THE Director of the Western Hemisphere Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Alejandro Werner, has referred to Latin America and the Caribbean as the new coronavirus (COVID -19) global epicentre.

To this end, the top IMF official has warned that countries be cautious in re-opening their economies and that they should allow science and data to guide the process.

Werner was reported in a Caribbean Business Report (CBR) last week as saying, the human cost has been tragic, with over 100, 000 lives lost. Also, the economic toll has been steep.

The World Economic Outlook Update, the report noted, estimates the region to shrink by 9.4 per cent in 2020, four percentage points worse than the April projection and the worst recession on record.

Further, a mild recovery is projected of plus 3.7 percent in 2021.

Werner assured that the IMF stands ready to use its financial clout to help Latin America and the Caribbean to achieve a stronger recovery, the report added.

Meanwhile, in Guyana, a gradual re-opening of the country’s airspace is scheduled to begin from Wednesday, July 1, 2020 with a controlled number of flights coming into the country.

Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt. Col. (ret’d) Egbert Field, had made the announcement earlier this month, during a webinar themed ‘Path to Clearer Skies’.

To allow and facilitate incoming and outgoing flights, a 4-phase reopening plan was unveiled.