THE Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) has noted that it is for the health and safety of all that airport taxi drivers and other qualified airport personnel are now required to return their Restricted Area Passes at the end of each work day.

Since the closure of the Airport to flights except repatriation flights, cargo flights, medevac flights, technical stops and other special authorised flights, the CJIAC has asked that the Restricted Area Passes, which are issued to taxi drivers among others, be returned daily.

However, some airport taxi drivers took to the Kaieteur News to report that making the trip back to the airport each day, after making their drop-offs, is financially straining. They also raised the challenge of fewer customers and therefore less pay.

In a release in response on Tuesday, the CJIAC stated: “This measure was implemented to ensure full compliance with the airport’s security protocols and was in no way meant to cause any discomfort among the taxi operators. Since the airport’s closure, there has been limited repatriation flights and, in this circumstance, we have implemented a turn system for the taxi drivers. This system is intended to ensure there is an equitable distribution of work among all the drivers and mitigate any potential exploitation by unscrupulous drivers.”

The CJIAC noted that Restricted Area passes are issued not only to taxi drivers but to all personnel at CJIAC. However, for taxi drivers, these passes allow only limited access to the terminal building.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic and closure of the airport, the management has
implemented a security requirement where all qualified airport personnel, including taxi
operators, shall lodge their Restricted Area passes upon completion of their duties.

The Airport Corporation added that, in recognition of the challenging economic times due to COVID-19, the payment of all fees has been suspended by 80 per cent for ‘Taxi and
Red Cap Operators’ since the closure of the airport.
“CJIA Corporation is committed to the ethical and equitable treatment of all its stakeholders
and is determined to investigate and address concerns promptly,” the CJIAC stated.