PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo is arguing the case for an end to what he believes are arduous in-transit security checks which Guyanese passengers have to endure at the Piarco International Airport in  Trinidad and Tobago while enroute to other destinations. Speaking at a press conference at the Office of the President, the Head of State said the situation is peculiar but contrary to the undignified treatment of other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals at airports which regional leaders have stamped their authority against.
He told members of the local press that passengers who would have passed security checks at other airports have to endure the process for a second time while in transit in Trinidad and Tobago.
“Guyanese don’t want to intransit by choice they only go through because the flights come through there but I’ve seen cases where elderly people, people with children etc, coming from New York or Miami to Guyana have to leave the aircraft for one reason or another and go through the entire security again,” President Jagdeo said.
The Guyanese Head of State expressed disappointment that a promise to fix the situation has not been delivered and blames the misfortune on the absence of standards that lessens the burden on passengers.
“It is the worse airport in terms of organization… it is unacceptable,” President Jagdeo asserted, foreseeing that his statements would be criticised.
President Jagdeo has also been very vocal about the “unconscionable airfare monopoly” by Caribbean Airlines particularly on Guyanese passengers.
Travel from Guyana to Trinidad and Tobago was at one time higher than cost from Trinidad and Tobago to the United States and the Government had mulled the resurgence of a state-owned aircraft if the situation remained.
The Head of State’s argument was based on the premise that for Guyana to benefit there is need to ensure appropriately priced services and customer satisfaction if the country is to reap the full benefits of an open economy.
It was also the basis on which Guyana welcomed the new low fare airline RedJet which began business flights to Guyana in May this year.
The new airline entered the industry with an eye catching fare offer of US$9.99 one way tax free and even provided customers with reasonable seating and baggage offers.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ian Burns Burns had told the Government Information Agency (GINA) in an interview that the new airline was established with the wellbeing of customers in mind and is thus committed to the mandate of providing low fares.
The issue of the airline entering the airspace of the region was highlighted at the 32nd regular meeting of the CARICOM Heads in St Kitts and Nevis and the unfavourable welcoming it received from some member countries was also addressed.
President Jagdeo told the media at the press conference that he found it surprising, the accusation of RedJet practicing predatory pricing. (GINA