Mindful, perhaps, of what is generally regarded as the mainstream assignment to her portfolio, Guyana’s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge-Walrond asserted earlier this week that that the inauguration of a twice weekly Caribbean Airlines flight between Georgetown and Paramaribo will serve to widen Guyana’s tourism reach and otherwise increase travel options. That said, the Minister will doubtlessly be aware of the fact that there is a more immediate significance to the recently announced twice weekly flights between Eugene F. Correia International Airport and Suriname’s Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport.
The two CARICOM member states are basking in the glare of global attention arising out of world class oil and gas breakthroughs. Setting aside the role that Caribbean Airlines will play in what is certain to be a lucrative capital-to-capital route for the carrier it is almost certain to be rarely ever lacking in extra-regional traffic for whoever is seeking to visit both capitals in quick succession. Regional observers will doubtlessly contend that a regular and reliable air travel service between the two countries was long in the making. At the same time, they may contend, as well, that the service has now materialized with greater haste than might have been anticipated and that it is the role that the two countries now play as global attention-getters that has triggered the move by Caribbean Airlines to fill what had become one of the region’s most potentially lucrative airline routes.
Not only are the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member countries now basking in the sunlight of near global attention at this time, and, arguably, for the foreseeable future, but, as well, the two share a common interest in reaching each other’s capitals frequently and with much greater haste than the overland and ferry options will allow. Contextually, the inaugural non-stop flights between the two capitals embodies a unique dimension to air travel for the two South American countries. That apart, the induction of Guyana and Suriname into the global petro limelight has made convenience of travel sufficiently important for a clientele that extends beyond the two countries.
Minister Walrond reportedly used the launch ceremony for the new Caribbean Airlines service to state that the new service will enhance connectivity and foster stronger ties between the two countries. She is, of course, aware that it will do much more than that. It will, as well, open a corridor of convenience for the likely constant flow of public functionaries and business officials from the region and beyond who are likely to be among the earliest wave of travelers who will be keen to take advantage of what is arguably, at this time, one of the more noticed new airline routes anywhere in the world.
The official media release on the new airline service states that the new service “enhances connectivity” and fosters “stronger ties.” Beyond that, it is expected to bring new cliques of extra-regional visitors to this hemisphere, and perhaps more significantly, increase travel between other CARICOM member states and the two which, going forward, are likely to be ‘soaking up’ the most generous measure of international attention.
