AS GUYANA moves closer to its Golden Jubilee marking 50 years of political Independence from British colonial rule, government is inviting more partners in the private sector, as well as citizens to come forth and be part of the planning and organising of the golden event. Caribbean Airlines, a flag carrier of Trinidad and Tobago owned by that state, has stepped forward in a partnership with the Guyana Government for three of its flights to carry the Golden Jubilee’s logo. This will be unveiled at a ceremony on Friday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at 07.30hrs.
Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry, made the announcement during a press conference yesterday in her Main Street office. She noted that Caribbean Airlines would not be the official carrier for the Golden Jubilee, but that “if other airlines wish to come on board and offer similar packages and services, there is no way we will stop [them].”
Adding to Minister Henry’s comment that the move was not about “sole-sourcing” Caribbean Airlines for the May events, Sales Executive for the airline’s Guyana and Suriname operations, Dion Inniss, plugged the move between the Guyana Government and CAL as being “almost natural.” He made this comment based on the history between the country and the airline.
Asked whether there were packages available for Guyanese moving in and out of the country for golden jubilee-related activities, Inniss said discussions have been under way for quite some time and that “CAL has been facilitating the requests.”
Asked specifically about cost-reduction, Inniss did not say definitively that there would be any reductions in cost, but he did say there were efforts “to keep our cost at industry-affordable rate”. He advised against persons waiting until the last minute to make bookings with the airlines as “those prices may not be what you are looking for.”
Henry added that while the company was not directly investing money into Guyana hosting the Golden Jubilee, the package offered by the airline meant there would be an ease on government’s monies budgeted, since all costs would be borne by Caribbean Airlines.
Other services, specifically the transporting of items made internationally, will be offered to the Guyana Government, Henry continued.