The Trinidadian and St Vincentian Prime Ministers were today required to check in at the American Airlines (AA) counter at the CJIA despite an earlier request by the government here that they be afforded the courtesies via the VIP Lounge.
The Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs today expressed regret over the incident and said that the government intends to formally communicate with AA over this matter.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs follows:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation sincerely regrets the inconvenience
caused to the Honourable Prime Ministers of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and
Tobago on their departure from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri on Wednesday
February 15, 2023. All Government protocols were in place to facilitate their departure. Despite
American Airlines having been written to, prior to the arrival of the Prime Ministers in Guyana,
for them to be accorded the courtesies of check-in on departure from the VIP Lounge, the airline
refused to acquiesce to the Ministry’s request and insisted that the Prime Ministers leave the
Lounge to present themselves to the check-in counter.
The Government of Guyana had previously protested this position taken by American Airlines
against its own High and senior Government officials, but they have continued to pay scant regard
to the Government’s requests for entitlements to the positions held to be respected.
It is the Government’s intent to formally communicate its displeasure of this most recent action by
the airline that has caused embarrassment not only nationally, but also to our regional friends.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation