Written by Chriseana Ramrekha
GUYANESE passengers in-transit to the US will no longer be subjected to disembarking and screening at Trinidad’s Piarco International Airport with effect from November 1st, according to a release from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.The CJIA release stated that this tedious process of disembarking at Piarco International Airport and passing through security before boarding an aircraft to the United States will be something of the past from this date.

The release stated that the United States of America Transport Security Administration (TSA) has approved the request for the alternate procedure to be applied for Georgetown passengers transiting in Port-of-Spain (POS).
According to the release, Minister of Transport, Robeson Benn is pleased with this decision.
“It means that passengers leaving Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and passing through POS can do so hassle free. The existing process prompted numerous complaints and we had to urgently address the situation with Caribbean Airlines (CAL) officials,” he said.
The release stated that in August, Minister Benn and Housing and Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali met with CAL Senior Executives including its Chairman Phillip Marshall and Chief Executive Officer, Jagmohan Singh to address several concerns with the airline including the treatment of Georgetown passengers transiting POS.
Meanwhile, CJIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Ramesh Ghir held a follow-up meeting in Trinidad, and high on the agenda was the re-screening process.
“…so it was decided that CJIA and CAL will jointly approach TSA to review the application for an alternative procedure. Now this has borne fruit, passengers do not have to deplane,” Ghir said.
Director General of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer, T&T Civil Aviation Authority, Ramesh Lutchmedial, told Minister Benn that he is happy about this.
“We have been finally able to resolve this,” he stated.