By Alva Solomon

MINISTER of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has assured visitors and returning Guyanese of a “safe and stable” Golden Jubilee celebration as passengers arrived here on Friday on board several flights, including Eastern Airlines.

It was the airline’s inaugural flight here.

Speaking at the arrival of the airline’s Boeing 737 aircraft at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Ramjattan told media operatives that the security sector is performing well.
He noted that plans and operations are being executed to ensure a stable and secure atmosphere this month and onward.
And there are other initiatives the authorities would wish to implement but those require additional resources.
“Only recently, the Canadians [and] the British have indicated that they are going to come to our assistance in relation to those matters, and of course, the Americans have always been close to us,” he said.
Minister Ramjattan added that the Police Force is currently undergoing a transition process to become professionalised. To this end, he said the Force is receiving the requisite assets. Recently, the Force received 20 vehicles.
Those are intended to enhance patrols around the capital city, he said. “I am positive that we are going to get it right,” he added.
Meanwhile, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eastern Airlines Edward Wegel told reporters that the airline plans to invest in the local air transport sector.
In October this year, he said, a brand new aircraft will be added to its fleet to service the Guyana-North America routes.

The company, which is based at the Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, has entered into an arrangement with Travelspan and One Guyana Air.
Currently, Eastern Airlines owns and operates five aircraft, and these will be increased by another soon. In addition, the company has ordered 30 more planes as it foresees expansion plans.
“We expect that we will be here for many, many years to come,” Wegel told reporters.
He said given the partnership with Travelspan and One Guyana Air, the airline will give Guyanese more opportunities to travel to New York and Miami and plans are in train to ply other destinations in North America, including Toronto, Canada.
“We want to bring reliability as well as very affordable fares for the Guyana community in the diaspora to come back and forth to Guyana several times yearly,” Wegel said.
The company expressed appreciation to the authorities as regards certification arrangements, which were put in place over the past several months in order to operate

here.
Hundreds of Guyanese overseas are expected to travel to these shores for the grand jubilee celebrations Thursday coming.
On Friday, in addition to Eastern Airlines, several plane loads of passengers arrived at the CJIA.