Canadian-based WestJet Airlines yesterday afternoon brought home the first set of Guyanese who were stuck in Canada subsequent to the closure of borders due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Guyanese nationals have been stuck abroad since March 17, following the closure of the country’s airports, which was a part of a menu of measures implemented to combat the lethal COVID-19 virus.
A total of 141 Guyanese returned yesterday just around 3pm following pleas with government to grant permission for their return home.
Those who returned home were required to complete repatriation forms and submit them to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They were also required to present a medical certificate that shows a negative molecular biological polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19, at least 48 hours before departure at the port of exit.
The test results must also be presented to the airline staff at the time of boarding.
All returning Guyanese, once tested negative, are to subject themselves to a seven-day home quarantine.
A Guyanese citizen, who asked not to be named and had been stuck in Canada whilst vacationing in March, had told this newspaper that she and many other Guyanese including students wished to return home.
She said that since the airports have been closed, Guyanese who are stranded were asked to make contact with the Guyana High Commission.
“For the past nine weeks I have been calling the embassy trying to find out if we can return home but there has been no positive answer. The embassy has informed me that many persons have been calling in too and asking when they can return home. People are running out of places to stay and it is becoming burdensome and frustrating,” the woman said.
“There are a lot of Guyanese here who want to return home because they are more at risk of getting COVID here than at home. I just came for two weeks’ vacation but now I am stuck. I am pleading with the government and those who are in charge to consider a special flight for us, we just want to come home,” the woman implored.
The airline on a flight organised through the Canadian High Commission, had departed Guyana with 153 Canadian citizens.
On April 4, 2020, a group of Canadian citizens boarded two chartered flights which flew them out to Barbados and then on to Canada. Even though most persons preferred to have a direct flight to Canada, High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee told Sunday Stabroek that at the time, they were unable to get that arranged.
And later that month, the High Commission of Canada to Guyana successfully repatriated 150 Canadian citizens with the help of a humanitarian flight operated by Canadian airline WestJet. It was the first time the airline had ever made a direct trip to Guyana.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Information (DPI) yesterday said that nineteen-year-old Shania Thompson contacted Guyana’s consulate in Toronto three months ago hoping to be reunited with her loved ones in Guyana.
“It is a relief [to be back]. Honestly, I can’t believe I am here right now because I felt as though I was struggling for the 4 months I couldn’t come home,” Shania told DPI.
For Shawn D’Aguiar who was studying in Canada for the past 18 months, living through the pandemic was terrifying, he told DPI. He recalled having to stay indoors for nearly four months.
Another citizen, Lisa Thompson stated to DPI that she was grateful to be home since she was slated to return nearly three and a half months ago. With optimism towards the coming weeks.
