No cancellations, CAL flights on schedule in and out of Guyana
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines (CAL) said Monday there had been no cancellations of its flights in and out of Guyana following a warning by the United States of “unconfirmed threat information” relating to its flights destined for the United States.
“This is to confirm all our flights out of Guyana and into Guyana today are operating on schedule. Our flight this morning to JFK Airport (New York) has already operated as schedule,” said CAL communication manager Clint Williams.
He said the airline was reminding the travelling public “that we do have in place all the necessary and appropriate security systems to address any issues being raised.
“I can also confirm there has been no specific rise in cancellations, most of the people who were booked to fly on today’s flights have travelled, which of course is an indication of the assurance they have with our security and safety procedures,” Williams added.
The Cheddie Jagan International Airport (CJIA) said that it has “since adopted the highest security posture to protect passengers, crew, aircraft and airport employees and to ensure the continued smooth and safe operations at the airport”
The CJIA said it was urging passengers and other airport users to be on the “lookout for any suspicious activities or occurrences and report same to an airport security official” adding that the heightened security posture would remain in place over a number of days until such time as the threat is no longer deemed valid.
The United States Embassy in Guyana in a statement posted on its website Sunday said that the threats were for flights “departing on Monday, February 10, 2014.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy advises all U.S. Citizens in Guyana traveling on Caribbean Airlines (CAL) to the United States from Monday, February 10 through Wednesday, February 12, 2014, to make alternate travel arrangements.
“We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Guyana enroll in the Department of States Smart Traveler Enrollment Programme (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the U.S. Embassy.”
The Embassy gave no details of the “unconfirmed threats information” but said it was urging Americans to regularly monitor the State Department’s website, “where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution”
It urged them to read the “Country Specific Information for Guyana”