Several Canadian citizens are stranded here with little hope of immediately getting back to their homes and families amid travel restrictions to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
They are desperately seeking the help of Canadian authorities in getting them home and are critical of the assistance so far.
Contacted, a representative of the Canadian High Commission here told Stabroek News that at the moment, no systems are in place to deal with stranded Canadians. “As of now, there’s nothing in place at the moment. The Canadians are asked to register at the High Commission so we will know who is in the country to start with,” the official said.
From midnight on March 18, Guyana closed its two main airports to incoming international passenger traffic for two weeks.
For some who had planned on returning home later this month, they had their flights bumped up to March 22nd and were scheduled to depart on the last Caribbean Airlines flight BW600, when they learnt that Guyana’s borders would be closing. However, on March 21st, this flight was cancelled.
Attorney Dave Deonarain, who is presently in Canada, said he paid an additional CDN$500 to have his parents’ flight changed from March 30th to the 22nd but the closure of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri prevented their return.
“…I have vociferously made my opinions about how awful it is to know that the High Commission of Canada in Guyana has not answered the phone since at least March 14, 2020 and there is no answering machine. Based on news reports, the same level of disgusting service on the part of the Canadian government’s Foreign Service has also manifested in Peru as well. Though the Canadian government is patting themselves on the back for the flight to Peru, I see no action in the way of saving their Canadian-Guyanese citizens when they can do so if they put a little bit of effort into it,” Deonarain said.
Four days later, the passengers who were supposed to be on the March 22nd flight have heard nothing from the Guyanese government, the Canadian government or Caribbean Airlines.
It is unclear how many Canadian citizens are stranded here. Deonarain reminded that Toronto has a large Guyanese diaspora since the 1970s and therefore, the Canadian government should not forget about them.
The attorney’s mother, Mina Deonarain, shared her frustration at seeking to get in touch with the Canadian High Commission here but to no avail. She and her husband, both in their 60s, had travelled to Guyana in January to avoid the bitter Canadian winter. They make such winter trips annually, sometimes staying in Florida.
The elderly Deonarains have since gotten registered at Register Canadians Abroad, a service that allows the Government of Canada to notify registrants of any emergency abroad or personal emergency at home. Her fear, Mina said, is Guyana’s borders being reopened but the Canadian border remaining shuttered.
Meanwhile, another woman, Mrs Naipaul (only name given), arrived in Guyana on January 16th and was scheduled to return tomorrow, March 27th. The woman said after they realised that borders were being closed down, she and her husband tried to get a flight back home last week but nothing was available. Naipaul said she tried calling the Canadian High Commission but was unable to get hold of anyone. She and her husband too have registered and followed everything that is required of them.
Guyanese holding Canadian citizenship are beseeching the Canadian government to communicate with the Guyanese government to ensure arrangements are made soonest to have them back home with their families.
Canadians stuck here can register at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration and can also send an email to sos@international.gca.ca providing their full name, passport number, medical conditions and contact information in Guyana, inclusive of phone number and address. If one is unable to because of lack of internet, they are asked to contact their families abroad to do so for them. Requesting the assistance of families in Canada to contact their Federal MP to insist that a flight be sent so that the necessary persons can be evacuated is another step that can be taken.
