…GCAA says in response to calls for re-opening of air travel

THOUGH the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and other stakeholders understand that restrictions to air travel to Guyana affect the country’s economy, there is much more that must be considered when one speaks about the re-opening of travel.

Director- General of the GCAA, Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field, spoke with the newspaper on the matter on Tuesday. Just before the country was expected to re-open its airports to limited flights, which would have marked Phase Two of a Four-Phase plan, there was a spike in COVID-19 cases, and related-deaths locally, pushing the second phase to August 1.

Field said that the first consideration in making the decision was the health of all Guyanese. At one point, citizens were pleased as it seemed as if Guyana’s COVID-19 curve was flattening to desirable levels, but, days ago, the country recorded 16 new cases and three deaths. Reported cases now number over 270 with over 150 active cases and about 10 persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The cases have emerged in remote areas of the country, requiring greater attention from the country’s health system which has not yet been cushioned by an annual budget due to the elections situation. From the beginning of the pandemic to present, the GCAA has worked closely with the Ministry of Public Health and the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) to determine the appropriate steps.

“Just a couple of days before entering Phase Two, we began seeing a spike or a rise in the amount of cases. As such, the Task Force and the Ministry of Public Health thought that they should not open the door anymore for additional persons,” he explained. “The prospects of having one infected and coming into the country to add to what we have in here is of much concern to the Ministry of Public Health. You open your air spaces but if you do not have the capacity to deal with increased cases, why are you going to open your air space, encouraging the possibility for more infected persons to come in?”

The bulk of Guyana’s visitors arrive from North America which the GCAA Head reminded has been so adversely impacted by the virus that the region has been excluded from Europe’s list of Regions/countries it will accept passengers from. July 7 would have marked the hopeful date identified by American Airlines for the phased recommencement of flights to Guyana but, even before the spike in Guyana’s cases, Field said that the Airline had reason to push these plans back to August. These reasons had to do with the need for the re-training of pilots, inspection of aircraft and more.

Field said that while the GCAA is aware that the economy continues to be affected by the restriction to tourists or business-related visitors, persons must weigh the consequences of reduced finances with an increased risk of infection and possibly death. He said: “You can have a booming economy and nobody to enjoy it because we’re talking about a serious virus, we’re talking about death. As the saying goes, ‘give me life before you give me a penny’.”

Even so, some continue to urge that Guyana re-open its airspaces presently, comparing Guyana to Jamaica which has recorded over 700 cases but has nonetheless re-opened its ports to visitors in a limited way. However, Field reminded that Jamaica highly depends on tourism for its economic survival and that Guyana would have to possess the capacity to deal with the medical requirements needed to monitor the arrival and stay of these visitors.

When it comes to travel within the Caribbean, Field said that it is unlikely that there will be scheduled flights due to the restrictions still present in many countries and the interest of airlines such as whether there is a demand for travel to specific regional locations. Explaining what were the considerations, Field said: “There are no scheduled operations by Caribbean Airlines. When you see Caribbean Airlines, it’s basically a chartered flight which was chartered because there are either enough passengers to repatriate to Guyana…the bottom line is the dollar and if you can’t make money on the route why open up and start flying that route?”

Phase Two, as is still expected for August 1, will see the re-opening of the airports for limited flights for repatriated citizens, permanent residents, international workers, diplomats and international agencies. Field said that the government is not particular about outbound passengers but the inbound which can be carriers of the virus. The GCAA is having constant meetings with Guyana’s tourism bodies to update them on the changes as they occur; to clearly understand the challenges they face and to ensure that they are aware of the protocols which must be adhered to when controlled travel resumes.