In the backdrop of a warning from the Guyana Government that its flag carrier status could be rescinded, a high-level team from Caribbean Airlines met over the weekend with government ministers here and its Chairman said that the current price structure would be reviewed.
The meeting between the two sides came amid weeks of concern at the prices being charged by Trinidad-based CAL and several warnings by Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali that the Guyana Government is losing its patience over fares and other matters.
A statement today from the Tourism Ministry said that the CAL team met with Ali, Robeson Benn, Minister of Public Work and Transport; private sector representatives, representatives from THAG, GTA and CJIA CEO, Ramesh Ghir.
The statement said that the meeting sought to tackle critical issues such as the customer service of Caribbean Airlines, the in-transit process and security checks of Guyanese passengers at Piarco International Airport, Caribbean Airlines’ capacity, airfares, and Caribbean Airline’s flag carrier status.
The CAL team, accompanied by Carl Stuart, their Airport Manager, included Philip Marshall, Chairman of the Board, Jagmohan Singh, CEO (ag); and Nalini Lalla, Corporate Secretary.
Ali said in the statement that the meeting was critical to combating the negative perceptions around Caribbean Airlines. The statement added that Ali assured that the Government and people of Guyana recognise the role that Caribbean Airlines has played in attempting to meet Guyana’s airlift capacity.
He stated the need for both CAL and the government to “improve the partnership and to formulate a strategy that would define the way forward in the best interest of all stakeholders involved”.
The statement added that Marshall assured that “the people of Guyana are important to the heartbeat of Caribbean Airlines”. He said that the fact that the delegation was meeting with Guyana was evidence of CAL’s willingness to forge new partnerships.
Marshall said that one of the means of accomplishing this was to set up a formal communication structure through which pivotal concerns can be quickly channelled to the senior management of Caribbean Airlines.
The Chairman said that although there are constraints CAL will continue to build improved partnerships with Guyanese.
On the matter of pricing, Marshall said that the next step is for CAL to review the current price structure so that all customers can benefit.
CAL has encountered turbulent conditions in Trinidad and its indebtedness has raised concerns in the twin-island republic.
Earlier this month, Ali had said “I personally am aware of persons who would have bought tickets at an enormous price to come to Guyana. If you compare this to the prices other persons are paying from Trinidad, I find this to be a situation of abusing the present monopoly that they have in Guyana, and they do have a monopoly; this is why they are taking us for granted, they are taking this market for granted and they are reaping in great profits maybe to make up for the deficiency in other markets.”
