–until security threat is resolved
MINISTER of Works and Transportation, Mr. Robeson Benn has said that heightened alertness and enhanced security measures at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) will remain in place for an indefinite period until the matter of the threat to the Caribbean Airlines Flight (CAL) is satisfactorily resolved.

He gave the assurance during a brief to the National Assembly on the “crisis” situation which started last Friday when a male, said to have a Trinidadian accent, called the CAL Offices in Barbados and made a threat against Flight 484 which was due to leave Guyana yesterday morning.
Minister Benn said: “Last Friday the telephone threat was made to the CAL office in Barbados; with respect to flight 484 travelling Monday February 10th out of CJIA. The threat seemingly emanated from a person with a Trinidadian accent and that person rang off immediately when he was pressed for more information.”
He went on to say that the security system, operatives and officials in the CAL system and also in Guyana were alerted.
He said that a high level security meeting was immediately convened to assess the nature of the threat and to put in place measures aimed at reducing the possibility of an attack on the aircraft.
The highest levels of the Government were alerted to discuss this matter on Saturday morning.
He said that security procedures were elevated including a 100% screening and scrubbing of passengers and other areas in CJIA respectively to make sure that no act of sabotage would occur with respect to this flight or any other flight.
As a result of this effort flight 484 departed CJIA yesterday morning without incident although with a 13% reduction on the amount of passengers who had booked the flight, and landed successfully at Miami Airport.
Minister Benn went on to reiterate that the heightened security posture will remain in place for a number of days in the future.
Government has also asked competent security contacts and security operatives to pursue investigations in Barbados, Trinidad and even in the United States to determine who made the threat and the specific nature of the threat.
He said: “In the meanwhile I want to assure the people at large to assure our travellers, both Guyanese nationals and foreigners , to assure people who use the airports, the airlines staff the people in the environs of the airport that all steps are being taken to ensure that the environment is safe .”