Guyana gov’t slams airline over treatment of CARICOM leaders

CMC – The Guyana government Wednesday criticised American Airlines for continuing to “pay scant regard” to its requests after two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) prime ministers became the latest high level officials to fall victim to the airline’s policy.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the airline had refused to allow Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley and his St. Vincent and the Grenadines colleague, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who were here attending the 2023 International Energy Conference and Expo,  to check-in through the VIP Lounge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Noting that it was not taking any blame for the undignified treatment of the visiting Caribbean leaders, the ministry said that based on previous similar experience with American Airline, the carrier had been asked formally to accord the necessary treatment to the two leaders to no avail.

“All Government protocols were in place to facilitate their departure. Despite American Airlines having been written to, prior to the arrival of the Prime Ministers in Guyana, for them to be accorded the courtesies of check-in on departure from the VIP Lounge, the airline refused to acquiesce to the Ministry’s request and insisted that the Prime Ministers leave the Lounge to present themselves to the check-in counter,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry said the Guyana government intends to formally communicate its displeasure of this most recent action by the airline that has caused “embarrassment not only nationally, but also to our regional friends”.

The ministry said it “sincerely regrets the inconvenience” caused to the two visiting prime ministers, who were travelling to Miami, en route to the Bahamas for the 44^th Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit that gets underway in Nassau later on Wednesday evening.

The Foreign Ministry said the Guyana government had previously protested this position taken by American Airlines against its own High and senior government officials, but without success.

“They have continued to pay scant regard to the Government’s requests for entitlements to the positions held to be respected,” the ministry said.

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