THE POSTAL Corporation of Jamaica (PostCorp) yesterday began an international airport mail security review, which is expected to be completed by Friday.

The review is being conducted by the Postal Service Action Group (PSAG), and aims to identify best practices and improvements for mail security at the Norman Manley International and The Sangster International airports.

A report will be delivered to the PostCorp 30 days after its completion. The report is conducted by the United State Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) on behalf of the PSAG, which is a part of the United Nation's (UN), Universal Postal Union (UPU).

Jeanne Graupmann, USPIS international affairs group programme manager/postal inspector, who leads the review, told The Gleaner the review was important, "as by definition, international airmail security is an international area."

"It is important that different agencies in each country are coordinated, as well as internationally," he said.

AREAS OF WEAKNESS

Ms. Graupmann said it was too early in the review to disclose areas of weaknesses in the Jamaican system. She has so far toured the Central Sorting Office and had seem "some strong practices".

PostCorp is expecting to gain from the review said Deputy Postmaster General, Carolle Hainsley, adding, "It should help to identify weaknesses in the system and help us get to international standards.

"Detection is a collaborative process with the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) and customs also; and we have ionscan machines and sniffer dogs. But the review should help us assess our progress since the last review two years ago," she added."

- R.S.