Having already protested an American Airlines position to have senior government officials make their way to the counter check-in area for their departure flights instead of an agent visiting the VIP section of the Cheddi Jagan Airport, the Government of Guyana now intends to write American Airlines over its treatment of two visiting Caribbean Prime Ministers during their departures.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves were forced to leave the VIP section of the airport for the regular check-in area to be able to get on their flight out of Guyana.

The two Prime Ministers were in Guyana for the opening of the Energy Conference.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered its apologies to the two Prime Ministers and lashed out at American Airlines over its disregard of previously planned protocols.

According to the Foreign Ministry, all Government protocols were in place to facilitate the departure of the two Heads of Government, and 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 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 Ministry said the Government of Guyana had previously protested the position taken by American Airlines against its own high and senior Government officials, but the airline has continued to pay scant regard to the Government’s requests for entitlements to the positions held to be respected.

The Foreign Ministry said it is now the Government’s intent to formally communicate its displeasure of the most recent action by the airline that has caused embarrassment not only nationally, but also to its regional friends.

Other airlines would send agents to the VIP lounge for check-in purposes of dignitaries and other special guests.

American Airlines operates daily flights between Guyana and the United States. The two Prime Ministers left Guyana for Miami for a connecting flight to The Bahamas to attend the CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting which opened today.

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