President Danilo Medina was at the Las Americas International Airport yesterday, Thursday 20 February for the inauguration of a modern real-time video surveillance center for both Las Americas and La Isabela Airports in Greater Santo Domingo. The Specialized Airport Security and Civil Aviation Corps (CESAC) will be managing the center. New installations have been built behind the Las Americas International Airport to house the center, which was equipped with US$3.3 million worth of donations from Taiwan. Taiwanese ambassador Thomas Ping-Fu Hou said that the system raises Dominican airports to international quality standards, an important guarantee for the government’s stated target of 10 million tourists a year.
CESAC director General Miguel Paulino Espinal spoke of the new levels of security the system will provide. He commented that it was the first time a President of the Republic had visited the institution in its 17 years of operation.
The launch of the new system coincides with the United States Homeland Security Department bulletin issued on Wednesday, 19 February warning airlines of possible attempts to attack passenger jets using explosives packed in shoes.
The US is recommending stepping up security for passengers departing to US airports.
http://presidencia.gob.do/comunicados/presidente-medina-inaugura-moderno-centro-de-comando-y-control-del-cesac