kind of thought..could this be a bigger plot from even one of the airlines so they can take over. I don't know something is fishy...why now and not before?
Written by: danny00, 19 Jul 2011 5:39 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
is the aiport still there?
investors and tourists run for your life.
i kid u not.
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These are gorillas in uniform. The other agency charged with security are chimpanzes in uniform.
Everything in this country is a joke or a mafia of some kind.
With a lot of bananas on the shoulders.
This is only an example of how things are managed in the Dominican Republic
A truly beautiful story.
And let's all thank Ricardolito for the positive spin.
Better hire some outside security experts, like the Israelis, and have them take care of the perimeter patrol and security. This is funny because of the ineptness of the airport security operators, but not a joking matter as terrorists reading this, can sure make a mess and probably hurt our tourism industry if the damages are big, like someone else said, placing an IED in the runaway and blowing up a US passenger jet.
Get it!!
Second. ... this is now one of the worst airport security failures by risk and ease of high value tourist target globally. ... did some one somewhere not hear there is a world wide war on conducted by americanos?
Third. ... the airport must be shut down immediately and a full security check of the entire airport property needs to be conducted. .... metal detectors and the rest. ...
Finally. ...this breach must be corrected immediately and vigoursly. ... the world tourism community needs to be convinced quickly that this extremely serious situation ...the damage to the tourism economy and the spectare of fear is now a very damaging concern. ...
I recommend no favors and life time prison sentences to all involved including both the seller and the buyer. ...
DO IT NOW!
You pitiful people.
That's what you get when you hire your family.
This time, we are given the news of a theft at the airport of the security fence purely for it's scrap value.
Brick by brick, the nation is being dismantled.
Morality is nowhere with greed and corruption overflowing.
The desperation of the population is all around, yet nothing is done except more looting.
I hate to say this, but the DR that I have loved almost 30 years is gone. Replaced by a sick society governed by thieves, populated by too many criminals and a country growing worse by the day.
A place that I used to live and love is now a place I want to avoid.
and information will prove what I'm saying.
I'll raise a drink to these thieves, for they have exposed our security forces for what they are: "inept". What a freaking monumental embarrassment!
MJEV.
This is the break terrorist organizations are looking for.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has an obligation and authority to deny flight rights of any flights planning on departing or arriving a US port - Las Americas because of this security breach. In short, international agreement between the US and the DR requires the airport to maintain security, safety, operations, and passenger convenience standards holding to US and International norms. Compliance to the standards allows the FAA to grant license to airlines to depart and arrive from US ports - Las Americas. Non compliance would force the FAA to deny flights. It is also reported in the Listin Diario that Air France and JetBlue have complained to AILA authorities of "theft and violations of luggage" in recent weeks, makes one wonder if the lack of a fence has made this type of theft more opportunistic.
An advice to the traveling public avoid AILA, if at all possible, for the near future; security is lax.
But I guess now the RD Gov now knows how poor folks feel when they get robbed but police do not show up... the poor dominicans (which are most) do NOT have any legal recourse!
For ex, thieves would always still cooper wiring from electric lines but 4 years cooper was a major DR export (even though they did not mine cooper in the DR). Politicians were azz-dragging around via NOT doing anything because it only effected "poor people in poor barrios". All long term DT readers know this history.
Well, this mayBe could be just a grab for cash but maybe not?
Given the RD proximity to the USA, it's a strategic point for both terrorist or drug traffickers.
It could be that others who hate our country (USA) paid street thieves to take the fence & make more selling it for scrap.
Who else really has the resources to pay off LAIA security & where in hell were they during the long project (take down & haul off)?
I DON'T TRUST IT!
After posting yesterday, I kind of thought..could this be a bigger plot from even one of the airlines so they can take over. I don't know something is fishy...why now and not before?
investors and tourists run for your life.
i kid u not.