Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman last night disclosed that discussions for visa-free travel for Guyanese to Canada have been taking place.
The High Commissioner also disclosed that there have been ongoing conversations with major Canadian airlines to operate on the Guyana-Canada route.
Even as he noted that there has been no decision, Berman speaking on the sidelines of a welcome reception for a Canadian trade delegation here, said the issue of visa-free travel has been discussed with the relevant authority in Ottawa, Canada. He said that the Government of Guyana has also indicated that it is interested in having that discussion with the Government of Canada. According to Berman, “it is something we are looking at and we will make a decision.”
Berman explained that his office has been making the case to attract Canadian carriers on the route.
“The High Commission in Georgetown continues to work on bringing a Canadian air carrier service to offer non-stop flights from Canada to Guyana, facilitating Guyanese stakeholders at Canadian fora that showcase Canadian companies and expertise,” the High Commissioner said while addressing the gathering. He said that they have recognized that there is a great need for more direct flights between Canada and Guyana. As such, he said that they were, “engaging with various carriers in Canada but there has been nothing yet that has been finalized.”
According to Berman, discussions were held with Canada-based West Jet and Air Canada along with other airlines. He noted that from his office, they have been providing the necessary information to the airlines but the decision will ultimately be made from a business standpoint. “They are looking at the opportunities but there is nothing that has been finalised as yet,” Berman said before stating that they did present a strong case. He pointed out that the route is attractive for an additional carrier to operate given the large Guyana Diaspora and the increase of business travellers coming to Guyana. He stated that flights on the route are, on many occasions, oversubscribed. He also noted that additional carriers present opportunities for increased tourism between the two countries.
“If you just look at the flights that we have on the route, they are oversubscribed, and so it’s been a case we have been able to make to the Canadian carriers that there is room for another carrier to become involved in flights. We have been trying to give them as much information as possible…” he said. In February of this year, President Irfaan Ali met with representatives of Air Canada, the largest Canadian airline, at the Marriott Hotel on the sidelines of the ‘International Energy Conference and Expo Guyana 2022’. Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines is the only air service provider operating on the direct Guyana-Canada route.
