By Ravin Singh

CARIBBEAN Airlines has been issued with a 21-day ultimatum by management of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to honour a contractual agreement between the two, or have its operations at the airport terminated.This was confirmed by Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, who has responsibility for the country’s aviation sector.

According to the minister, the management of CJIA was forced to issue the 21 -day ultimatum after it was realised that the Trinidad-based airline was not adhering to contractual agreements regarding duty-free items bought at Timehri.
Patterson explained that passengers have routinely been complaining about having to dispose of their duty-free items bought in Guyana, once Trinidad is not their final destination point.
“Passengers have complained that after they make purchases at CJIA’s duty-free shops, and they get to Trinidad where they have to board another flight, they cannot take these items on that second flight. This is because switching planes in Trinidad require them go through that airport’s security checkpoint again,” the minister said.
He also noted that the airline had agreed at a previous meeting that it would allow passengers travelling from the CJIA to enter their final destinations with items that they had purchased at CJIA’s duty-free shops.
However, it was revealed that the airline has not made any attempts to remedy this issue, which goes contrary to terms of the agreement between the two parties.
As such, the minister noted that the management of CJIA was forced to issue the ultimatum to the airline, which demands respect for Guyanese and local businesses.
The letter, which was addressed to Roy Ferguson, Area Manager-South America Caribbean Airlines, states that “CAL failed, refused and/or neglected to comply with the said notice on 16th June, 2016 which said default is continuing.
“Accordingly, take notice unless CAL remedies its aforesaid default and complies with the said notice of June 15, 2015 within 21 Days of this notice to remedy default, CJIA will be at liberty to proceed to cancel the air-carrier agreement under article 9.3 thereof,” the letter said.
Management was also keen to note in the letter that wide consultations were held with local law enforcement, duty free concessionaires, CAL personnel and representatives from the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA) prior to the request for compliance, preceding a notice which was issued to CAL on June 15, 2015.
CJIA also sought to recommend the introduction of an arrangement which would see passengers receiving their duty-free items which would have been placed in their checked luggage, under the CAL/CJIA security supervision.
Up to early June, Guyana boasted an influx of over 27,000 overseas-based Guyanese and tourists who had travelled primarily for the country’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.
However, Minister Patterson told this publication that many of these persons were victims of the unfair treatment of having to dispose of their duty-free items bought in Guyana.
He further went on to explain that this will not only result in a financial loss for those visitors, but local businesses are also likely to suffer.
“The duty-free shops will suffer tremendously because people traveling will refuse to purchase items if these type of arrangements continue to exist,” the minister said.
Quizzed on the implications for the local aviation sector, given the prominence of CAL in Guyana, Minister Patterson expressed that Guyana is a sovereign country and the people of Guyana should not be treated less than how they would be treated by another airline.
Acknowledging that Caribbean Airlines is the oldest airline flying out of Guyana, having served this country for over 50 years, the minister said that this is no justification for the type of treatment meted out to Guyanese travelling abroad.
“The treatment that travellers from other countries are given, should also be applicable to Guyana; we should be able to enjoy the same benefits, which are even stated in the agreement,” Patterson said.