GUYANA has a very large diaspora in North America and the UK and, despite the lengthy periods they have been living abroad, most of them are still closely attached to their homeland. Consequently, they try to visit as often as is possible, particularly during the Festive Season, Mashramani, their summer vacation and when there is international cricket.

However, one of the setbacks in all of this has been the many hassles and costs attached to flights to Guyana.

Many Guyanese complained bitterly about this problem, especially those that have to in-transit in Trinidad and Tobago. And even though they return, they do visit in large numbers regularly and they would have done in much larger numbers if they could have obtained direct flights more easily and at cheaper rates.

Of course the state of affairs has arisen because of a virtual monopoly by one airline and this absence of competition has given it a freeway to set prices and do as it likes. Worse yet, Guyanese in-transiting in Trinidad and Tobago have been experiencing harsh treatment by immigration officials there.

All of this is happening in the face of Caribbean integration and the coming into being of a Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Strange but true, the new emerging airline ReDjet, which brings hope of cheaper rates and hassle-free travel has been given a rough time to operate in several CARICOM member states, despite the acceptance by all of competition and free trade.
This problem has been acknowledged by government which is making strenuous efforts to reverse the current situation and bring relief to those Guyanese who wish to visit their homeland.
On this note, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, at his most recent press briefing, said government is of the view that REDjet is now one of the options available to reverse the apparent pricing discrimination against Guyanese by Caribbean Airlines.

He also lauded President Bharrat Jagdeo for playing a pivotal role in resolving the REDjet issue, particularly because of its beneficial impact on Guyanese travellers. He noted that “the current dispensation has Guyanese travellers paying as much to get to Trinidad, as Trinidad travellers are paying to get to New York, a situation that is very perverse.”
Dr. Luncheon offered too, that apart from the services of REDjet, the other option to ease the burden of high airfares on Guyanese will see either more flights being brought into the country or the creation of a Guyanese international carrier.   
However, it is good news to hear that finally REDjet has been cleared to fly to Trinidad following months of uncertainty, which has sparked a region-wide debate about the cost of intra-regional travel, the future of regional integration, competition, and safety in the aviation industry.
A compromise is said to have been reached between Trinidad and Tobago’s civil aviation authority and Airone Ventures Limited, the parent company of REDjet, following a court matter on Friday last.
REDjet Business Development Director, Robbie Burns explained that management is very pleased with the recent developments, which will now see the initiation of operations to yet another Caribbean destination.
“We are indeed thrilled by this decision and with the representation that we have received from the Guyanese people,” he said.
So a major hurdle seems to have been overcome, but we await the outcome of the other hurdle and that is the decision of the Jamaican authorities to clear the way for REDjet to fly to Jamaica.
The days for protectionism are over and all countries need to recognise this and deal with reality. However, the “royal run around” given to REDjet is a clear indication that some are still stuck in old waters.