MANY Guyanese returning home or those visiting for the holidays complained bitterly upon arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) after being stranded at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York for several days.

Despite efforts from the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) to spread the Guyanese Christmas

Cheer to incoming passengers, not even the ‘black-cake’ could brighten the moods of the people who had been stranded in New York due to the cancellation of the Dynamic Airways flights.

Speaking to members of the media, some passengers highlighted grimly that they were stranded at the JFK in New York for a number of days. Some recounted that their flight to Guyana was supposed to leave JFK on Friday, while others explained that their flights were on Saturday and Sunday.

The passengers also claimed that in addition to being stranded at the airport with no clear solution to their situation, they were not treated well. One woman attested that her flight was supposed to leave JFK on Saturday morning but instead she was left stranded at the airport. While at the airport awaiting her next flight she claimed, “They gave us one cup of water and a small bag of pretzels.”

Another passenger, while not directly giving a comment to the media, exclaimed, “YES! We finally made it!” as soon as he arrived inside of the airport.

Other passengers briskly passed and commented that they just wanted to get home and forget about the entire experience. After finally getting a flight to come to Guyana, the passengers expressed joy that the ride was “smooth” and “comfortable”. However, they highlighted that this entire experience was stressful, especially to the children and elderly.

Amidst all of this, the GTA sought to usher in the Christmas season and welcome visitors to Guyana by treating incoming passengers with samples of a Guyanese ‘Black-Cake’ upon their arrival at the CJIA.

Director of the GTA, Indranaught Haralsingh highlighted, “The Guyana Tourism Authority is here at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to spread some Christmas cheer and joy to arriving passengers.”

He noted that the GTA decided to carry out this exercise to give incoming passengers both from Guyana and elsewhere a taste of the Christmas season in Guyana. He said too, “It’s the time of the year when a lot of Guyanese in the diaspora choose to come back home to celebrate Christmas.”

This activity of sharing out local Guyanese, Christmas cuisine is something the GTA has been doing for a number of years, according to the Director. Haralsingh also said that this activity is not carried out at many other places in the world and underscored, “It makes Guyana stand out.”

The GTA director extended his warmest season’s greetings to all and encouraged persons to return home for Christmas. He also encouraged foreigners to continue visiting Guyana, especially during the Christmas Season. “After all there is nowhere to celebrate Christmas than at home,” he said.