–  from next Saturday, Delta Airlines will be flying seven days a week into Guyana
– businesses in Georgetown back to normalcy following elections
LEADING Private Sector official, Captain Gerry Gouveia is optimistic that the country will see a “wonderful” Christmas this time around, as a significant number of Guyanese are, presently, busy preparing for the season. The owner of Roraima Airways and a number of other businesses spoke with the Guyana Chronicle at his Duke Lodge, in Kingston, Georgetown.
He declared that Christmas “is already upon us”.  “It’s getting more and more busy” and the country is now seeing an increased number of tourists.
Gouveia said a lot of people are travelling to Kaieteur Falls and the various resorts and, from December 17, Delta Airlines will be flying seven days a week into Guyana.
This period will also see many overseas Guyanese returning home to spend holidays with their families and friends. “It will be a wonderful Christmas in Guyana,” he reiterated, adding that a “tremendous amount of people are booking” to come home.
“The reservations are overwhelming and Guyanese are out in the shopping areas preparing for the Christmas. It’s wonderful to hear the Christmas music,” he maintained.
Gouveia announced that the usual Christmas party at Santa Mission will be held on December 21, with children of that community looking forward to it.
He disclosed, too, that Duke Lodge will host another Christmas party for the blind and disabled veterans of the Army, as it did last year, noting that Duke Lodge works closely with Mr. George Gomes, President of the exGuyana Defence Force (GDF) Association, “It’s a time when we all will share the Christmas cheer.”
Meanwhile, businesses in Georgetown returned to a state of relative normalcy since Wednesday and Clerk of Markets, Schulder Griffith reported that the various municipal markets are seeing a better turnout.
Protests by supporters of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had led to many fearful stallholders closing their businesses. 
But Mr. Griffith said the situation around the markets is almost back to normal even though some stallholders remain tense.
Over the course of last week and earlier this week, the roadways in Georgetown were clearer than usual and many market vendors did not show up for business in view of the tension that existed after the general and regional elections.
The Guyana Chronicle visited the Stabroek, La Penitence and Bourda Markets and found that several stalls were closed and others half open.
Shutters on some were fixed in such a way as to be pulled down within minutes should there have been the need.
Some of the popular stores in the city were closed, including ACME Photo Studio, Bhena’s Footwear, Regency Plaza (mall on Regent Street) and Galaxy Photo Studio.
It was also observed that there was less traffic and people on the roadways, facilitating easier movement through certain streets that are usually congested with vehicles, like in the vicinity of St. George’s Cathedral and King Street.
On the minibus and car parks around Stabroek, many vehicles were parked for long periods awaiting passengers, resulting in a relative scarcity of transportation in the routes they normally ply.